What makes batanes unique

Image Source What makes Batanes unique? Rate this:. Like this: Like Loading Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:. Email required Address never made public.

Name required. Baguio City: A City in the Sky ». Email Subscription Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Most houses are pretty solidly constructed and consisting of stones. The last years Typhoons often took another way though, more south in the Philippines to hit the Visaya Region.

Tourists are really seldom. It depends what you are searching for, but I prefer spending my holidays on silent and empty places with incredible nature, instead of getting drunk with commercial party music on overcrowded beaches. If you are searching for the second, you should not go there. If you really want to be alone, you can rent a bike, scooter or tricycle to go wherever you want. They perform the ritual before fishing for arayu dolphin fish , a food staple in Batanes, by offering animal sacrifices to spirits of the sea to bless them with safe and bountiful fishing season.

Fishing for this prized fish is only done during summer, between April to May. Distance of Taiwan from the northernmost islet of Batanes is kilometers while Manila to Batanes is kilometers. Usually, airfares going to Batanes are more expensive than traveling to foreign countries. Built in , the year old House of Dakay is considered to be the oldest traditional Ivatan stone house in Batanes. The traditional Ivatan stone houses made of stone and lime with cogon roofs could withstand the strongest typhoon.

Among the interesting facts about Basco Lighthouse is this. It was the site of the American period telegraph facilities that connected Batanes with the central government until it was destroyed by the Japanese during World War II. This is one of the surprising facts about Batanes. Made from shredded leaves of voyavoy or Philippine date palm, Vakul Batanes is a headgear worn by women while Kanayi are vests worn by men. Locals use these to protect themselves from the sun and rain especially when they are farming.

While modernity is noticeable in the province, some Ivatans still use these gears to preserve the culture and tradition. According to the owner, retired schoolteacher Elena Gabilo, this honesty system has proven effective among residents and tourists. It just shows that honesty can be a good business and a great way to appreciate a day trip in Batanes. On the Tukon hills, you can see the Dipnaysupuan Japanese Tunnel, an interconnected network of tunnels carved out of the mountain.

The tunnel is open for tourists to traverse, but remember to bring a flashlight or headlamp if you want to go exploring. Between to , the soldiers had the Ivatan troops dig the tunnel, building five exit points, bunkers, chambers, and a reservoir. The bunker was their headquarters during the battle with the Americans. You will find nothing inside but stones, small holes, and walls of the broken tube. Many entry points have concrete above to shield the tunnel from the war bombs. To ensure safety, tourists should not enter the tunnel without a tour guide and a flashlight or torch.

Visit this tourist attraction in a unique manner by joining a tricycle tour in North Batan. Take a break from swimming, hiking, and getting windblown to see how the fishermen in Batanes live their daily lives at the Diura Fishing Village, which is also located in Mahatao.

Time your visit in March or April to witness the kapayvanuvanu, an age-old ritual done by the Diura fishermen to ensure a bountiful fishing season. The ceremony begins with a shaman offering a pig while reading signs from the liver for good omen and catch.

The entire cycle of fishing and harvesting for dorado continues until May. You can get to Diura Fishing Village by tricycle with a travel time of ten minutes or by joining a day trip to Diura Fishing Village. As a natural spring pool that overlooks the beach and the scenic Mount Iraya, it has become a place of relaxation and solace for locals and travelers. Sabtang Island also has its version of rolling hills: the Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint.

Its slopes and rocky outcrops are equally as enthralling as Vayang and Rakuh, a Payaman in Batan Island. It is known for its curvy landscape carpeted with grass.

The rolling hills that conquer the area come in a variety of low and high slopes giving different perspectives for its visitors. The highest hilltop among the slopes provides the best view of Chamantad Cove. There is a small trail here that will lead you to the seascape that is covered with powdery sand and low to mid-sized rocks. Before reaching the hilltop, there are plenty of huts along the highway that offer a sample of their locally-made sugarcane wine and Ivatan wild tea, called tubho.

Aside from sightseeing in Sabtang Island , you can also find locals, known as Ivatans, wandering the area to lend their traditional clothing — the Vakul and Kanayi, for picture taking purposes. Vakul is their native headgear used for protection against the sun and rain, while Kanayi is a sleeveless jacket they usually wear when farming.

From the church, you can get to Savidug, a coastal village teeming with traditional cogon-roofed stone houses. Savidug Stone Houses are the primary type of dwelling in Batanes, particularly in a small barangay in Sabtang Island. The Ivatans maintain these houses, the indigenous people inhabiting the island.

This village, together with Chavayan, remains untouched where locals still live traditionally. The structures of the houses in Savidug village are considered as a Sinadumparan type, one of the traditional houses in Batanes. It's one of the main highlights of a Sabtang Island experience ; getting acquainted with art. Each one of the cogon roofs has a specific day of replacement.

The villagers would work together to finish the roofing, which is called Kapayatep and the re-thatching, which is called Mayvuvung. This roof replacement process is an excellent example of Bayanihan in the village, an Ivatan tradition to help each other to achieve a common goal.

The church was meant to serve the Ivanans, Sabtangs, and Uyugans. Today remains of the abandoned church can still be seen. It also has a crenelated structure with rare wooden beams. The monastery, part of the church building, has an original circular masonry along the stairway. Be humbled by the power of Mother Nature as you walk through the Songsong Ruins.

A tidal wave ravaged this tiny village in the s; the houses were damaged beyond repair and leaving its residents with no choice but to abandon their town. At present, a portion of the rows of houses in the village had already been surrounded by high bushes and greeneries. Flowers dot the sides of the house, almost covering its entirety. A handful of the ruins had been restored and occupied by the descendants of the original owners who now maintain the beauty of the site.

Other locals are also returning to some of the habitable ruins in the site. Although some areas of the barangay had been closed to the public because of possible accidents, most of the sitio is still accessible to tourists. Batanes is a beautiful, enchanting place that is truly worth a visit—not just once, but multiple times.

This northern paradise is a throwback to the times when life was more natural and untouched. Batanes is a happy place that will rejuvenate even the most seasoned travelers and will serve as a refuge for tired city-dwellers looking to take a break from the concrete jungle. A trip to Batanes will calm your mind and rejuvenate your soul, leaving you with a renewed appreciation for nature and the simple life.