Batanes

Located in the Cagayan Valley Region. It is the northernmost provinve in

the Philipppines. And the country's smallest province both in terms of land
area and population. And also, this province dubbed as the "Paradise of
the North." The province comes from the word "Batan-es" which means
"Islands from Batan."

History

The Ivatans lived the populated settlements at that time where western travelers visited
the islands. In 1686 and 1719, the Spaniards sent Dominican Friars on expectation to the
Batanes Islands. And, it was over two centuries after the formal colonization of the Philippines.
Thus, it was the last territory added in the Philippines.

The Batanes Islands remained under the Spanish rule until 1898 when the Ivatan
Katipunan won a glorious victory and it became independent within the Philippine Republic.

How to get there?

There are 2 ways to get from Cebu City to Batanes by plane or ferry

From Cebu to Batanes via plane and travel hours about 5 hours. And the airlines that have flight to
Batanes are: Philippine Airline and CebGo. Price Range is about ₱5,500 - ₱11,000. And for the ferry,
there are: OceanJet, TransAsia Shipping and SuperCat Ferry. The price range is about ₱6,890-9,893
 Where to stay?

1. Fundacion Pacita

Location: Brgy, Chanarian, Tukon, Basco, Batanes

The best place to stay, hands down, is at Fundacion Pacita. This non-profit lodge boasts of its
charming rooms with pucturesque vistas. Pacita Abad was known for her larger-than-life,
colorful mural painting. One of her last works was painting a modern pedestrian bridge called
"The Alkaff Bridge" it crosses Singapore River at Robertison Quay with playful colors.

When she passed away, the husband, Jack Garrity, gifted the house to the siblings who
decided to convert it into a bed and breakfast facility where all the proceeds go to projects for
education, heritage conservation efforts and livelihood projects.

Price Range: P10,000 – P18,500 per room per night (plus taxes, minimum of two nights)

With breakfast and other inclusions

2. Basco Town Proper Midtown Inn

Location:

There is a restaurant on the ground floor serving Ivatan cuisine. The hotel has 11 air-
conditioned rooms that all come with private bathroom, hot and cold shower, TV, Wi-F (at the
lobby), free breakfast, complimentary drinks, and airport transfer.

Price Range: Standard Double Room (2 persons) Php 2,600.00/night

Quadruple Room (4 persons) Php 3,500.00/night

3. Chanarian Beach Bernardo's Hotel

Location:Payin Street, Barangay Chanarian, Basco

It has seven spacious and fully air-conditioned rooms with a total capacity of 25 persons.
Each room is equipped with a queen-sized bed and either a single or double sized bed, private
bathroom with hot and cold shower and cable TV

Price Range: P2,600 to P3,600 (with breakfast)

4. Amboy Hometel

Location: National Road, Chanarian, Basco

Located in front of Chanarian Beach, Amboy Hometel offers a small escape from the hurley-
burley of the town. Convienientl located along the National Highway, it is about a 5-minute
drive from Basco Airport and is in ckose proximity to the sights and natural wonders of the
island.

It boasts of 27 rooms that can accommodate a maximum of 74 persons. Each room is

equipped with essential ammenities such as air-conditioning unit, private bathrooms with hot
and cold shower, orbit fan, and satellite cable TV.

Price Rate: P2,600 – P4,000 per room per night

5. Marfel's Lodge

Location:

Started out as a single house, it is now a network of 4 separate lodges — Main Lodge,
Annex Lodge, Triple MP Homestay, MAC Homestay — being marketed together.

Price Range: P500-P600 per room (2 pax), P350/person for a single fan room
 Where to eat?

1. Octagon Bed & Dine

Location: Sitio, Disong, Brgy, Kaycharian, National Road, Basco, Batanes

Octagon Bed & Shine started out as simple shaped restaurant serving for local people but
years past the octagon bed and dine was flourish because of their favorite Filipino dishes and
port where one can have a truly memorable Batanese style al fresco dining.

