June 26, 2005 - Today is Batanes' 222nd birthday! It was on this day in 1783 on the Plains of Vasay, in what is now the town of Basco, that the representatives of the King of Spain and the representatives of the Chiefs and Nobles of Batanes, signed the formal declaration that incorporated Batanes as a province of the Spanish Empire. The new province was named Provincia de la Concepcion.
The procession starts at 4 o'clock each afternoon with the image of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the province, along with the image of the patron saint of each community on the route, including Sabtang and Itbayat. After the arrival in each barangay/town, a holy mass is celebrated. This is followed by a cultural presentation of native dances and a food festival. Devotees provide continuous vigil to the images until the next day when they travel to the next barangay/town.
After Ivana, the next stage is to the barangay of San Vicente (June 22), a kilometre north, where the image of the patron saint of Sabtang, San Vicente Ferrer, awaits the procession. The barangay has historical significance to Isabtangs for this was the home-in-exile of half of their ancestors after the banishment from Sabtang Island in 1791. The other half's home-in-exile was in the now abandoned San Felix (San Pilis, just south of Ivana town). The half-century of exile was triggered by a revolt led by Aman Dangat, the chieftain of Malakdang, over abuses by Filipino agents of the Spaniards.
The next stage after San Vicente is to the town of Mahatao (June 23), six kilometres further north, then to the barangay of Chanarian (June 24), three kilometres away. It's in this barangay that the image of Itbayat's patron saint, Santa Maria de Mayan, awaits the procession.
On the ninth and final stage (June 25), which is the eve of Batanes Day, the procession leads to the town of Basco, the capital town of Batanes, three kilometres further north.
On Batanes Day (June 26), the day starts with a grand procession around the main thoroughfares of the capital, attended by pilgrims from the municipalities. This is followed by a field mass at the Aquino Grandstand fronting the 4-hectare provincial athletic grounds. A cultural presentation follows the mass, and then the "Payuhuan" Festival. The festival features the province's agricultural and processed products, woodworks and handicrafts.
In the afternoon, sports activities are the main attractions. Featured are ball games and track events. Local government officials are active participants in some ball games with the 2 provincial districts of Batanes competing against each other. The governor traditionally captains the northern district, which comprises Basco and Mahatao, while the southern district, which comprises Itbayat, Ivana, Sabtang and Uyugan, is captained by one of the members of the provincial board for the south. [Note: Those with sedentary lifestyle are advised to take it easy.]
In track events, the municipalities field their respective athletes in the dash and relay races.
*The apostle of Batanes, Fr. Mateo Gonzales, OP, first landed in Imnajbu in 1682 A.D. when he came to survey the prospects of evangelization in the Batanes Archipelago. It was in the village where the first holy mass was celebrated on Ivatan soil and the first baptism administered, making: Imnajbu - The Birthplace of Christianity in Batanes. Today, Imnajbu is a barangay of the municipality of Uyugan, its patron saint is the first canonized Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila. |
