From the waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing on rocky boulders to the rolling green mountains populated with water buffalo and wild horses, Batanes is unique as a beautifully untouched
and remote location in the Philippines.
Batanes is the first main island group in the northern tip of Luzon, located between the Babuyan Islands and Taiwan. The three largest islands are Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang. Basco, on Batan Island, is the capital. Almost half of the terrain in Batanes is composed of hills and mountains. The smallest province of the Philippines, it also has the smallest populationIn the summer months of March to May, the surrounding seas are calm. The climate is generally cool, with September to November usually windy. Typhoon season is in August.
Pre-historic Ivatans lived in small communities near water sources. When the Europeans arrived in the 1600s, they found the people of Batanes living in organized communities called idjangs. They buried their dead in large earthen jars, a practice that continued until well into the 18th century. It wasn’t until 1782 that Batanes was brought under Spanish rule. In 1909, Batanes was finally established as a separate province under American administration. Because of its location, Batanes was the first area attacked by the Japanese during World War II. In the 1950s and 60s, the Philippine government encouraged Ivatans to relocate, thus there are now Ivatan communities in Mindanao.
With fewer than 16,000 inhabitants believed to be the descendants of brave seafarers from Formosa (now Taiwan), these pristine islands posses a rich Ivatan culture and a peaceful and friendly population. Perhaps due to its remoteness, the pace of life in Batanes is slow. Here there are no modern conveniences—or annoyances. Locals still wear traditional articles of clothing like the vakul, a headpiece made of fibers from the voyavoy palm, which is used to protect the wearer from sun and rain.
The stone houses of Batanes are built to withstand typhoons, with walls and roofs one meter thick, and small and narrow windows. The Ivatan kitchen is built separately around a great stove. It is the most important part of the house, and remains warm and safe during a typhoon. There are different kinds of houses: the panyisanan or farm house, the pangasinyan or “house where salt is made”, and the kamadid or boat house.
Local cuisine features is simple yet hearty, using fresh ingredients, and especially seafood. Authentic Ivatan cuisine includes exotic dishes like uvod, composed of fish, bananas, and local herbs; yellow ginger rice; and coconut crab.
Take a journey to an island with spectacular views and not a soul in sight, but for wild buffalo and untamed horses.
Relax during siesta hour in the panoramic suite with incredible views of the South China Sea. The more action-inclined may explore the surrounding hills and breathtaking countryside.
Visit a remote island inhabited by less than 900 people and tour an authentic 16th Century tribal stone village, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Batanes is really worth a trip . I really want to visit Batanes as Batanes is one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines and with its Four Season Weather . So please help me by spreading this blog to your friends and help me in voting.
