HISTORY

BATANES

Brief History

The island-province of Batanes was created by a series of volcanic activities and other geologic forces when Mt. Iraya erupted around 325 BC.

In 1782, then Governor General of the Philippines 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. On June 26, 1783, Joseph Huelva Melgarjo became the first Governor of Batanes. The new province was named Provincia dela Concepcion and Governor Basco was named “Conde dela Conquista de Batanes” and the capital town was named after him.

By 1799, the Manila government was convinced that the Batanes provincial government was unable to support itself and it was decided to downgrade it. The office of the governor was abolished and Valero Bermudez was appointed alcalde.

By 1855, the Itbayat Mission was formally recognized, the same year when the era of the alcalde also ended and the governorship was restored indicating a mode of political and economic upswing. Fernando dela Cuevas was assigned Governor.

Around 1890, a mailboat was coming everythree months increasing the contact of the Ivatans with Luzon specially Manila. The export of pork, lard and cattle increased. Galvanized iron became available.

On September 18, 1898 Katipuneros from Luzon hoisted their flag at Radiwan in Ivana. On September 20, new sets of provincial and municipal officers were elected with Teofilo Castillejos as Governor.

In February 1900, the USS Princeton landed in Batanes to begin American rule. The province became a mere township the second time under Cagayan confirmed by the Provincial Government Act No. 83 of the American Government enacted February 6, 1901. Public School system was started. General health, hygiene and sanitation campaign was launched.

Batanes became a province again by the provision of Act 1952 enacted on May 10, 1909 and Otto Scheerer was appointed Governor of the province. The Manila government erected a wireless telegraph tower and station; better roads were built and an agricultural land was converted into an airport. When the Japanese arrived in Batanes on December 8, 1941 they bombed the airport and destroyed the wireless telegraph tower. Ivatan resentment turned to aggressive resistance in 1945. After the war and the Philippines got its Independence, contact with the rest of the country increased. The airport was rehabilitated, media and the radio communications have lessened cultural isolation. Infrastructure, electrification and deep sea fishing improved and a shift to rice from root crops as traditional subsistence was effected