Batanes

Situated between the Bashi Channel and the Balintang Channel where the Pacific Ocean and the China Sea merge, Batanes is the northernmost province of Cagayan Valley. It is also the country’s smallest and least populated province.

Batanes is composed of ten islands, namely: Mavudis, Misanga, Ditarem, Siayan, Itbayat, Dinem, Batan, Sabtang, Ivuhos, and Diadekey. Of these islands, only three are populated: Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayan. The most northern of the ten islands is the Maduvis Island. This island, hence, is the northern tip of the country.

The province is politically subdivided into six municipalities: Basco, its capital; Itbayat, Ivana, Mahatao, Sabtang, and Uyugan.

The indigenous inhabitants of the province are the Ivatans. Interestingly, their language, also called Ivatan, is used from college down to elementary level in Batan and Sabtang Islands. In Itbayan Island, the primary language is Ichbayaten.

The province is hilly and mountainous. The people are mostly farmers and fishermen, their major cash crops being garlic and cattle. They also plant root crops like sweet potato, cassava, tuber, and a unique variety of white uvi. They also plant sugarcane to produce their native wine and vinegar, called palek.

Population
16, 467 (2007 census)