Price Range: 200-500 php

2. Fundacion Pacita

Location: Brgy, Chanarian, Tukon, Basco, Batanes

Situated atop a hill with the most magnificient view of the skies, the sea, and the mountains.
Fundacion Pacita is an art studio.

Price Range:

3. Pension Ivatan

Location: Brgy. Chanarian, Tukon, Basco, Batanes

For a taste of Batanes' local cuisine, head over to Pension Ivatan Hometel's in-house
restaurant. This restaurant is near the airport, this kind of restaurant fit for those who loves to
walk just 10 mins.

Price Range:
5. Honey Café

Location: National Rd, Ivana, Batanes

Honesty Café has become an icon and it seems that almost all people who dreams of going to
Batanes puts this on their "must-visit" list. Who doesn't want to experience a store like this? A
store wherein no one looks after the customer if they are paying the exavt amount or not. But
to this day we don't have a news thag someone shoplifted any product right?

Price Range:

Festivals

1. Kulay Festival

Kulay Festival which means "anything dried" this festival highlights the simple yet colorful
food heritage of the Ivatans. They celebrated it in cooperation with the local government of
Basco, Batanes and the Philippine's Department of Trade and Industry. The main objective of
this 5-day feast is to introduce locally manufactured and processed food products like dried
products such as onion, garlic, rice, corn and fish among others to local and foreign tourists
visiting their Provinces.

2. Bayanihan or Puyuhuan Festival

In the Ivatan Language, "puyuhuan" stands for cooperation which is truly evident in this 5-
day event every June. In this event, a province-wide procession is done to recall the route of
evangelization. Communities and schools conduct the Ivatan Olympics to pay tribute to their
native game. Another highlight of this fiesta is the Kanan Nu Kumavahayan or The Unity Lunch, a
government funded celebration for everyone.

3. Palu-palo Festival
 Held every 1st week of August, it is one of the must-see feasts in the Philippines. This is
the time wherein people get to have a glimpse of the rich lands of Batanes. It is also thr perfect
time to have a taste of their cuisine and discover more about their history. This is a yearly
festival of the Ivatans in Basco, Batanes centers on livelihood and culture. Coming from the
name itself, "palu-palo" it is a stick used by Ivatans in the past to combat their colonizers.

4. Vakul-Kanayi Festival

Sabtang Island just held its first-ever Vakul-Kanayi Festival this year. Starting from April 25-
27, activities are made from indigenous outdoor games and cultural shows to colorful parades
and street dancing competition. Vakul is the headgear worn by women and kanayi are the vest
wrapped on men when they work. It was made from Philippine date palm and they are still
worn up to this day.

Fun Facts About Batanes

 The landscapes and seascapes are breathtaking. But if you ever stand on top of one of a
hill or a cliff in Batanes, try your best not to be blown away.
 The vakul and talugong are distinctive Ivatan headgears. (Vakul for women and talugong
for men.) It is worn to protect head from both the rain and the sun when they work in
the field. It is made from the fiber of the vuyavuy (voyavoy) palm, which keeps the inside
cooler even under the sun.
 The coconut crab, locally known as "tatus" is the largest land-living arthropod in the
world (which does not make them a seafood), so called because they can actually open
coconuts.
 Batanes, which its lush rolling hills and lovely blue skies, will awaken your memories of a
young Julie Andrews singing "The Hills Are Alive" in the 1965 musical drama film "The
Sound Of Music"
  Though the province deems cut off from the rest of the Philippines, Batanes was also
touched by the Second World War ravages. You can find traces of the brutal war in the
American radio center's concrete remains as well as the historic Japanese hideout.

Famous Tourist Spots

1. Fundacion Pacita
Location: Brgy, Chanarian, Tukon, Basco, Batanes
This hotel boast of their unique interior, hotel and individual rooms design. And also,
you will feel pamper because of the beautiful views outside in this hotel. Seems like
Mother Nature calls you. Thus, the view every side is a stunning work of art.
2. Basco Lighthouse
Location: Basco, Batanes
This place located in Naidi Hills. This lighthouse is the key attraction of the travelers in
Batanes. You'll enjoy the views of the entire surroundings when you are in the top.
3. Casa Real (Provincial Capitol)
Location: National Road, Basco, Batanes
Or also known as "The Provincial Capitol" where the highlights inside of the building
are the historical stuffs or relics and where you will know the history of this historical
site.

