Possibly, it is safe to say, that we all learned about the term “bayanihan” through one of our thick elementary history textbooks wherein the word will always be depicted by an image of a “bahay kubo” carried by a group of lean tan-skinned men—usually sporting a camisa de chino, tucked loosely with their faded maong pants folded above their knees while wearing their straw hats—kept in queue at both ends of the nipa hut by two parallel sturdy long bamboo sticks lugged on their broad shoulders. For some it may seem as a Herculean task transporting a full house under a sunny afternoon while walking barefoot on uneven soil terrains. And you just can’t help but wonder how these guys are still able to flash those happy smiles amid such tough duty. Perhaps, those genuine grins are a reflection of how they feel inside: the pleasure you achieve when you lend a hand. In a nutshell, “bayanihan” is a concept of assisting your neighbor in an altruistic sense. Literally, it translates into English a...

Mauyen Port at Itbayat Batanes If you’re looking for an article which will lay-down a detailed itinerary of scenic spots or a guide that will give leads to local bistros, then you should stop reading here. This write-up features the provinces’ charming culture.   The story goes like this…I stayed in Batanes for three weeks, not too long to feel homesick and not too short to immerse myself with the life of the Ivatans. I must say it was a fulfilling visit. Every encounter is a discovery of their humble lives molded by struggles of isolation and simplicity. So here is a list of the things you’ll surely get inclined with about Batanes:   1. Only wear your brightest SMILES: Batanes is a land wherein offering  smiles to every people you come across on the street has already been a norm. I myself also experienced this contagious phenomenon. While roaming around the area, passers-by and motorcycle riders will stop and offer their widest gr...