Santo Domingo Church, also known as Basco

Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church located in Basco,

Northern Batan Island, Batanes, Philippines. Because
Batanes was named Provincia de la Concepcion in
religious records at the time of its establishment, the first
church was dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate
Conception, Patroness of Batanes Prelature.[1] It is
speculated that the image of the Immaculate Conception
was brought to Batanes during the 1783 expedition.[1] As
church, it bears the name Santo Domingo Church, in
honor of the Patron Saint of the capital of Batanes, which
is Basco.
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San Carlos Borromeo Church – Located in Mahatao,

Batanes, it was listed by the National Museum and
the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as
one of the 26 churches in the Philippines that are
recognized as cultural icons. History – It was built by
the Dominicans in 1789 and the present church was
rebuilt in 1873 by Onesimo Polo, who used limestone
for the walls and cogon roofing. The stone beaterio or
house for laywomen and other structures were built
to serve as directions for people, especially the
fishermen who use it as a guide on their way home.


San Jose de Ivana Church – Situated in Ivana,

the church was established in 1814. It has a
crenellated fortress-like campanile. Like the San
Carlos Borromeo Church, San Jose de Ivana
Church is made of limestone construction with
original baroque architecture. The church was
built during the 19th century by Dominican
priests.


San Vicente Ferrer Church – it was built of

espadaña-style facade in 1844. The church
was patterned after the one in Basco and
declared as one of the 12 best destinations in
the Philippines by the Department of Tourism
in 1994. The church is located in Sabtang
Island.


Chavayan Ivatan Village Church – it is one

of the main points of interests in visiting
Ivatan villages formerly nominated on the
UNESCO World Heritage List. Together with
Savidug, they are two of the most
preserved Ivatan villages in Batanes.



Mt. Carmel Church – Like the other

churches in Batanes, Mt. Carmel Church is
worth to visit. This 400 year old church
used stones as its walling remind of how
Ivatans used coral and rock to make their
homes.
Vakul is the quintessential headgear worn by
women and kanayi are the vests draped on
men when they work in the field. Made from
shredded leaves of voyavoy or Philippine date
palm, this all-weather gear is unique to the
Ivatans and are still worn to this day.
Mahi-mahi, as its more commonly called in
the Pacific, are abundant in the warm
ocean currents of Batanes. It is also called
"dorado" or "golden" in Spanish for its
prominent golden color blending brilliantly
with iridescent blue and green.
Kulay Festival in Batanes. ... It was Kulay
Festival – an annual event held by the
Ivatans in Basco. Hundreds of students as
well as teachers and Ivatan seniors were
clad in colorful, iridescent costumes.
Initially, I thought Kulay Fesivals means
colors. “In Ivatan, Kulay means anything
dried.
Bayanihan or Payuhuan Festival
In the Ivatan language, “payuhan” stands
for cooperation which is truly evident in this
5-day event every June. In this event, a
province-wide procession is done to recall
the route of evangelization. Communities
and schools conduct the Ivatan Olympics to
pay tribute to their native game.
This festival is an annual celebration in
the northern part of the Philippines
which showcase the livelihood and
culture of Ivatans in Basco, Batanes. It is
a cultural festival that features a variety
of ethnic groups in the different
municipalities of Batanes representing
their respective heritage and culture.