Scarecrow fest nets world record

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela, Philippines — The Bambanti or Scarecrow Festival of this province has earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for the largest number of scarecrow dancers last Friday night.

Paulina Sapinska, official adjudicator and representative of Guinness, announced that the Bambanti Festival hit the world record for biggest number of dancers wearing scarecrow costumes in a single venue. 

Sapinska noted that a total of 2,495 participants wearing scarecrow costumes danced non-stop for more than two hours around the Isabela grandstand here, surpassing the five-minute dance of at least 250 persons earlier awarded by Guinness. 

“After the proper verification and witnessing your event, the Bambanti Festival set the new world record for largest human scarecrow dancers,” Sapinska said. 

“Isabela, this is for you,” said Gov. Faustino Dy III as he received the certification together with Vice Gov. Antonio Albano. 

Dy noted that the festivity, now on its 23rd year, pays tribute to the farmers’ diligence and resilience, qualities that has made Isabela the country’s leading corn and biggest rice surplus producer. – With Raymund Catinding