Who doesn’t want to go to Batanes? Raise your right foot! No one’s raising, right? Because anyone who knows Batanes or anyone who has seen its pictures would surely raise his/her foot, if I’ve asked the other way around. Its captivating beauty is beyond compare.

Located in the northern tip of the Philippines, Batanes is the smallest island province in terms of population. It has only 15,000 inhabitants, as of writing time. However, that number is still declining. This was what Batanes Governor Vicente Gato shared to us during our visit last February. (I’ll share more of our conversation in a separate post).

Frequent readers and lurkers alike might have read my Batanes Diaries entries. I know I haven’t finished them yet. There are so many stories to tell. You’ll know why when you get a chance to step on this extraordinary island.

Anyone who dreams of going there would surely do anything even if it means joining contests online. I tried once, twice and thrice. At the third try, I WON! Try and try until you succeed. I did!

I thank God for this blessing. It made me believe that yes, Dreams do come true. This wouldn’t be possible as well if not for the people who supported me and of course, to South East Asian Airlines for the tickets.

Here’s the itinerary that I did along with six wacky characters (Journeying James, Gay of PinayTravelJunkie, Bless of Travelistas.org, Leon Pangilinan of WanderingLion, Michael Koh, and our tour guide, Engr. Joseph Dy) for the SEAIR Batanes Winter Bloggers’ Tour:

Day 1: Welcome to Batanes 

10:00-11:30 AM- Flight MNL-BSO (BSO stands for the airport code of Basco, capital of Batanes)

11:30-12:30PM- Lunch at Hiro’s Cafe /Check-in at Batanes Seaside Lodge Annex

1:00PM- 4:00 PM-A Slice of Life at the town of Mahatao 

• Fountain of Youth, Racuh-A-Idi
• Diura Fishing Village
• Chawa Viewdeck
• Mahatao Church

4:00 PM-5:00PM- Transit to Basco

5:00 PM- 6:00PM- Watch the sunset at Naidi Hills, where the Basco Lighthouse is.

8:00PM-8:30 PM- Chilling Session (“,): Mineovaheng at Shanedel’s Inn

Day 2: Getting to know Batanes- OVERLOAD itinerary 

4:30-6:00AM- Watch the sunrise at Valugan Boulder Beach

7:30-8:00AM- Breakfast at Hiro’s Cafe

8:30 AM-5:00PM Batan Island Overload

• Ivana: Walk along the Spanish-built stone bridge
• Ivana: Meet Lola Ida Estrella at House of Dakay  (The oldest stone house in Batanes)

• Ivana: Have coffee at Honesty Coffee Shop and Visit Ivana Church Ruins
• Uyugan: Pray at the Pink Church

• Run with the horses at Sitio Sungsung

• Stone House used in the movie Batanes, starring my katukayo Iza Calzado and F4′s Ken Zhu

•  Racuh-A-Payaman (Marlboro Country): Blown away by the wind

• Mahatao: Lunch at Diura Fishing Village
• Mahatao Lighthouse
• Mahatao Church-San Carlos Borromeo
• Tukon Chapel
• PAGASA Weather Station- This is the site that records weather disturbances that threaten the country. Thus, this forms the misconception that Batanes is frequented by typhoons when in fact, it’s just the first province up north, where the detector of typhoon is. 

• Appreciate artworks at Fundacion Pacita
• Dance with the wind at the Vayang Rolling Hills

7:00PM-8:00PM- Dinner

Day 3: Riding with the waves to Sabtang Island

5:00-5:30 AM- Breakfast

6:00-6:30 AM- Transit to Ivana

7:00-7:30 AM- The Ride to Sabtang Island via the Falowa (sea vessel)

8:00-9:00 AM- Walk in Savidug and explore the stone houses

9:00AM-11:00 AM- Topload Ride to Chavayan

• Meet Lolo Marcelo- the oldest living man in Batanes
• Visit the Sta. Rosa de Lima (Chavayan Church)
• Meet Lolo Mariano- Tukap maker who lives across the Sta. Rosa de Lima Church
• Be awed by Chamantad Cove

12:00PM-1:00PM- Lunch at Morong Beach

1:00-2:00PM- Walk along the shoreline of the beach, photoholic activities

2:30 PM- Observe the kids play at the Sabtang port

3:00 PM- Crazy & Thrilling Falowa ride back to Ivana

4:00 PM- Back to Basco

5:00-7:00PM- Roam the town of Basco for souvenirs

7:30PM- Mass at Sto. Domingo de Basco Church

Day 4- Batanes, I’ll be back

4:30 AM-5:30AM Valugan Boulder Beach

-We returned to the beach with the hope to see the sunrise. We didn’t see any but felt the bone-freezing weather. So, this was the “Batanes Winter”. (More of this in a separate post.)

6:00AM-6:30AM- Check-in at BASCO Airport

7:00-8:30 AM- Fly back to Manila.

Batanes, I’ll be back!

******

Special thanks to South East Asian Airlines for the free flights to Batanes. I’ve won the tickets through their Facebook contest.