Batanes: An Unexpected Journey to the North
Hello everyone!
A few weeks ago, I went on an unplanned but unforgettable trip.
My superior had a conflict of schedule and tasked me to fly to DepEd Division of Batanes to orient Grade 2 teachers on contextualization. As the focal person for Grade 2 learning resources, I gladly accepted the responsibility and immediately booked a flight to Basco, Batanes. Yey, my first time there!
But as with all great journeys, this one wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.
My flight was scheduled at 6:45 a.m. from Clark International Airport—a loooong way from my place in Binondo, Manila. So, I had to travel all the way to Pampanga a day before. Compared to the NAIA terminals, Clark is smaller, with limited space and seating. There were benches, sure—but definitely not enough for the surge of international and local travelers. I ended up not getting any sleep that night.
At exactly 4:00 a.m., passengers started forming queues. I quickly headed to the PAL counter for check-in to avoid the long line of tourists. I later learned that Clark starts its operations at 4:00 a.m.—good to know. After checking in and paying the terminal fee, the rest went by smoothly.
This was my first trip to Batanes, and I was absolutely thrilled! Colleagues who’ve been there shared glowing stories about the breathtaking views and peaceful vibe of the province. So naturally, I told myself: “Once the orientation is done, I’ll use every free minute to explore this dream destination.” But the question was... with whom?
Luckily, Dr. Romel Costales, a Regional Supervisor from DepEd Region 2, had the same idea in mind—to go around and see the places we’ve only heard about in stories.
On Day 2, we set off for Sabtang Island, our first destination. At dawn, we headed to the port to catch a boat going there. While waiting, we had the chance to visit the famous Honesty Store, just a few steps from the pier.
I was truly amazed.
The store had no staff—just shelves of items, a price list, and a payment box. Transactions went on entirely on trust. What struck me most were the words written on the table:
"This store is too little for dishonest people."
Simple. Profound. Powerful.
I hate to cut this short, but urgent tasks are calling. Don’t worry—I’ll be sharing photos so you can catch a glimpse of the journey.
Thanks for reading, and until my next travel tale.
Sometimes, the best trips are the ones we never planned.
#BatanesJourney #WorkAndWander #DepEdTravels #UnexpectedButUnforgettable