4. Chavayan Village

Location: Sabtang Island

Chavayan Village is another village that was able to preserve and continue the
tradition of living in stone houses in Batanes. The locals have a shop here where you can rent or
purchase various handscrafted items including the "vakul", the traditional Ivatan headdress.
Chavayan is an old Ivatan village that is most known for its stone houses, some of which are
over 100 years old now. This style of construction was introduced by the Spanish when they
arrived in the last half of the 1800's and quickly proved perfect for the region, which is prone to
strong winds and frequent typhoons. Their roofs are made of thatched cogon (a tall type of
grass found throughout Southeast Asia) and are replaced every 25-30 years, depending on the
thickness. In addition to making roofs the Ivatan people also make a variety of additional items
out of the local grasses and palm trees.

5. Torongan Cave

Location: Itbayat, Batanes

 Torongan Cave gives you a taste of adventure in Itbayan Island. A one-to-two- hour
hikes leads you to this amazing cave filled with interesting formations and archeological finds.

6. Valugan Boulder Beach

Location: Contra Costa Rd, Basco, Batanes

Another favorite spot for tourists and photographers alike, the beach is unique in
sych a way that it has no sand, instead the beach is surrounded by boulders of igneous
rocks said to be spewed by Mt. Iraya long ago when it was geologically active. Swimming
is impossible here as you can easily get smashed by the crashing waves and big boulders
of rounded stones at the beach. This is frequented by photographers who wanted to do
sunrise shoot amidst the fantastic backdrop.

Delicacies

1. Uved

Called as "tabtab" in Sabtang, uved or uvud is one of those Ivatan comfort food. It's
basically made of finely-grated corm (which is found at the base of a trunk of a banana plant)
that's mixed with ground meat (beef or pork), and minced fish. Afterwards, it is seasoned with
onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. This will be rolled into balls or served as in and can either be with
or without its broth.

2. Dibang

A common fish that you will find in the islands is dibang or flying fish. It has different
variations (other than frying it as is), such as:

• Lataven (Kinilaw Style) - Dibang (or any other fish) is drenched in the vinegar and calamansi
juice, as well as mixed with minced ginger, onions and salt.

•Maytahes (One-day-old) - After the fish is cleaned and opened up, it will be marinated in salt,
vinegar, and garlic and then laid out under the sun for a day to dry.

3. Vunes
 This is made of preserved gabi (taro) stalks which could technically last for years. As a typical
Batanes food, the gabi stalks are first soaked in water. Afterwards, it will be cut and minced and
then cooked together with pork and patola (or sponge gourd).

4. Payi

5. Root Crops

The Batanes Islands are abundant with root crops, namely

• Wakay (sweet potato)

• Dukay (yam)

• Uvi (another type of jam)

• Sudi (taro)

They're steamed, fried or smoked.

6. Luñis

This is a different version of the popular Filipino dish, adobo because luñis is rather served
dry. Lasting for quite a while, this traditional dish is made of pork cooked with rock salt until its
fat is rendered and it turns golden brown. Back in the old days, it is stored in its own lard in jars
for months to ensure continuous supply.

7. Supas

Always a staple during fiestas ir festivals, supas or balencyana (as called in Itbayat Island) is
rice cooked in turmeric pulp (yellow ginger) that's often mixed with garlic or pork.

8. Other Local Vegetables

• Tamiduk (also called as pako or Fiddlehead fern)

• Utut nu Bulyas (Scallions or green onion)

• Chinavule (taro leaves)

9. Other Batanes Food from the Sea

• Arayu • Seaweed soup or balls

• Kanañis
• Uni

• Dumay