Ivatan people-batanes-and-traditions

Ivatan people-batanes-and-traditions

1. IVATAN

2. PEOPLE The indigenous people of Batanes, called the Ivatan , have led a tranquil life in an isolated island for generations. Situated in the Cagayan Valley region, Batanes is an idyllic, virtually untouched province in the northernmost part of the Philippines where the Ivatan culture is very much alive.

3. ORIGIN Little is known about the Ivatans ' prehistoric origins apart from being an Austronesian group related to the neighboring Ilocano people. The third largest ethnolinguistic group in the country. They have occupied the islands long before the arrival of the Spaniards and lived in fortresses called " idjang ". The Ivatans speak an Austronesian language called Chirin nu Ibatan , also called Ibatan , Babuyan, or simply Ivatan . It is one of the Batanic languages and is characterized by the dominant use of the letter "v."

4. PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES One of the earliest accounts of the Ivatan is that of the British buccaneer William Dampier in 1687. Dampier described Ivatans as: Short, squat people; hazel eyes, small yet bigger than Chinese, low foreheads, thick eyebrows, short low noses, white teeth, black thick hair, and very dark, copper-colored skin. Ivatans also have strong mixture of the short type of the Mongols, and there are some individuals who seem to have some physical characteristics peculiar to the Ainus of Japan.

5. BATANES

6. 13 FACTS ABOUT BATANES It is the smallest province in the Philippines The northernmost province of the Philippines has a total land area of 230 km. It is located between 121° 45′ to 122° 15′ east longitudes, and at 20°15′ north latitudes.

7. 2. Batanes is made up of 10 volcanic islands But only three are inhabited. These are Batan (where the provincial capital of Vasay (Basco) is located), Sabtang, and Itbayat. Ivuhos island, lying about a kilometer and a half cast of Sabtang, has a handful of families tending cattle. While the other uninhabited islands are Yami, North, Mavudis, Siayan, Di-nem and Dequey.

8. 3. There’s almost zero crime rate in the province That is why Batanes is known to be one of the most peaceful provinces in the Philippines. Because of how honest and kind Ivatans are, they even have an “Honesty Coffee Shop” where people buy goods even without the staff to attend to it. Our Batanes facts list will not be complete without this.

9. 4. Ivatans still perform the age-old fishing tradition Kapayvanuvanua One of the most interesting facts about Batanes that every traveler should know is about the Kapayvanuvanua. They perform the ritual before fishing for arayu (dolphin fish), a food staple in Batanes, by offering animal sacrifices to spirits of the sea to bless them with safe and bountiful fishing season. Fishing for this prized fish is only done during summer, between April to May.

10. 5. Closer to Taiwan than to the northern tip of Luzon Distance of Taiwan from the northernmost islet of Batanes is 218 kilometers while Manila to Batanes is 500 kilometers. Usually, airfares going to Batanes are more expensive than traveling to foreign countries.

11. 6. House of Dakay is one of the only five structures that survived 1918 earthquake in Batanes Built in 1887, the 133-year old House of Dakay is considered to be the oldest traditional Ivatan stone house in Batanes. The traditional Ivatan stone houses made of stone and lime with cogon roofs could withstand the strongest typhoon.

12. 7. Basco lighthouse location used to be the site of the American period telegraph facilities Among the interesting facts about Basco Lighthouse is this. It was the site of the American period telegraph facilities that connected Batanes with the central government until it was destroyed by the Japanese during World War II. Some buildings survived and some have been converted to Bunker’s Café.

13. 8. You can’t simply buy a land or property in Batanes Unless you’re an Ivatan or you marry one. According to locals, only Ivatans can own a property in Batanes because the entire province is declared by law as a protected area and also covered by the Indigenous People’s Rights Act, which recognizes the province as the ancestral domain of the Ivatans. This is one of the surprising facts about Batanes.

14. 9. Vakul and Kanayi are not made purposely for fashion Made from shredded leaves of voyavoy or Philippine date palm, Vakul is a headgear worn by women while Kanayi are vests worn by men. Locals use these to protect themselves from the sun and rain especially when they are farming. While modernity is noticeable in the province, some Ivatans still use these gears to preserve the culture and tradition.

15. 10. Blowing your horns in Batanes is encouraged While blowing horns in other places is not allowed unless it’s an emergency, in Batanes, it’s even encouraged to avoid accidents because there are many curved roads. Hence, “Blow Ur Horn” signs are normal sights in Batanes.

16. 11. Bayanihan is still alive in Batanes Bayanihan (uniting to help one another) is one of the most important values in the Philippines especially during the olden times but since time passed and technology is rising affecting our culture, traditions, and values, bayanihan is slowly fading away. But in Batanes, it lives on up to this day! When Ivatans find out that a neighbor is fixing a house or preparing for a special occasion, the community will help that person without questions asked nor any expectations in return. No wonder they are dubbed as the kindest Filipinos!

17. 12. Ivatans have a traditional way of serving food And it’s called vunung. They wrap the meal on Kabaya leaves. Usually, these are served on special occasions like weddings where people help hand in hand in the preparations without compensation.

18. 13. The local government gives free food to everyone on Batanes Day Like any other festival in the Philippines, Batanes holds a weeklong festival to celebrate its foundation day but the most awaited event is every June 26 where street dance performances and other sports competitions are held. But not only that, because on this day, the local government gives free food to everyone may it be locals or tourists! Usually, there are around four to five trucks loaded with Vunungs and people would line up for it after the main event and they would all eat together at the plaza for the “community lunch”.

19. TRADITIONS The Ivatan's culture have been largely influenced by the climate of Batanes. Due to severe climatic disruptions to their agriculture, Ivatans have developed numerous successful strategies to protect their food supply and way of life. Traditionally, because of frequent typhoons and drought, they plant root crops able to cope with the environment. These crops include yam, sweet potato, taro, garlic, ginger and onion, as they ensure higher chances of survival during awry climate conditions. The Ivatan study the behavior of animals, sky color, wind and clouds to predict the weather. Ivatans usually gather their animals and stay in their houses when they see that the cows take shelter from the  payaman  (communal pasture) and birds taking refuge in houses or in the ground. A pink sky with an orange hue also heralds a storm.

20. The culture of the Ivatans is partly influenced by the environmental condition of Batanes. Unlike the old-type nipa huts common in the  Philippines , Ivatans have adopted their now-famous stone houses made of coral and limestone, designed to protect against the hostile  climate .