A Trip to Y’ami: Philippine’s Northernmost Tip

A truck will be taking us to Paganaman Port where we will embark on a trip to Y’ami Island. The northernmost island of Batanes, it is closer to Taiwan than it is to Aparri.

There it was waiting for us at the landing. The boat, also called a falowa.

Could it really bring us safely to Y’ami on treacherous waters? The sea was calmest in May, which was why this expedition happened then. So along with treacherous waters is scorching sun. That boat has no cover whatsoever. So I ask myself for the nth time, how far do I go really? Is this so-called adventure worth the trouble?

Composed of 3 major inhabited islands, Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat, Batanes also has smaller uninhatbited islands. These are Siayan, Di-nem, Dequey, North, Mavudis, and Y’ami (also called Mavulis by locals). Y’ami being the farthest, we will pass all these islands on the way.

The plan was to drop off our stuff at Siayan, the island closest to Itbayat. Because Y’ami has no water source, we will stay the night at Siayan before heading back to Itbayat the next day.

The water became quite rough at one point, I wanted to get off with our stuff in Siayan but as fate would have it, the captain (they actually call him piloto) decided that we were light enough to travel the long haul. Stopping at Siayan would take up time (you’ll soon find out why) and he’d rather be out of the water before late afternoon. If truth be told, the rough sea exhibited how capable our captain was and that there was nothing to fear. One of us noticed that they only have one engine. “What happens if the engine breaks”, he asked. They shrugged, “we will use the sail”. Simple as that!

Am I glad there was no need for that. Needless to say, the journey to Y’ami was grueling with me getting perhaps the lousiest seat – the middle seat with nothing to hold on to. I slip and slide as the boat ride the waves. The fiberglass boat is slippery when wet, leg room was limited, the sun scorching.

Three hours after we left Paganaman port, we see Y’ami in the distance. As we approach it, we realized that getting off was a problem.

The water was too rough for a shore entry so we anchored far from shore and waded to the island.

The island is truly beautiful, pure, unspoiled. It still remains uninhabited.

Y'ami boasts of a long stretch of fine, white sand with a towering cliffs in the backdrop. As you treck to its highest peak, it is as if heaven is at your fingertips. Its splender consumes you and makes you feel the luckiest person to have seen God's magestic creation. Make Y'ami your next destination!