Batanes - A Dream Come True!

When asked what my dream destination would be, I would always say ---- Batanes. 

One day an officemate asked if I’d be willing to spend 8,000+ for a 2-way trip to the northernmost province of the Philippines, I said ‘Yes!’ without batting an eyelash. Not minding if I’d be able to pay it (purchased thru my officemate’s credit card) on time. From then on, I started dreaming....and now, it has become a reality.

Adra (my bag's name) is set to go!

We rounded up at NAIA Terminal 3 around 4am and have our bags checked in. My palms are sweating and I can’t stop tapping my feet. That’s how excited I was. I’ll be seeing Batanes in awhile. After a couple more hours, the flight attendant started calling our flight. This is it!

The flight took about one hour and forty-five minutes. I can see from the window the unfamiliar lighthouse, the green fields and the busy airport personnel. We just landed. I am in Batanes!

view of Batan Island from the plane

photo opt at Basco Airport terminal

It took us another 20 minutes or so while the airport personnel gather our baggage (they don’t have baggage conveyor). Amidst the absence of a conveyor, it was not chaotic finding our bags. Right after we retrieved all our baggage we went straight to our service van. In less than 10 minutes, we arrived at Batanes Seaside Lodge and Restaurant. Had ourselves checked in, took breakfast and endlessly surveyed the entire Basco view.

while waiting for our baggage

our home away from home

After our sumptuous meal at Octagon Bed and Dine (just right beside our hotel), our tour guide arrived and we started our Day 1 activity.

Day 1 itinerary – Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Chapel, Radar Tukon, Dipnaysupuan Japanese tunnel, Valugan Boulder Beach, Sto. Domingo Church, Vayang Rolling Hills and Naidi Hills Lighthouse.

the contrast of Mt. Carmel's facade boulders and blue sky is just awesome!

stained glass at Mt. Carmel chapel

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Chapel is also known as Tukon Chapel. According to our guide, tukon in Ivatan dialect means hill. By the way, the first Ivatan word I learned is ‘kuman’ which means eat (yeah, yeah....the ‘pig’ in me emerged!) Back to Tukon chapel, inside you’ll see painted ceilings of different saints adorning the serene beauty of the chapel. Stained glasses look dramatic especially when you peek at the right window to see the wonderful Mt. Iriya. Adding up to the chapel’s exquisite beauty was the facade. It was made of boulders and inspired by Ivatan stone houses.  

Right after Tukon chapel, we headed straight to Radar Tukon which is 5-10 minutes away. This was an old lighthouse and an abandoned United States weather station. Today, it is known as Basco PAGASA Station. Here you can see the panoramic 360-degree view of Batan island.

Radar Tukon

Next stop is the Dipnaysupuan Japanese tunnel. Constructed during the World War II by the Ivatans and made use of the Japanese forces, this complex tunnel has a super thick bunker for protection against falling bombs and other military attacks. It was cold and dark and creepy down there. My mind was running wild while we roam some passages of the tunnel.

entrance to the tunnel

the thick protection as viewed from inside the tunnel

at the lower ground tunnel...the creepy part.

After that scary tour of the tunnel, we rode all the way to one of the most famous beaches in Batan – the Valugan Boulder beach. From what I have gathered on televisions, blog sites and a small chit-chat from our guide; the boulders are the result of Mt. Iraya’s eruption in 1454 unleashing tons of rocks around Batan. Those rocks are then polished thru time by the endless strong waves coming from the Pacific Ocean. It was such a joy seeing those big waves splashing its rage on the boulders. The wet boulders glisten thru the sun rays and it was just awesome! It was an eye candy for a photographer like me. We stayed there for a couple more minutes and with a heavy heart returned to our van service to proceed to our destination.

Valugan Boulder beach sparkling like black diamonds!

We took a quick bite at SDCBI canteen and munch on some cakes and pastries, shared a snapshot of the beautifully old rose-painted walls of Basco Municipal Hall beside Basco Police Station. It was nice to see policemen not carrying any guns and handcuffs. It showed that people of Batanes are law-abiding citizens and that no harsh force is needed to apprehend criminals because there’s none.  

the blogger posing with the policemen of Basco. shy type?

the seven tourists at Basco Munical outside wall.

Next stop – to visit the oldest church in Batanes, the Cathedral of Sto. Domingo de Guzman. Also known as Basco Cathedral, the church was built in 1783 by Father Baltazar Calderon and Father Bartolome Artiguez. The church endured all known calamities such as earthquake, typhoons, Filipino-American war (1899-1901) and World War II (1941-1945). I say that’s one tough momma! Truly a remarkable church rich in heritage and history.

groupie at Sto. Domingo de Guzman

We were in awe when we reached Vayang and saw the vast Rolling Hills massively spreading its beauty of verdant grass. To top it off was the ocean surrounding it and to add more drama – the sun! It was like watching ‘Teletubbies’ minus the cute mascots. I can’t help but wonder, God must have stayed here a little longer. So as not to prolong my agony of taking pictures, I hit the shutter again and again until it almost run out of battery. Who would have thought that in this part of our country rest a place comparable to that of New Zealand and Ireland? I’m lost for words.

Vayang Rolling Hills

Last stop for the day, Naidi Hills Lighthouse. Also known as Basco Lighthouse, it was one of the three lighthouses in Batanes which was proposed by former Congressman Butch Abad to be an operational lighthouse and a tourist attraction. Its viewing deck is at the fifth floor of the 6-storey building with the grand view of Mount Iraya, Sabtang Island (S), Itbayat Island (N) and the entire Batan Island. Of course, I pushed myself and reached the sixth floor which holds the lighting facility of the lighthouse. The green wooden stairs leading to it was narrow and steep. After some 'selfie' shots with the lighting facility I hurried back to the viewing deck and took some more photos of my officemates and the view surrounding us.

Naidi Hills lighthouse

the 'selfie' shot inside the lighting facility

The sun is setting when we decided to call it a day. Tired and crazy hungry we headed to Octagon for our dinner. It was a delicious way to wrap the day off!

my dinner plate for Day 1

To be continued.....

Till then!