The Ivatans are a Filipino ethnolinguistic group predominant in the islands

of Batanes of the Philippines. Their ethnogenesis is unclear; their origins remain

untraced among scholars, but they are known to be an Austronesian group,
related to neighboring Ilocanos on purely linguistic basis.
The culture of the Ivatans is partly influenced by the environmental condition of
Batanes. Unlike the old-type nipa huts common in the Philippines, Ivatans have
adopted their now-famous stone houses made of coral and limestone, designed
to protect against the hostile climate.

Contents
1Origins
2History
3Physical attributes
4Demographics
5Culture
6See also
7References
Origins[edit]
Documents do not show much about the history of the Ivatans and at present,
scholars who study their origins are still unsure as to their exact origin. They
question whether the pre-historic Ivatans came from the northern part
of Luzon or southern portions of China and Taiwan. There is evidence that they
might be a surviving Christianized remnant of a people that once resided on all
the islands between Luzon and Taiwan.[1] However, they have considered the
close racial resemblance of the Ivatans to the Malays and the structure of their
language could mean they came from other parts of the Philippines. Tracing their
roots through Batanes' folklores, genetic studies of Omoto,
a Japanese anthropologist, of the Yami of Orchid Island (Lanyu) show closer
genetic affinity of the Yami to the Tagalog and Visayan and linguistically to
the Batanic (Bashiic) sub-branch of the Malayo-Polynesian branch.[2]
History[edit]

An Ivatan man fresh from work.

A Sinadumparan Ivatan house, one of the oldest structures in the Batanes islands.

The house is made of limestone and coral and its roofing of cogon grass.
Ivatans already lived in Batanes before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines in
the 16th century, establishing fortresses known as idjang, and lived autonomously
long thereafter. On June 26, 1783, Batanes was incorporated to the Spanish East
Indies.[1] In 1686, Ivatans were forced to settle in the lowlands of Batanes.[3] The
Ivatans were under Spanish rule for 115 years, and gained their independence on
September 18, 1898. However, June 6 is celebrated in Batanes as its founding day.
[1]
Physical attributes[edit]
One of the earliest accounts of the Ivatan is that of the British buccaneer William
Dampier in 1687. Dampier described them as "short, squat people; hazel eyes,
small yet bigger than Chinese; low foreheads; thick eyebrows; short low noses;
white teeth; black thick hair; and very dark, copper-colored skin."[2] They also
have strong mixture of the short type of the Mongols, and there are some
individuals who seem to have some physical characteristics peculiar to the Ainus
of Japan.[1]
Demographics[edit]
In 1990, population of the Ivatans was 15,026, an increase of 24% over the 1980
population of 12,091. These were distributed to the six municipalities, with 38%
residing in Basco, 23% in Itbayat, 12% in Sabtang, 11% in Mahatao and 8%
for Uyugan and Ivana.[2] In the 2000 census, 15,834 Ivatans were among the
16,421 population in Batanes.[4]

An Ivatan woman wearing a vakul, a headgear for sunlight and rain protection
made from vuyavuy palm fiber.[5]
The mother tongue of the Ivatans is the Chirin nu Ibatan, but is commonly known
as Ivatan. A distinct Austronesian language, the Ivatan has two dialects including
the Basco, the Itbayáten[6] and possibly the Yami.[1] The Ivatans widely speak
and understand the Ilocano, Tagalog, and English languages.[2]
Today, most Ivatans are Catholics, like the rest of the country, although some
have not converted and practice ancestral worship to their anitos.[1] However,
there are growing Protestant denominations specially in Basco, the capital town
of Batanes.[2]
Culture[edit]
The Ivatan's culture have been largely influenced by the climate of Batanes.
Exposed to high risks of disruption to their agriculture, Ivatans have adopted
strategies to live.
Traditionally, because of frequent typhoons and drought, they plant root crops
able to cope with the environment. These crops include yam, sweet potato, taro,
garlic, ginger and onion, as they ensure higher chances of survival during awry
climate conditions.[7] The Ivatan study the behavior of animals, sky color, wind
and clouds to predict the weather. Ivatans usually gather their animals and stay in
their houses when they see that the cows take shelter from
the payaman (communal pasture) and birds taking refuge in houses or in the
ground. A pink sky with an orange hue also heralds a storm.[8]
The sea is vital to the Ivatan's way of life.[3] Although abundant only in the month
of March to May, they depend on the flying fish (dibang) and dolphinfish (arayu)
present on the shores of Batanes.[2] They have a native delicacy called uvod (the
pith of the banana stalk) which is served, along with the wine palek, on festive
occasions such as weddings.[1]
Before Spaniards arrived at the Philippines, Ivatans built their houses largely
from cogon grass, small and well-situated, designed to protect against strong
winds.[2][3] The Spaniards introduced large-scale production of lime for the
construction of their now-famous stone houses. With meter-
thick limestone walls,[3] the type of their infrastructures are designed against the
harsh Batanes environment,[9] which is known as a terminal passage of typhoons
in the Philippines. The basic cogon grass is still preserved as roofs of their houses,
thickly constructed to withstand strong winds.[2] These houses are comparable to
the white houses in New Zealand, Ireland and Scottish Highlands.[10]
One of the endemic clothing of the Ivatans is the vakul. A vakul is a headgear
designed to protect the wearer from sun and rain. It is made from vuyavuy
palm fiber.[3][5]
The Ivatan have three folk songs styles: the laji, the kanta and the kalusan.
[2] The laji are ancient lyrical songs that are supposed to be sung when they are
merry or just finished work.[11] The kalusan is sung during work.[2]
The Ivatan have legends that are called kabbata.[12] They have the rawod, chants
that chronicle the adventures of the Ivatan's forefathers as they escape a disaster

