Almost every beach in the Philippines is associated to a particular feature that it eventually develops as its identity. Think about it. The white sands of Boracay, the cliffs of Poro Point, the underwater seascape of Bohol, the cream beaches of Anguib and Saud, and more recently, the boulders of Valugan. Such identities are the propagated in different platforms: in the television, on radio, on billboards then nowadays, on ads on social media. They are repeated over and over again until they leave a certain recall to the minds of people. If one is introspective enough though, a realization kicks in that those identities are actually tourism marketing taglines.

There is nothing wrong with that. It promotes local tourism which generates jobs. It does not necessarily hold true for Batanes though. Batanes as a tourist destination has long been set in stone. In fact, at some point, it is considered as the ultimate Philippine destination given its distance from the mainland that makes it difficult to get there, not to mention the relative costliness of doing so. When one reaches the islands, however, one will understand that being in Batanes is all worth it.

When we were done exploring the wonders in the towns of Uyugan and Ivana, we were back in Mahatao, this time to see a beach which is essentially the epitome of what someone would see in most Philippine beaches.

Maydangeb White Beach features a tropical vibe with coconut palm trees, creamy white sand, and scenic hills and cliffs.

Before we waded through the water, Kuya Joaquin first took our photos before the picturesque wonder that is before us.

One distinctive feature of the Maydangeb White Beach is that you do not have to swim and dive to see aquatic vegetation. The vibrant colors of the underwater plants could be seen from the shore through the clear waters, an indication of the healthy ecosystem that thrives in the area which is a give away on the pristine condition of the beach.

We waded through the crystal waters with care, lest we damage the aquatic plants. The sea was very beautiful especially in its calm, far from the reputed wrath of the waves of the Batanes seas.

As the sea is beautiful not only in calm but also in storm, so is happiness found not only in peace but also in strife.

Ivan Panin

Just a few steps away from the white beach lies Huhmurun Blue Lagoon, a scenic lagoon surrounded by rocky cliffs. Like Maydangeb White Beach which lies just next to the rocky hill that separates the the two bodies of water, the waters in Huhmurun are calm and clear, albeit bluer in hue.

We were told by our guides that it is a perfect swimming spot, and that if we want, we may return to it the next day, after our morning tour. We agreed to just have it the following day since lunch time was already approaching.

Our stop in Maydangeb and Huhmurun was a great way to wrap-up our organized tour for Day 2 in the magical isles of Batanes. It showed us a different side of the sea of Batanes which is entirely peaceful and calm, far from its usual association with tempest and storm. It also provided us with a looking glass through which the beauty of nature could be gazed upon, undisturbed and thriving in its state, providing a glimpse of hope that yes we can: we can still do right to protect, preserve and conserve the natural wonders entrusted to us as stewards of the earth.

We were back in Basco half an hour before noon, and our Kuya Bhong drove us to where we would be taking our lunch. Nagkatinginan at natawa kami ni Ran nang makita namin kung saan kami papunta. Remember that the previous day we were in the capitol and after goofing around decided to look for a place where to grab our dinner? Turned out we were scheduled to have lunch in the same restaurant!

Established in 2015, Beehan Meals and Snacks has since then become popular eatery in Basco serving sumptuous meals at affordable prices.

Since we reached Beehan early for lunch, Ran and I reviewed our Batanes photos and videos while waiting for our meal to be served. I am not sure anymore why, but it seems something funny caught our attention while waiting. Hindi ko na maalala kung ano ang pinagtatawanan namin.

A few minutes more and our lunch was served. For our déjeuner sur l’île, we got dishes of meat and fish, plus a very notable side dish of the elusive pako fern salad! The salad was too good, I was not able to help it but ask Ran where we could buy some as I write this article!

Our lunch in Beehan was filling, and having visited it twice in a row while in the islands, it is not hard to see why tourists prefer it as a go-to eatery. It serves good food in a good place, surrounded by good people. Yeah, it might sound as an exaggeration, but seriously, all is good in Batanes.

It was time to return to our accommodation after our sumptuous lunch. We asked Kuya Bhong as to where we may rent bicycles, as we would want to explore the island on bikes after resting a bit in the lodge. He said he will be very much willing to accompany us to where the bike rental shop is located. We agreed that he would pick us up at around 02:00 PM.

Our organized tour might have already ended for the day, but our adventures were not yet over. We would want to make the most out of our second day in the magical isles.