The island province of Batanes is the smallest in the Philippines both in terms of area and population. It has 10 islands, but only three are inhabited: the islands of Batan, Itbayat and Sabtang. The most populated one is the island of Batan, the name of which was pluralized Hispanically, hence the name Batanes. It is where the capital town, Basco, is located.

The town of Basco got its name from Governor General José Basco y Pérez de Vargas, the 53rd Governor General of the Philippines under the Spanish crown. It was under his tenure that the islands of Batanes were subjugated to the colonial rule, and as a reward for his conquest, was granted the title primer conde de la conquista de las islas Batanes, or the First Count of the Conquest of the Batanes Islands.

Our first day in Batanes featured a tour of Northern Batan Island, and there could be no more fitting as first stop than the capital town’s welcome arch.

Unlike typical welcome arches that cuts through roads and marks boundaries, the arch of Basco is unique as it is placed on the side of the road leading to a view deck where one may get a full view of the sea. That indeed provides a top-notch kind of welcome. No wonder Captain General Basco wanted the islands for the Spanish crown. Its beauty is awe-striking.

After experiencing the welcoming view of Basco, we started our way off to our next destination. Our next stop will showcase faith and culture intertwined; how the Ivatans embraced a faith that was foreign to them while continuing to embrace their own way of life.