Boulder Beach at Valugan

The three-day trek and photo shoot was an experience of a lifetime with the Mandy Navasero Batanes Photo Safari.

The natural beauty and magnificent scenery, the rolling hills, deep blue sea, the vernacular stone houses, the cobbled stone pavements and most importantly, the Ivatans have made Batanes truly memorable. The trip made an impact on my life too.

One touching moment was when I experienced first-hand the Read Aloud program. We personally delivered and handed books to poor Ivatan children, courtesy of Gig and the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc. in cooperation with Books Across the Seas.  The joy in my heart at the sight of happy children was such that I wanted to cry.  In my previous trips within and outside of the Philippines, I never joined any charity activities giving back to the local people.

Spelunking was another unforgettable activity.  I never imagined I could come out alive and in one piece.  But of course, with everyone helping each other, everyone managed to climb up and down the crystallized mountain known among Mandy’s group as Gig Rock at the Diura Fishing Village.  Indeed, spelunking was a record of a lifetime.

I also like the Japanese tunnel as it reminded me of how the Japanese were able to survive and live underground for a long time. 

Being Filipino and a modest chef,  Batanes cuisine was surprising for me.  Fresh catch of the day coupled with organic vegetables and fruits made the simple cuisine in Batanes interesting.

The Honesty Store is also worth mentioning.  The coffee break is a bit surreal as no “tindera” was inside the store and payment was merely placed inside a tiny box, receipt written by the buyers themselves.  It is really fantastic as the store continues to live up to its name.  But then again, the post inside the store – God is Your Conscience – could have made the difference. I guess Ivatans do have a way of handling things.

“Jumpology” is another activity wherein we jumped to our heart’s delight or creatively did yoga poses and gave good photo opportunities.  Needless to say, the photos came out beautifully.

Lastly, after the trip, I came to know Mandy better, a seemingly ordinary woman who is quite unique and undeniably admirable.  Her big heart and sense of humor, her energetic stance, her impressive guidance made it easy for everyone to love her.

Ending a wonderful trip is always a sad event but nevertheless, memories of Batanes will always be at bay for me.

Join the Batanes Photo Safari on April 23-26, May 6-9, email mandynavasero@yahoo.com or visit www.mandynavasero.multiply.com or call 526 6363.