The Rugged Charm Of Batanes : Ivatan Hospitality At Its Finest

As the tricycle came around the bend giving me a clearer view of the port, my heart started pounding.  Waves were crushing onto the port walls and strong winds were blowing. Will the boat to Ivana depart in this foul weather?

No boat will be leaving for Ivana until the weather improves, was the information given by the port-in-charge.  

I waited at the tourism center located across the church in the town center and distracted my self from worrying by watching the ball-games on the grounds.  A municipal sport-fest was going-on that Saturday participated by all the baragays comprising Sabtang island.

A group of visitors from Manila were also in the tourism center waiting for the weather to improve.  They were together with the master photographer George Tapan.  Of course, I did not let the opportunity pass without having my picture taken with the master!

That's the master back-riding on the tricycle on their way to Bgy. Savidug for some photo-shoot.

The rains had stopped but the waves were still high and the winds had become stronger. I went to the light house to check out the view from there and the houses nearby and did some 'photography' of my own.

The Sabtang light-house from afar.

The waves and Batan Island in the horizon, Ivana side.

A mix of modern and traditional housing materials.

Then, came the news I had been dreading to hear, all boat trips to Ivana for the day was cancelled and will resume first light the following day.

Where to stay?  The only available accommodation is the Tourism Center but its full due to the stranded guests.   Where to eat? There were no 'carenderias' that day due to the sports-fest.

The answers to the above were a showcase of the Ivatan hospitality ...

The folks of Barangay Malakdang invited me to join them during snacks and dinner.  They were having a cook-out for the players of their barangay and there were plenty of food for everyone.  

There was no need for paper plates and plastic spoon and fork. Bread fruit leaves were used, instead of the plate; the hands for the spoon and fork.  I haven't done this kind of eating for a long time and I enjoyed the experience once again!

It was also my opportunity to interact with the locals allowing me to observe the Ivantans up close and personal.

Meal-to-go

Bonding time.

Having a break from cooking.

The congressional office of Congresswoman Abad became my accommodation for the night.  It has three bedrooms on the second floor of which the two were vacant.

As went to sleep that night, I cant help but say a prayer of thanks for the opportunity of being able to 'bond' with the Ivatans of Bgy. Malakdang. Being around them during that day somehow eased my worries on being stranded in the island.

Dios Mamajes to the beautiful people of Bgy. Malakdang, Sabtang Island, Batanes.

The Coast Guards of Batanes

During my recent trip to Batanes I was invited for lunch at the barracks of the Philippine Coast Guard at Basco.

It was an invitation that I surely was glad to have accepted.  The 'sinigang-na-baboy' cooked by no less than SN1 Val F Bacolores PCG was a welcome fare to my hungry stomach.  The balanced mix of the sourness and the vegetables proved the cooking prowess of the master cook.  I arrived at the barracks and peeked into their kitchen in time when the last few ingredients were dropped into the cooking pot.

The sumptuous 'sinigang na baboy' and the sweet mangoes.

On top of the sumptuous food that we shared over lunch, getting to know these gallant men of the PCG Basco and Itbayat became one of the highlights of my recent Batanes trip.  

Men who came from all over the country (Zamboanga, Davao, Aparri, etc.), far away from their families and loved ones, called together for duty in this magnificent northernmost island in the archipelago.

The Master Cook and Me.

Till my next visit SIRs.  

Dios Mamajes.  Daghang salamat!

Coast Guard Kurt at the Chinapoliran Port, Itbayat

Kiamba's Little Secret Uncovered

As the first of the series of coves came into view, I can't help but get excited on what lies on the second cove of the Tuka Marine Park, the hidden secret of the municipality of Kiamba, Sarangani Province. 

En route to the coves, I marveled at how crystal clear the waters are, with the corals and fishes very visible from where I was sitting on the motorized boat that will bring me to the second cove of the marine park.  

There are four protected coves in the the Tuka Marine Park and only the beach on cove number 2 is open to the public which is commonly referred to by the locals as the Tuka Beach.

As the boat made its final turn towards the second cove, my jaw dropped at this magnificent view which almost seemed picture perfect!

The only fast, safe and scenic route to take when going to the coves is by sea. I learned later that an alternative would be hours of hiking through a series of hills from the town proper or walk through the rocky the beach sides during low-tides .

If you want solitude and serenity but still enjoy the little comforts of modern day life, then this place is for you.  

