History of Batanes

Centuries before the Spanish colonization, the ancestors of today's Ivatans lived in protected
settlements called Idjangs, which were usually in defensive positions on top of steep hills. The
word "Idjang" was derived from the Ivatan word "Idi" or "Idian" which means home or hometown.
The Ivatan tribes are farmers, fishermen, and boat-makers.
In 1685 Dominican missionaries arrived and attempted to Christianize the Ivatans but the efforts
were abandoned with the death of two resident missionaries. In 1718, missionaries made another
attempt to bring the people of Batanes under the Cross. Missions directed from the island of
Calayan in the Babuyan Group of Islands were sent to Batanes to urge the residents to resettle in
Babuyan.In 1782, Philippine Governor General Jose Basco Vargas explored the area in search of
tobacco-growing regions and later sent an expedition to undertake the formalities of getting the
consent of the Ivatans to become subjects of the King of Spain. On June 26, 1783, Joseph Huelva
Melgarjo became the first Governor of Batanes. The new province was named Provincia dela
Concepcion. Governor Basco was named “Conde dela Conquista de Batanes” and the capital town
was named after him.
Batanes was made a part of Cagayan towards the end of the Spanish era. However, during the
American regime, it became a separate political unit again. During the Pacific War, Batanes,
because of its geographical location, was among the first areas of the Philippines to be occupied
by Japan.

Overview
Batanes is one of the beautiful provinces found in the Philippines. It is also known as the “Home
of the Winds”. Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province in the country. It
encompasses ten chief islands and three of it are occupied. Basco is the capital of Batanes.
Batanes is home to the Ivatans who are much admired as the “True Insulares”. Ivatan Tribe is the
first settler in this province. They came from Formosa which is known as Taiwan today. They have
kept the purity of their culture and traditions through the years.
Batanes is also popular for dried fish, the main product of the province. Handicrafts such as native
hats and fans are products of export quality. Sugarcane or “Palek” are widely sold in the islands.
The strong winds blowing along the costline and the historic marks that can be found in the
province are the reasons why the area is visited by tourists.

Climate
The climate of Batanes is cool and windy. The area has a semi-temperate type of weather due to
its location.