As the northernmost province of the Philippines, Batanes is relatively a newcomer in the country’s tourist scene. It is so physically and culturally removed from the rest of the Philippine archipelago that it has a culture – and landscape – not quite Filipino. It is only 190 kilometers south of Taiwan, yet more than 800 kilometers north of Manila, the capital city of the country it belongs to. For starters, Batanes’ landscape resembles more of the Scottish highlands than its tropical siblings, and its architecture is nothing like you would see in the lower 7,000 (islands).
The many travelers who came back from the far north have only good words for this smallest of the Philippine provinces. Apart from its pristine scenery of rolling pastures, craggy peaks and breaking surf, most of Batanes’ heritage structures is well-preserved and extant – and still fully functioning. The Ivatans, as Batanes locals are called, uphold honesty and integrity, values that are quite lacking in Filipino politics. Their way of life is also not one would call contemporary: Ivatans live according to the ebb and flow of nature, and this intimate community with the earth can be seen in the way they build their homes. The Ivatans’ abodes are low and squat and sturdy – the kind of structure you would build if you were in the path of typhoons for a good part of the year.
So why does all this uniqueness remain an open secret to travelers both local and abroad? The answer could be found in Batanes’ geography.
Separated not only by sheer distance from Manila, Batanes is also surrounded by frothy seas that even a short boat trip from one island to the next can be a rough ride. So the next best mode of transport to get to this isolated province is by air. As of today, there is only one airline servicing the Manila-Basco (capital of Batanes) route, and if traveler reviews were to be believed, not the kind of airline you would want to hop onto if you are constrained with time. This sole carrier’s hold on the Manila-Basco route is soon to be challenged by Skyjet, as the Philippines’ Civil Aviation Authority granted them a certificate to operate last November 16.
Skyjet will be flying passengers to Basco using two British-manufactured planes that can seat up to 94 passengers. The present operator can only seat up to 32 passengers per flight, so Skyjet’s entry into an otherwise monopolized route will likely expand the number of tourists visiting Batanes, and hopefully decrease fare. At present, going to and from Batanes costs around US$400, a steep price for any budget-conscious traveler.
Skyjet is expected to start its Batanes flights on December 14, 2012. Booking for seats has commenced.
Photos by chemanyulo, dennistanay, and chemanyulo
