The Batanes group of islands is the northernmost province of the Philippines.

It is
located between 121 45' to 122 15' east longitudes, and at 2015' north latitudes.
Batanes is closer to Taiwan than to the northern tip of Luzon. Of the 10 volcanic islands
composing the province, only three are inhabited. They are Batan (where the
provincial capital of Vasay (Basco) is located), Sabtang, and Itbayat. A fourth, Ivuhos,
lying about a kilometer and a half cast of Sabtang, has a handful of families tending
cattle. The other uninhabited islands are Yami, North, Mavudis, Siayan, Di-nem and
Dequey. The province has a total land area of 230 km, the country's smallest (Alonzo,
1965).
Batanes is classified as having Type A climate, a pleasant semi-temperate
climate. The Ivatan (people of Batanes) recognize two seasons: rayun (summer),
which lasts from March to May, amian (winter) from November to February.
Kachachimuyen are the rainy months for the rest of the year, except for a brief spell of
warm weather (dekey a rayun) in the two weeks between September and October.
The province has six towns: Ivana, Uyugan, Mahatao, Basco (all in Batan island),
and the island-municipalities of Sablang and Itbayat.
The People
One of the earliest eyewitness accounts on the Ivatan is that of the British buccaneer
William Dampier in 1687. He described the people as "short, squat people: generally
round visaged, hazel eyes, small yet bigger than Chinese (hazel eyes are light reddish
brown, usually flecked with green or gray); low foreheads; thick eyebrows; short low
noses; white teeth; black thick hair, lank that is worn short, just covering the ears, cut
round, very even; and very dark, copper-colored skin."
The 1990 census of the National Statistics Office reported a total population of
15,026, an increase of 24% over the 1980 population of 12, 091. These were
distributed on the six municipalities with 38% residing in Basco, 23% in Itbayat, 12% in
Sabtang, 11% in Mahatao, and 8% both for Uyugan and Ivana.
Origins
Where did the people of Batanes come from? Available documents, legends, and other
folk materials do not tell us much about their origin. Scholars are still debating whether
the prehistoric Ivatan came from the northern part of Luzon or from the southern part of
mainland China or Taiwan. However, their racial affinities to the Malays and the
structure of their language make it almost certain that they proceeded from some other
part of the Philippines. Genetic studies of Omoto (1996), a Japanese anthropologist, of
the Yami of Orchid Island (Lanyu) show closer genetic affinity of the Yami to the
Tagalog and Visayan and linguistically to the Basiic sub-branch of the Malayo-
Polynesian branch. The Yami traces their roots through their folklore from the Batanes
Islands.
Language
The language is also called Ivatan. It is a distinct Austronesian language different
from the northern Luzon languages. It has two dialects, namely, Ivatan spoken in the
islands of Batan and Sabtang and Itbayat spoken in the islands of Itbayat. English
and Tagalog are widely spoken and understood by the Ivatan (Hidalgo, 1996). The
Ivatan language in spite of its obvious difference from all other Filipino languages,
reveals on a closer analysis, an identity of structure in the composition of particles in its
root (Hidalgo, 1996).
Education
Batanes have a literacy rate of 95% higher than the national average of 93%.
There are 19 elementary schools in the province, 11 of which offer complete courses
from grades one to six. All of the six municipalities have secondary schools and a
comprehensive national high school is located in the capital Basco with branches in
Mahatao and Ivana. There is also a School of Fisheries in Sabtang, the Batanes
Polytechnic College in Basco, while an agricultural high school has been put up in
Itbayat. St. Dominic College is the only school that offers vocational courses,
baccalaureate courses in arts, commerce and education, and recently, graduate
courses in education.
History
The Batanes group of islands came in late into the folds of Spanish colonial power.
"Freedom had been the Ivatan experience for as long as they existed. That ended on
June 26, 1783, with the annexation of Batanes by the Spanish Colonial State in the
Philippines. Not that the Ivatans were conquered on the day but June 26 marked the
beginning of the process of eventual conquest. The Ivatans would be under Spain for
115 years and would not be free again until September 18, 1898." (Hidalgo
1996:113). Ironically, June 26 is being celebrated by the entire province as Batanes
Day (Foundation Day).
