Istorya Nu Ivatan

Here in Batanes, we've come through one of the most intense and destructive typhoon seasons in recent memory. And as the weather warms and the fishing season gets underway (Dibang! Arayu!), we are already preparing our communities for the next one. In this second part of our series on the anyin, or typhoon, season we sit down with Savidug Barangay Kapitan Ismael Haro to talk about how we can better prepare our homes and village for the strong weather to come, and what changes need to take place so that Batanes remains strong in the future. Diyos Mamahes du dinyu atavu — for listening, for being a part of the Istorya community. To stay connected, please visit us on FB and subscribe to the podcast via Spotify, iTunes or anywhere you listen. An miruwa ta na!

Batanes is known as the land of typhoons. Going back generations, Ivatans have withstood frequent storms that have battered the islands. Because of this, our culture has adapted and survived, either by planting root crops or building sturdy homes of stone and cogon. But this past typhoon season has tested our endurance.  Starting with Typhoon Julian in October, multiple storms surrounded, hit and whipped their way through Batanes. Our crops were destroyed. Homes damaged. Roads and communication disrupted. In this first part of a series, we sit down with Ivatans and talk to them about their experiences during this past storm season, and discuss ways to prepare for the future.

Ara mangu u kawan, kadian? Seven typhoons have hit our islands in just over a month. They've destroyed our crops and fishing boats, flooded our streets, and driven some of us from our homes. But each time, we have come together to recover – helping our neighbors, repairing our roofs, fixing our roads and gathering to cook and share hot meals. As Ivatans, we are resilient and we're finding new and old ways to endure. Here's a preview of our upcoming episode: Surviving the Typhoons. 

With our islands opening up to visitors and tourists, we're taking a look at the recent surge of COVID cases in Batanes. We talk with Ivatans about the physical and emotional toll of the pandemic and how we can protect our community moving forward.

As we celebrate a year of stories, and get ready for a new season, we say thank you to all of our listeners for being a part of the podcast. On this brief episode, we hear from listeners in Batanes, Quezon City, Mindanao and the U.S. on why Istorya Nu Ivatan is meaningful to them. (And what their favorite episodes were!) Get ready for more shows on the topics, issues and stories that matter to us as Ivatan people! Special dyus mamahes to our listeners for participating in this tribute: Ailene, Biba, Manny, Lelia and Camille. 

For generations, Ivatans have travelled across the globe. We've been drawn to foreign lands by work, family or circumstances beyond our control. Some of us have returned. Others have put down roots far away. But Batanes remains our homeland. In this episode, we talk to Irene Dapa Horcajo, who spent two decades working in Hong Kong before returning to her native Savidug. The experience changed her life.

In honor of World Poetry Day, we celebrate our rich poetic tradition in Batanes, called Laji, with master singers, Melecio Alasco and the late Rosita Alavado. 

Batanes is known as a natural paradise, but if you spend time at our beaches you know we face a big problem: plastic trash washing up on our shores. Join us to learn more about the province's new ban on plastic and community efforts to protect our local environment. Our guest is council member Ferdinand C. Elica, sponsor of the new plastic law in the province, Ordinance Number 302.    To learn more about efforts to end plastic pollution in the Philippines:   Break Free From Plastic https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/tag/philippines/ Oceana https://ph.oceana.org/our-campaigns/plastics 350.org https://world.350.org/rhodeisland/plastics-and-climate/BAN

Happy Pyesta, everyone! In this special episode, Dorian shares a poem inspired by our town celebration in Savidug. 

Wishing all our listeners a safe and peaceful holiday! This week we continue our conversation with Dr. Noel Bernardo, former Municipal Health Officer for Sabtang and Doctor to the Barrios. 

Nearly a year after the first coronavirus case hit the Philippines, Batanes has managed to avoid any local transmission of the disease. But lots of challenges remain. We sit down with Dr. Noel Bernardo, Doctor to the Barrios and Municipal Health Officer to Sabtang, to talk about how we got here and what's next in the fight against COVID-19 in Batanes.

Take a walk around Batanes these days and chances are you'll hear the sound of hammers crushing rocks into gravel. It's called tik-tik bato and with tourism shut down, lots of people are doing it to earn money and get through the hard times. In this episode, we explore the trend, its history, economics and how it's an expression of Ivatan innovation and resiliency. 

After nearly four months, Batanes has lifted its travel ban to welcome home local residents who were stranded in Manila, or abroad. Our airport opened for flights, boats started transporting passengers and local barangays set up quarantine sites for the new arrivals. The whole community mobilized. But for those returning home, the journey itself could be daunting, filled with checkpoints, screenings, tests and delays. In this episode, we follow one overseas worker who returns to her hometown of Basco.  

Taytu makuhat dyaya du Batanes! It's time to harvest tree fruits, like the delicious chayi. Time to go fishing. And, normally, time for students to head back to school. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, our education system, like that of the rest of the Philippines and across the world, has been interrupted and disrupted in fundamental ways. In this episode we talk to students, teachers and parents about how they're dealing with it all -- while getting ready for the new academic term.

Kapian kamu pa nu Dius! Welcome. Nyaya am istorya naten. In our first episode we talk to residents of Savidug about how the coronavirus pandemic has changed their lives. We hear from youth, local farmers and those separated from close family members about how they are coping with quarantine and where they hope their community is headed next.  A dos bolos produksyon.

Yapu du Savidug, Sabtang! A program from Ivatans, for Ivatans. Join us for stories, discussions and impressions about life in Batanes and throughout the global Ivatan diaspora. First episode coming soon. Maysisirin ta na!