There are no vendors nor hawkers around.  No noisy tricycles nor smoke belching jeepneys.  I did not even see any presence of dogs around.

This place has been developed and maintained by the local government of Kiamba with the initial assistance of the Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao who happens to be the Congressman of the province with his wife, Jinkee, the current vice-governor.  Vice-governor Pacquiao came from one of the barangays  of Kiamba.  Kiamba is around two-hours by land travel through a concrete highway from General Santos City.

Guests can rent one of the rooms (aircon and non-aircon) of the Pacmans Beach House.  A few feet from the house is the exclusive private beach house of the boxing-champ. 

There are no restaurants in the park, so guest have to bring their own provisions of food and snacks and especially drinking water.

You book through the local tourism office at the children's park at the beach-front. They can arrange for your transportation and accommodation.

As for the food, there are several 'carenderias' near the plaza which would be a good source for packed snacks or meals.

The long stretch of beach front is perfect for sun-bathing or just simply basking under the sun.  

With the crystal clear waters and the abundance of corals and fishes in the waters around,  snorkeling should never be missed.  Of course for the more adventurous, scuba-diving.

For those who would want to venture out to the deeper part of the waters, there's kayaking and canoeing with a banca.  As for me, I contented my self in exploring the place, snapping pictures here and there and marveling at the pristine beach-front.

What a relaxing way to end a working-trip in this part of Mindanao and the least of what I expected is visiting this hidden paradise.

I arrived in Kiamba a few days before, after almost 12-hours of land travel from Cagayan de Oro.  I am here for some work with a client, the Kiamba Municipal Employees Cooperative (KIMECO).

It was almost sunset on the day I first arrived and from the town plaza I can already see a promise of a scenic sunset from the beach-front judging from the sun rays through the hillside.  

After exchanging brief pleasantries with my client and asking directions towards the beach-front, I grabbed my camera and off I went arriving just in time to witness the amazing sunset.

On my way back, I passed-by the children park's fountain.  There were a few kids on the see-saw and the benches.  I was impressed by the cleanliness of the park with its well manicured grasses and topiary.

Just across the park is the municipal grounds.  It is common to see statues of national or local heroes, but in Kiamba there's more -- a sculpted figure of a dragon!

This dragon however is spewing not scorching flames but refreshing water.  I later found out that this statue was commissioned by the local government in honor of the current town mayor.

There are more secrets awaiting to be discovered in Kiamba and I can't wait to discover them in my subsequent visits to the place.  I'll keep you posted.

Furthermore, I can't wait to experience once again the warm hospitality of the Kiambans and their delicious seafood dishes.

Thank you KIMECO. See you soon Kiamba ...

Technical notes :

1. Images here were all shot using a mirrorless DSLR.

2. Most images were shot using a fish eye converter lens mounted on a 16mm/f2.8 lens, otherwise the fish-eye was removed.

3. Panaramic mode was also used in two of the images here as part of my experiment this feature of the camera.

Masskara @ The Plaza - Masskara Festival 2012

The previous year, I witnessed and covered the Masskara Festival from the streets.  It was an experience on its own - the running to and fro between contingents and participants, the heat, the bumping with fellow photography enthusiasts ...

This time I'm witnessing it from the Bacolod Public Plaza, where all of the street dancing culminate and where all performers give their final-best for the judges, the guests and the public.

No lengthy stories this time, but enough images to give you the feel of the festivities and to encourage you to experience one of the Philippines' grander festival.

no amount of rain can dampen the zest of the performers

At the plaza, I was shoulder to shoulder with fellow photographers as well as local media personalities covering the event.

I got to witness occasional interviews of prominent visitors who are sitting on the stage just a few feet from where I was standing or squatting.  The venue for such event was too small, one has to learn how to share the space with others.

then, Senator Migz Zubiri from Bukidnon

former, Congresswoman Riza Hontiveros

The best part is really seeing the performances of each contingent in its entirety, from start to end, something you don't see on their street performance.


The starting formation matters.  They provide for the immediate audience impact, especially upon hearing their initial shrieks and the oohh's and the ahhh's ...

The choreography and execution as well as the props, however, are ultimately the deciding factors.

sway here ...

sway there ...

resourcefulness at its best, using indigenous materials for their props

It's still a competition after all.

Even the Higantes are present, this time with familiar faces ...

The sun and the rain may have played its tricks to everyone present ...

including a few of the participants

 but in the end it's the another successful Masskara Festival 2012.

21 Oct 2012