Culture and Traditions
No other cultures in the Philippines have mastered the rages of the seasonal typhoons
as the Ivatan. Their culture is a product of long history of struggle and adaptation to
typhoons, the rough seas, and meager resources. It exemplifies the harmonious
relationship of people with their environment.
The Houses
Before the coming of the Spaniards, the Ivatan lived in very small and low cogon
houses well situated to maximize the protection against strong winds. The Spaniards
introduced large-scale production of lime for the construction of the now famous
"traditional" Ivatan stone-houses, with exceptionally thick cogon roofs, that could
withstand the strongest typhoon.
Food and Production
Small islands usually have limited carrying capacities. The seas are hospitable only for
a few months (March, April, May) every year. Flying fish (dibang) and dolphinfish
(arayu) fishing are the highlights of the fishing season. The meager resources taught
the Ivatan to scrimp on every resource that they have. They do not waste food or
anything. Food security of the household is a continous concern of every household.
The scarcity of resources produced food patterns unique to this culture. They
have uvud (banana stalk pith), vunes (dried taro stalk), kudit (dried cow, carabao,
or pig skin), lunyis (pork cooked in its own fat) as insurance against unexpected
food shortages. They are also masters of recycling; few things go to the garbage dump.
They are also excellent farmers producing most of the food that they need, especially
rootcrops like yam (uvi, dukay), sweet potato (wakay), and taro (sudi). Each
household is oftentimes self-sufficient enjoying a considerable degree of independence.
Chickens, goats, and pigs are occassional protein sources. Cattle are raised mainly for
cash but also slaughtered during festivities. Garlic is the other cash crop. Most recently,
the Ivatan started to depend on rice, supplied by the National Food Authority from
Luzon, as their staple instead of the usual rootcrops.
Religion
Today, the Ivatan are basically Catholic. Their religious devoutness can be attributed
to the persistent and dedicated works of the early Dominican priests. However, there
are a growing number of other Christian denominations especially in the capital town.
Regardless of this, the Ivatan still believe in the influence of the world of the anyitus
(ghosts or soul of dead ancestors. Although they do not worship them, they conduct
rituals and offerings to appease or placate an anyitu.
Kinship
The family is still the strongest social unit among the Ivatan. Extended families are
still widely accepted among many Ivatan households. Because of the constant threat
from the elements, the Ivatan has to rely on its close family ties or kinsmen (kalipusan)
and friends for support. "The family concept developed a networking system based on
blood relations, kinship, so that marriages across subtribes and those from other
territories expanded this network. These relations, by tradition, were constantly
cultivated through visits , sharing whatever produce, catch, animals were available;
attendance and participation in family celebrations and gatherings. It was bad manners
not to pay a call to a kin, if one were in the neighborhood. Strengthening these ties was
so important." (Hidalgo 1996.97).

Other cultural markers of the Ivatan
Like most lowland Philippine communities, the Ivatan were totally Christianized by the
Dominican friars. But unlike most of these communities, the Ivatan retained quite a
number of its distinct cultures. Payuhwan and yaru are work groups that until now are
the mainstays of community and farm work. The vakul is also distinctly Ivatan. It is a
woman's headgear that covers the head and back keeping the wearer cool during
the long hours of work in the field. The Ivatan's tataya is another cultural marker.
Unlike any other boats all over southeast Asia and Oceania, the tataya is closer to the
European boat-making tradition. The uvud and vunes (mentioned earlier) are the
greatest food extenders that challenge any discriminating palate. The ritual and
festivities associated with uvu planting cannot be found anywhere else in the
Philippines. The mayvanuvanua ritual to open the fishing season of dibang (flying
fish) and arayu (dolphin fish) is only found among the Yami of Orchid Island in
Taiwan. They have the palu-palu (traditional dance),ururan (grinding
stone), chayi and natu (fruits), kalusan (work songs), laji (ancient lyrical songs)
and their passion for alcohol is proverbial. The list will be endless the longer we
learn and understand the Ivatan culture.