In the Philippines-Batan Islands

When looking at the map of Luzon in the Philippines and to the right at the top you will see the Batanes Islands. The capital of Batan is Basco which was named after Capitán General José Basco who led the Philippines to victory over New Spain, which is now Mexico. He established the Economic Society of Friends of the Country, which revived the tobacco industry in the Philippines and made the colony independent, by freeing it from the control of New Spain, which is today part of Mexico and other Pacific Islands including Philippines.

Basco the capital of Batan has around an 8000 population along with a very small airport that links to Manila the capital. The 1980 Batanes province population of just over 12,000 was only a 6% increase over the 1948 population. The estimated 1989 population of 14,000 was a 6% decrease from the 1988 estimate.

The Japanese invaded the Philippines starting at Batan Island. Their 14th Army began its invasion with a landing on Batan on 8 December 1941, making this the first landing on American territory, which was the same day as the attack on Pearl Harbour. It’s fair to say that Pearl Harbour was the major news story for that month.

The Philippines suffers from natural disasters and on June 1, 2008 a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Batanes Islands but there were no casualties or damage reported.

Batanes has the smallest province in the Philippines in terms of population and land area and is composed of ten islands and islets located about 270 kilometres north of mainland Luzon and 161 kilometres from the southernmost point of Taiwan. The largest islands are Itbayat, Batan and Sabtang. The Batanes Islands are so far flung out in the China Sea that from Y’ami- some people say that the islands may have belong to Taiwan.

Electricity on the island is provided by a generator, which is only switched on between mid-day and midnight. Most of the Ivatan people here have never travelled to the mainland, let alone the capital. Batan scenery is totally different from elsewhere in the Philippines. The island is dominated by a dormant volcano, Mount Iraya, more than 1,009(1,517) metres.

Mt. Iraya can be climbed, but only during the height of the dry season and with the aid of a guide. The usual way starts at Basco.  A partially well paved road from Basco to Imnajbu in the southeast winds along the island’s rocky cliffs, down to the beaches and rocky shores, and back up again. Though this can be done in one day, at least one overnight stop is suggested.

Jeff Harvie is an Australian Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797) who has given up the quiet life in Australia a few years back for one more adventurous with his Filipina wife and kids in Manila, Philippines. He runs Down Under Visa, which specialises in Australian partner visas for those Aussie men who fall madly in love with the local girls and want to bring them to Australia.