History of
batanes islands

Pre-Spanish Period

Little is known about the period. The pre-and proto-historic Ivatans were boat-making and seafaring people who lived in small tribal communities that supported themselves by fishing, hunting and horticulture, raising taro and other root crops. They have left abundant evidence of their Neolithic tools and their pottery, some of which they used as primary burial jars (padapaday) which they used up to the latter part of the 18th century. They obtained some gold by panning (kapanesel). They wove (kapaysausaud) fishing nets and wove cloth (lamit) from native fibers such as ramie (hasu) and cotton (dadzi).

Each of the pre-colonial Ivatan tribal community was headed by a chieftain called Mangpus assisted by a Mapolon, each of whom was responsible to the Mangpus for a subdivision of the Idi or Kavahayan (town).

For security against attacks from other tribes, the pre-historic Ivatans lived close to cliff fortresses (Ijang) where they look refuge and defended themselves. These cliff dwellings remain visible to this day with some large artifacts still in place.

Spanish Period

In 1782 then Spanish Governor General Jose Basco Y Vargas sent an expedition to undertake the formalities of getting the consent of the Ivatans to become subjects of the King of Spain. And on June 26, 1783, Joseph Huelva Y. Melgarejo, first governor of Batanes, Dominican Fathers Bartholome Artiguez and Baltazar Calderon, and the military escorts and functionaries met the representatives of the Ivatans on the plains of what is now Basco town to perform the rites of formal annexation of Batanes to the empire of Spain. The new province was named Provincia dela Concepcion. Governor General Jose Basco Y Vargas was named “Conde dela Conquista de Batanes,” and the capital town was named after him.

In 1789 when Joaquin Del Castillo became Governor, he decreed that the Ivatans come down and live in compact newly laid out towns, give up their traditional ways of dressing and customs and adopt the mores preferred by the Spanish government. Ivatans eventually acquiesced but not without resistance.

Because fires and typhoons routinely destroyed government and mission buildings that are often made of thatched cogon, lime and stone (cal y canto) churches began to the built around 1785 with the help of imported masons, stonecutters and carpenters from Cagayan.

Around 1890, a mail boat was coming every three months thus increasing the contact of the Ivatans with Luzon, especially Manila. They exported lard and cattle and increased local income of the Ivatans. Fr. Mariano Gomez O.P. improved local cattle industry by importing a new larger breed, which the Ivatans welcome enthusiastically.

On noon of September 18, 1898, Katipuneros from Luzon on board the boat Compania Filipinas landed at Radiwan in Ivana, hoisted their flag on the church’s campanile, and went to town to feast. In the meantime, civilian militia in Basco refuse to heed the Spanish Government’s summons to report for duty and the soldiers turned against the governor who takes refuge in the Casa Real now the Provincial Capitol Bldg., with his family and during the night, the soldiers opened fire killing Governor Don Julian Fortea. On the morning of the 19th of September 1898, the Katipuneros anchored at Basco with the Katipunero Captain Perea. Elections were held the following day, provincial and municipal officals were elected and Teofilo Castillejos won as governor.

American Period

In February 1900, the USS Princeton landed in Batanes to begin American rule. The province became mere township under Cagayan, this status confirmed by “The Provincial Government Act” (Act No. 83) of the American Government enacted on February 6, 1901. The American public school system was also immediately started and classes were held in schoolhouses built during the Spanish period and general hygiene health, hygiene and sanitation campaign was launched.

Batanes became a province again by provision of Act 1952 enacted on May 20 1909 and Otto Scheerer was appointed the first governor of the province. A wireless telegraph was erected to maintain distant communication before 1920. In 1917 a provincial high school in Basco was established graduating its first six graduates in 1928.

The roads built during the Spanish period in steep mountain short cuts were not useful for motor vehicles thus better roads were constructed. An airport was built in the agricultural land Northeast of Basco. Jose Jimenez, Clifton Spear and George Egan alternately served as Provincial Governor, more regular sea link to Manila was established. Meanwhile the main livelihood of the province continued to be subsistence agriculture and fishing. Cattle were exported to Manila and provided the Ivatan one of their main source of cash aside from public works employment.

In 1916, Vicente Barsana was appointed as provincial governor after serving as secretary to previous governors but died in a sea accident together with other provincial officials.

Japanese Period

The Japanese arrived in Batanes on December 08, 1941 and bombed the telegraph tower thus isolating the province. They then occupied the towns without resistance. During the Japanese occupation Ivatan resentment increased and turned into aggressive resistance. When the Ivatan guerillas attacked a Japanese garrison in Sabtang killing some Japanese soldiers, the Commanding General of the Japanese forces ordered the arrests of the perpetrators, brought to Basco and sentenced them to death.

After the war, contact with the rest of the Philippines increased and the airport in Basco was rehabilitated and improved and since then, it has been serving domestic flight more or less regularly. Public works has steadily improved infrastructure including electrification. The coming of inboard engine has improved inter-island transport and travel. With the engines, the Ivatan rowboat was made to accommodate engines and the fishing greatly improved. The increased number of Ivatan stores retailing Manila Goods indicates some evidence of moving from traditional subsistence farming to a degree of cash economy.

Today

With the installation of electricity in 1969, business establishments have mushroomed, support services available, schools increased, literacy rate higher, infrastructure evident, communication and transportation improved thus making Batanes a phone call away from the rest of the world.

References:
Transcribed from a typewritten manuscript entitled “Brief History of Batanes” by Dr. Florentino H. Hornedo Ph.D

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