Inhabiting the Batanes, a chain of small islands at the northernmost point of the
Philippines, were the Ivatans.  Of the island chains, only three islands were
inhabited:  Batan, Itbayat, and Sabtang.  The Ivatans of today are considered to be
the Christianized surviving group of the ancient people who once inhabited all the
islands of Luzon and Taiwan.  The ancients spoke a language, Chirin nu Ibatan, or
simply Ivatan; an Austronesian language spoken exclusively in the Batanes Islands
was characterized by the dominant use of the letter “v”, as in valuga, vakul, and
vanuwa.  In addition, each Ivatan dialect was unique to a specifc island:  The
Northern dialect spoken in Basco, the capitol; Itbayat in Itbayat Island; and
Southern Sabtang in Sabtang Island.
Culturally, the Ivatans have been influenced by the climate of Batanes – often
times, exposed to high risks of agricultural disruption, they adopted strategies
that ensured their survival.  Due to the frequency of typhoons and drought, they
planted root crops that were more resilient to the destructive forces of the
environment; these include yam, sweet potato, taro, garlic, ginger, and onion.  In
addition, the Ivatans possessed a unique skill to predict weather, namely thru the
study of animal behavior, sky color, wind, and clouds.  For example, upon seeing
their livestock take shelter, they too sought shelter.  Although abundant
exclusively in the months of March to May, the Ivatans also depend on the flying
fish, dibang, and dolphinfish, aravu, that are present on the shores of Batanes. 
Unique to their culture is their stone houses adopted from the Spaniards and
made of limestone; the walls were as thick as one-meter and able to withstand
the terminal passage of typhoons in the Philippines.  The roofs, on the other
hand, retained the traditional thick-fabrication of cogon grass designed to
weather the buffeting winds.  The vakul, a traditional headgear designed to shield
the wearer from the sun and rain, is another cultural feature unique to the
Ivatans.
Introduction / History
The Ivatans are of various physical types. The dominant one is the Malay. Others
have physical characteristics peculiar to the Ainus of Japan of short stature, fair
complexion and small slit eyes.

The Ivatans live in houses made of coral and limestone cement with thatched
roofs made of grass. Their houses have square structures that have two big
windows as big as doorways. The presence of typhoons all year round, needs that
the houses' walls and roofs to be built almost a meter thick, while the floor is
raised about two meters high.

The Ivatans are peace-loving people and are very clannish. Their geographical
location is one of the major problems of the Ivatan society. They are isolated by
rough seas all year round from the mainland Luzon.

The Ivatan courtship practice is typical among the Filipinos from Luzon. A man has
to render service to the family of the woman he'd like to marry. Marriages are
officiated in the church and celebration usually follows the wedding ceremony
with feast and dancing.

The economy of the Ivatans is greatly affected by their geographical isolation from
the mainland Luzon. The year round presence of typhoons and rain make it very
difficult for the Ivatans to increase their source of livelihood. Regular
transportation is needed in order to increase their trade and market with other
neighboring islands, especially Luzon.
Because of their small population, the Ivatans have little to say regarding national
political decisions. However, in their local government, they have the right to vote
their choice of leadership and they can participate in their local development.

What Are Their Beliefs?

At present, most Ivatans are Catholics. However, there are a few who have not
become Christians and continue to adhere to a form of ancestor worship which
venerates the dead as anito, who is responsible for the successes and failures of
their relatives.