BATAN ISLAND
After
a number of years waiting, we were finally able to make it to the
northernmost province of the Philippines, Batanes. The exorbitant fare going to
Batanes was what kept us from going there. One time we planned to go only to
find out that it was cheaper to go to Guam than to Batanes. So we opted to go
to the former. I got the opportunity when I read one day a promo fare to this
fabled islands. Hence three months before, I already secured our tickets which
was half the usual price.
The bishop of Batanes, whom
I regularly now see at the CBCP was very much eager that we visit him
there. In fact I already mentioned it to him a few years back and told me
anytime I could go there. The week before we were supposed to leave, two successive
typhoons visited the place. The effects of the typhoon was in fact still felt
in Manila when we left. It was still raining and the skies were dark. Although
not bumpy, we were flying just above the clouds all the time we flew from
Manila to Batanes. Rain stopped when we arrived in Basco. Fr. Roger, the
oeconomus and the parish priest of Basco was there to meet us together with
Rev. Billy. We were billeted at the bishop’s house which was just
across the parish convent. The bishop’s car was at our disposal for the whole
trip. They were thinking that we would still rest after breakfast but then we
told our hosts that we were already ready and excited to explore Batanes. So
after breakfast Fr. Roger who also was our driver gave us a tour. Our
first stop was at the Mt. Carmel chapel at Tukon which was made of stone like
the typical houses of the Ivatans. From there we proceeded to the Fundacion
Pacita. This was the former workplace of the artist Pacita Abad which has been
converted to a boutique hotel. There are several artworks of Pacita displayed
in the building. We had some coffee over there as we enjoyed the scenery
around. This house is the poster display at the Manila domestic airport.
At the garden there are statues of the parents of Abad. Was told they are also
buried there. The Abad children among them Butch Abad the present budget
secretary is the twelfth child, Pacita the artist, being the fourth.
From the Fundacion we passed
by the Dipnaysupuan Japanese tunnel. One could stand along the corridors of the
tunnel which leads to a 32 flight of steps going down. From the foot of the
steps one could already see some light at the other end. Before reaching it,
Ronnie noticed a yellow snake curled along the side.
Next stop was the Valugan
boulder beach. It was explained to us that the big round stones came from the
nearby Mt. Iraya which last erupted in 400 AD. We noticed also the unique
boats that they have in Batanes which were like the sampan. It has no outrigger
but twice as wide than the ordinary outrigger boats. Mostly made of fiber
glass.
Our last stop before lunch
was the rolling hills of Vayang, the Naidi hills and the Basco lighthouse.
In
the afternoon, our trip was to the southern part of the island of Batan. We
stopped first at the Chawa Viewdeck where one has a view of the West Philippine
Sea and the mountainside were the waves were wildly splashing the sides of the
cliffs below. Passing by the town of Mahatao, we went east up to the
popularly known Marlboro country, the rolling hills of Racuh a Payawan.
Stayed there for almost an hour savoring the view of the hills and the sea.
Then we passed by Imnajbu, the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Shrine in
Itbud, Uyugan. Took pictures of typical Ivatan houses in Itbud. Then we
went to the town of Uyugan. San Antonino de Florencia Parish. Our driver and
guide this time was Fr. Billy who was the parish priest of Uyugan. What
surprised us the most was that the convent, although no one was there was just
left wide open. Fr. Billy explained that it is the usual practice in Batanes.
Homes are never locked. There are very rare cases of theft in the island.
From there we took the road around the island which brought us to the
next town of Ivana, passing by first the Honesty Store. Took pictures of the
Ivana church. Then we visited the church of Mahatao.
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Basco Airport |
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The Bishop's House was just across the convento of the Cathedral |
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Bishop's House in Batanes |
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The Cathedral of Batanes is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception which is the patron of the Prelature of Batanes. But the church is named after Sto. Domingo. The Dominicans were the ones who evangelized Batanes, hence most of the saints in the island are Dominican saints. |
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Inside the Cathedral |
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Cathedral Altar |
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The Blessed Sacrament Chapel just beside the Cathedral |
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The Cathedral Parish Rectory |
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Fundacion Pacita |
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Fundacion Pacita now serves as a boutique hotel |
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Welcome art at the Fundacion Pacita |
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Painting of Pacita Abad graces the entrance of the Cafe |
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The Cafe at the Fundacion Pacita |
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Statues of the parents of the Abad in the garden with a beautiful view of the hills and the sea. |
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The Tukon Chapel |
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One of the side doors of the Chapel |
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The port of Basco |
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Entrance to the Dipnaysupuan Japanese Tunnel
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A yellow snake along the walls of the Dipnaysupuan tunnel |
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Valugan Beach |
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Rocks and boulders at the Valugan Beach |
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The Vayang Hills |
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The rolling hills of Vayang |
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A majestic view of the sea and the hills and the sea. |
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Basco lighthouse |
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Basco lighthouse |
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A view of the town of Basco from the lighthouse |
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Bunkers near the Basco lighthouse. The foreground building has been converted to a Cafe |
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Road leading to the Chawa viewdeck |
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An aerial view of the town of Mahatao, the boat shelter and the Chawa viewdeck. |
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Chawa Viewdeck |
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View of the waves crushing the cliffs at the Chawa Viewdeck |
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View from the Chawa viewdeck |
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The boat shelter in Mahatao Idjang |
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Mahatao Parish Church dedicated to San Carlos Borromeo |
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Mahatao Parish Church |
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An old lighthouse in Mahatao |
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The altar of Mahatao Church |
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The hills of Racuh a Payawan, popularly called the Marlboro country |
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One of the promontory of hills of Marlboro country
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A windswept tree on top of the hill.
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Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Itbud, Uyugan. |
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Inside the church of Itbud. |
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One of the sights along the road to Itbud. |
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Ivatan house in Itbud. |
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A village street in Itbud |
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A house with a galvanized roof, a rare sight in Itbud. |
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Houses are just by roadside in Itbud. |
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The parish church of Uyugan dedicated to San Antonino de Florencia. |
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Church altar of Uyugan |
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The municipal hall of Uyugan. |
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The famous Honesty store in Ivana. |
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The church of San Jose de Ivana, Built as a chapel in 1787, it was later built into a stone church in 1795. The three storey belfry crumbled to the ground during the earthquake on Sept. 13, 1918. In July 15, 2000, the facade and belfry was destroyed again in an intensity 8.0 earthquake. |
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Inside the church of San Jose de Ivana. |
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A view of the church from the beach. |
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The most pictured house in Batanes, the House of Dakay. It is a sample of a maytuab house, that is, it has a four sided roof. |
1 comment:
Great Batanes shots!
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