Four of the six municipalities of Batanes are all located in the main island of Batan. Apart from the capital town of Basco which occupies the entire northern part of the island, the towns of Mahatao, Uyugan and Ivana are located in the main island as well. Batan is the second largest island in the tiny archipelagic province yet the most populous one, serving as the provincial center of governance, commerce and tourism.

On our second day in the magical isles, we were scheduled to tour the southern half of Batan Island, having spent our first day in the North. Our reliable guides, Kuya Bhong and Kuya Joaquin, picked us up from our accommodation a little past 08:00 AM, after our breakfast courtesy of our hosts in Naidi Hills. Less than twenty minutes later, we have reached Chawa View Deck, our first destination for the day.

Located in the town of Mahatao which is the gateway to southern Batan island, Chawa View Deck, which got its name from the Ivatan term for cliff, is an outdoor balcony built on a precipice overlooking the West Philippine Sea. It provides a panoramic view of the seas, surrounded by rocks eroded in time and verdant hills that turn golden green with the touch of the sun.

When we left the lodge, we were not fully awaken yet. Apart from our room being too cozy, the climate in Batanes was too comfortably temperate regardless of the time of day, especially in the morning when the sun was still preparing to unleash its summer power.

The beauty of Chawa, however, was able to awaken all our senses. It is such a picturesque point in the town of Mahatao which showcases what makes Batanes stand out: the hills, the cliffs and the sea.

There are stairs in the view deck that leads to the beach at the bottom of the cliff. We were told by Kuya Joaquin though that for safety purposes, we were not allowed to go all the way down. We hence settled for photos halfway through the stairs.

Chawa View Deck was our first taste of the town of Mahatao, and it was such a great way to start the day as we explore the southern part of the island of Batan. It was a preview of the beauty that was awaiting us, a foretelling of the story that we were about to write.

On our way out from the view deck en route to our next destination, we saw the small island that is believed to where the town of Mahatao got its name. Mahataohatao means floating, and the island gives the illusion that it is afloat on the sea.

It was not part of our itinerary, but we would later realize how the land mass plays a vital role for the lives of those who live in Mahatao. In the mean time, with our senses fully awaken already, we were eagerly awaiting where our trusty guides would bring us next.

We were intent in making our Day 2 count.

And yes, the theme for Day 2 was Sa Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat. 💗💚