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| The Municipality of Sabtang |
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| When the Japanese garrison in the mainland realized why the Sabtang signal went dead, they prepared for invasion of the island. A hut (gingin) on fire in Mavatoy (Ivana) was the BISUMI fighters warning signal to the Isabtang fighters that Japanese invasion from the mainland was imminent. According to one survivor (Uncle Mel Gallo), the first three waves (beach landings of Japanese troops to the island) |
| Sabtang is an island municipality that lies off the waters southwest of Batan Island. It covers an approximate land area of 3,500 hectares or 35 square kilometres, which includes two small islets: Ivujos and Dequey. Around two thousand people live in the municipality. The waters around the islands has one of the richest fishing grounds in all of Batanes. The islands can only be reached by ferry boats. The town proper of Sabtang (San Vicente or Centro) is located in |
| the eastern seaboard of the main island and around five kilometres across the Sabtang Channel from the town of Ivana in the mainland (Batan Island). There are four other major settlements in the municipality that are situated along the coast of the island, namely: Chavayan, Nakanmuan, Savidug and Sumnanga. In the town square of San Vicente or Centro is a memorial to the Sabtang BISUMI fighters who died fighting for their country during the Second World War. The hostilities was triggered by a ship laden with arms and ammunition that ran aground in the island. The islanders saw this as an opportunity to drive the invaders back to the sea, and accordingly, dispatched in a hurry the Japanese garrison in the island. |
| were completely wiped out by the BISUMI fighters. Then they ran short of ammo. Then the retreat and stand behind each line of defense. Then the rout with the Japanese troops in hot pursuit. A Japanese bullet whizzed past Uncle Mel's ear. He returned fire. He escaped, but later gave himself in. He was incarcerated, but lived to tell the story. [Uncle Mel drowned at Radiwan Port in Ivana in the early 1960s, along with his wife my auntie (Francisca Caballero Gallo) and many others, mostly educators and athletes from Sabtang, while on their way to attend a provincial athletic meet in Basco. The ferry boat they were on board capsized on rough seas. - vbc] |
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| The Municipalities |
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