APPROXIMATELY 657 kilometers away from Metro Manila and 190 km south of Taiwan, there are enchanting islands that have captured the hearts of many visitors far and wide. I have always believed that the Philippines is one of the richest countries in the world when it comes to pristine beaches, mountainscapes, diverse flora and fauna, marine life, as well as heritage and culture. My latest journey offers yet more proof that the Philippines is indeed full of soul, enough to satisfy one’s wanderlust for travel and strong sense of adventure.
Early this year, Nikki Recto, a high-school friend, partnered with Chal Lontoc-del Rosario, owner of Jeron Travel and Tours, a Manila-based travel agency, to organize a series of “Active Tours” to local and international destinations. These tours cater to the young professionals and the young-at-heart, actually anyone with a strong sense of adventure. Nikki’s latest organized tour was a trip to Batanes, also known as the “home of the winds,” and it was here that I had such a magical experience. Our tour group met at the airport and took an hour and 40-minute flight to Basco, Batanes. We were all looking forward to our four-day adventure since it was everyone’s first time.
Upon approaching the main island of Basco, the view from the plane was nothing short of breathtaking. I knew this was going to be a trip unlike any other. I have seen photos and heard stories about this far away land but upon approach to the island, it was already far more that what I had imagined.
After lunch on the day of our arrival, we met our tour guides, Leemark and Crista. They were assigned to take our crazy bunch and they were quick in introducing us to their pride and joy. We learned that Batanes is the smallest province in the Philippines with respect to population and land area. Its geographical location is one of the reasons the islands look so enchanting. Isolated from the rest of the country, this group of islands sees the marriage of the Pacific Ocean and the West Philippine Sea, thus the reason for its popular gigantic, tumultuous waves and strong winds. The province is composed of 10 tiny islands but only the three largest ones are inhabited and given Batanes’s location, the local Ivatans have adapted and developed their own culture.
Crime rate in the province is almost zero, said Leemark and Crista. They spoke highly of the Ivatans as an honest, gentle and brave people—so honest, in fact, that Batanes is also well-known for the Honesty Café, a coffee shop-cum-convenience store with no staff—you can buy the stuff you need and want, and you leave the payment on the counter. Honesty. The people have a high regard for their land and are extremely proud of their heritage. The pristine rolling hills of Batanes are very well protected as the whole province is protected under the laws of ancestral domain. This is probably why Batanes appears to be even more mysterious and enchanting.
Our four-day itinerary included a tour of Batan Island and the famous boat ride to Sabtang Island. As we traversed the island, I noticed that Batanes’s landscape is quite distinct from that of other Philippine provinces as it is composed of steep cliffs towering 50 meters to 70 meters above sea level, rolling hills that seem to come alive with the sound of music (or in our case, with the sound of our very chill playlist on loop everywhere we went), deep canyons and huge boulder-lined shores.
More on breathtaking Batanes in this corner of the page next week.
Image credits: Nikki Boncan-Buensalido