Roadtrip at Tawran Itbayat
I felt the wind from the fan blowing through the mosquito net that morning. It was like an alarm clock waking me up. It’s 6 o’clock I guess, since electricity on the island resumes at this time. It was already bright when I looked through the window. We’ll be leaving the Island today but not before we do little exploration down south. I asked Nanay Gordo downstairs if the municipal truck was available and we were lucky it was. We got our things ready and headed for a quick breakfast.
Nanay Laura
Ms Laura was at the Laruz Carinderia that morning. We had an interesting talk with her over dinner last night. She’s a retired Municipal Treasury officer who has witnessed the change in the island. She’s very kind has fascinating stories to tell. She’s very crafty and it shows with the decors inside the carinderia. Very talented as well as she helped choreograph their dance performance during the Batanes Day celebration.
Raele Church
She also introduced us to Tina, the Itbayat Island’s tourism officer who was gracious enough to tell us more about the island and tell more interesting stories about her experience joining different foreign visitor expeditions. They did studies of caves, the flora and fauna of the island while she tagged along. Her stories just heightened my interest on the island. She was the one who suggested our itinerary for this morning before we leave the island.
Itbayat Vernacular House made of Cogon Grass
Our driver, Jason, pulled by the carinderia and said good bye to Nanay Laure. We’ll be back for sure we told her. We got inside the red Toyota Pickup and started our way down south. It was a bright sunny day and every color was just bursting vividly. Jason told us that it’s faster to travel to Reale, the town down south since the roads are being paved. And it was true it took less than 30 minutes when we reached the town.
Modified vernacular house with coral stone base
Raele is a very small town. We stopped by the church which looks like a small sibling of the Sta Maria church at Mayon Centro. Jose told us that it was also Father Dennis who set up the church. Then we visited a couple vernacular houses nearby. These vernacular houses made of Cogon Grasses and they were the type of homes they lived in before the Spaniards came and introduced building stone houses.
Itbayad Kid
There are also modified vernacular houses there which have coral stones as the base. We visited one and the kind father there with his toddler was gracious enough to let us take pictures. He even gave a small bag of pineapples. These small pineapples were very sweet and it grows abundantly this season that they just give it out if they get a chance.
Jason's Cows
On our way to the airport Jason let us visit his house and introduced us to his 5 pet cows. And wow, we didn’t expect his family to have a large piece of land here. His cows were really friendly.
We finally caught sight of the airport runway being paved. It has been under renovation forever in 2 years. I’ve been waiting for it to finish and it looks like it would be in a few months. The Runway is almost finished and the Terminal is already being built.
Itbayat Airport still under construction
Our last stop before heading to Chinapoliran Port was the small town of Tawran. We climbed this water reservoir where we could see a vast 360 view of the southern part of Itbayat. From there we could see three peaks – Mt Riposed, the towering D’inem Island and the faraway Mt Iraya alongside the horizon. From that point the southern island looks like a huge version of Racu y Payaman (Marlboro Hills), with its expansive slopes of rolling hills and pastures and azure sea and skies on the horizon. It’s just wonderful.
View of the road from Tawran
As we make our way to the Chinapoliran Port, I know I will be back here soon.
Three peaks at Itbayat with D'inem, Mt Riposed and Mt Iraya
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I saw a red plate vehicle… are u in government?
I like that you showed this church in this angle – first time for me to see it like this. And that baby boy looks like Kris Aqunio’s baby james
Hi Karl! Nope. The pick-up is owned by the government
Haha Thanks Photo Cache!
Did you visit Torongan Cave? Torongan Cave was my primary objective in Itbayat. Archaeologists say that our ancestors from Formosa had their first residence in Torongan Cave.
BTW, when Fr Dennis brought us to that airport, he told me the provincial administration then was rushing to finish the airport before the May 2010 elections. The reason being that if there is a new administration, the project will not be finished, as the new admin would like to focus on other projects (hence the many rusty heavy machinery parked in some parts of the island, machinery from previous projects). When I saw the state of the airport in November 2009, and seeing how construction supplies were being sent to Itbayat via falowa, I had serious doubts they would finish it.
Judging from your photos, my doubts were right!
nice picture quality you have in there! Anyway, i have been there in Batanes 2 years ago and all i can say is that the place is very peaceful and nature gifted as well.
Hi!
Care to share your contact to Itbayat? Planning to go there next week, but I can’t seem to find a contact.