10. Batanes

 

         BATANES is one of the most beautiful place in the Philippines. It is an island province in the region of Cagayan Valley, Philippines.It is the northernmost province in the Philippines and it is also the smallest province both in terms of population and land area. The capital of Batanes is Basco on Batan Island. This island province was created by series of volcanic activities and other geologic forces millions of years ago. It is composed of three major islands, namely: Batan which contains the capital town of Basco, Sabtang, and Itbayat. Thus Batanes has been identified as the country's potential gateway to East China. The island group is located about 162 kilometers north of Luzon and about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan, separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province, Luzon, Balintang Channel and from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel.

     

The people of Batanes are called "Ivatan" and share pre-historic cultural and linguisti commonalities with the Babuyan on Babuyan Island and Tao people of Orchid Island. The southern Half of the Ivatan homeland, the islands of Batanes, was reinforced and fortified by Spanish refugees from Formosa before being formally joined in the 18th century wit the Spanish government in Manila.

The northern half of the Ivatan homeland, Formosa and Orchid Island which are formally part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

   The main Languages spoken in Batanes are Ivatan , which is spoken on the islands of Batan and Sabtang. Itbayaten, which is spoken primarily on the island of Itbayat and Ilocano.

The Ivatan which is dominant in the province is considered to be one of the Austronesian Languages. From college level down to elementary level, the language is widely spoken.

The Interesting Facts you might not know about Batanes

 ( Source : FilipiKnow )

1. Islands 

A stunning view from the Alapad Hill 

(photo courtesy of Luisito Batongbangkal Jr.)

The Batanes is surrounded by different beautiful islands. It is actually group of 10 volcanic islands, three of which are inhabited, namely Batan (where the provincial capital of Basco is located), Itbayat and Sabtang. Batanes consist of 10 tiny islands and islets namely : Batan, Sabtang, Itbayat, Mavudis, Siayan, Diogo, North Island and Y'ami.

2. Aman Dangat

Aman Dangat's monument in front of Provincial Capitol in Basco, 

(Photo coutesy of Luisito Batongbakal Jr.)

Aman Dangat was a staunch Ivatan leader who continued to govern his people in in accordance to indigenous custom laws even after the Spanish rule was established in Batanes on June 26, 1783.

Also known as "Kenan", Aman Dangat was a datu of Malakdang in Sabtang Island who led a revolt against Spaniards in 1791.

Eventually Aman Dangat and his men were were outnumbered by the stronger Spanish forces. They were convicted and their valuables confiscated,

Aman Dangat was later executed by hanging in late September 1731. The people in Sabtang , on the other hand , were exiled in the districts of San Felix and San Vicente in Ivana for the next fifty years (1791-1841)

3.Pacita Abad

Pacita Abad born in Basco in 1946, She earned a BA degree in political science in University of the Philippines, but she was later forced to leave for America in 1970 due to her political activism against the Marcos dictatorship.

Pacita Abad is a world renowned painter and certified pride of Batanes

She studied law in San Francisco but she soon switched and started a prolific thirty-year career as a painter. Her works characterized by "vibrant color, constant change, experimentation and development". She was able to create over 5,000 artworks, travel to more than 50 countries, worked in 6 continents and even paint a 55 meter long bridge in Singapore before she died of cancer in 2004.

4. Provincial Songs & Symbols 

Ivatan Fishermen
(Photo Courtesy of Luisito Batongbangkal Jr.)

"Kalusan" is officially the provincial song of Batanes. By definition, "Kalusan" is a working song sung by Ivatans as they work in the fields, row, or cut timber.

This is the approved provincial symbols of Batanes:
Provincial Tree: Aryus
Provincial Flower: Rahakut (native white orchid)
Provincial Bird: Aradiwangan, Voyit (Ivatan dove)
Provincial Fish: Mayasang
Provincial Air Plant Humahum (fern)