Closer Batanes-Taiwan relations eyed

By Jack Castaño | August 1, 2006 - 12:00am

BASCO, Batanes — In an attempt to improve the strained relations between this northernmost territory of the Philippines and its neighbor, Taiwan, the latter’s ambassador arrived here Sunday to listen...

Nation

Finally, first ever flight from Batanes to Kaoshiung

By Jack Castaño | July 26, 2006 - 12:00am

BASCO, Batanes — The long wait is finally over. A 60-seater Asian Spirit turbo plane made the first-ever flight from this northernmost territory to Kaoshiung in Taiwan last Friday. En Bi Wu, an enterprising...

Nation

Artifacts trace cultural links between Ivatans, Taiwanese

By Charlie Lagasca | October 25, 2005 - 12:00am

ILAGAN, Isabela — Artifacts dug in the island province of Batanes revealed some cultural links between the Ivatans and the inhabitants of Taiwan’s Orchid Island (Lan Yu). According to the unpublished...

Nation

Batanes prepares for Unesco heritage listing

March 28, 2005 - 12:00am

BASCO, Batanes (AFP) — Nothing much has changed in Batanes in a hundred years or more. There are no shopping malls or luxury apartments, electricity is relatively new and telecommunications remain a novelty...

Headlines

Batanes unbound

By Lynette Lee Corporal | July 18, 2004 - 12:00am

Batanes has a way of taming a spoiled psyche. No unnecessary luxuries here, just plain good sense and simple, uncomplicated living. Here, man has learned to accept – and live with – nature’s quirks,...

Travel and Tourism

Escape to Batanes

By Maida C. Pineda | July 4, 2004 - 12:00am

Raffle contests bring out the cynic in me. Over the years, my family has easily filled out hundreds of raffle stubs, but the greatest prize we’ve ever won was a rocking horse. Fortunately, not all families...

Starweek Magazine

Taiwanese island folk visit forebears’ land

By Jack Castaño | September 10, 2003 - 12:00am

BASCO, Batanes — Forty-five Taiwanese, mostly members of the Yamei tribe of Taitung county in Lan Yu Island, arrived Sunday afternoon on a sentimental journey to visit this land of their forebears. The delegation...

Nation

Batanes finally goes mobile

By Jack Castaño | June 30, 2003 - 12:00am

BASCO, Batanes – Ivatans watching the Palarong Pambansa at the provincial athletic grounds last Tuesday, were surprised when they saw several of their provincemates using cellular phones, which they have never...

Telecoms

First direct Batanes-Taiwan flight slated next month

By Jack Castaño | March 22, 2003 - 12:00am

BASCO, Batanes – After the long wait, the first direct flight between this northernmost province and Taiwan’s southernmost island of Lan Yu (Orchid Island) is slated on April 21, when a 40-man Taiwanese...

Nation

Timeless Batanes

November 24, 2002 - 12:00am

They call themselves Ivatans. They are peace-loving, gentle and polite as well as friendly, accommodating and hospitable. They are tough and have mastered the art of survival and self-reliance. They are the people...

Travel and Tourism

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