Pilgrimage Overview:

  • Pilgrimage Chaplain:

    Fr. Lawrence Llona

  • Departure Date:

    March 19, 2020

  • Countries:

    Philippines

Inclusions

  • Roundtrip economy airfare Clark – Basco – Clark via Philippine Airlines
  • Roundtrip transfers Manila – Clark – Manila by deluxe air-conditioned coach
  • Roundtrip airport-hotel transfers
  • Airline Taxes
  • Three (3) nights hotel accommodation • Transportation by vans all throughout the tour
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary (B – breakfast; L – lunch; D – dinner)
  • Tours as specified in the itinerary
  • Daily Masses
  • Services of a local tour guide in Batanes
  • Services of a Tour Leader and Pilgrimage Chaplain
  • Travel Insurance (for passengers below 75 years old)

About Your Pilgrimage

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This pilgrimage has been canceled. You are also invited to join our other pilgrimages. Click here to learn more.

Embark on a dream vacation. Feast your eyes and feed your soul. Join a 4-day Pilgrimage to Batanes with Fr. Lawrence Llona leaving on March 19, 2020. Pray, meditate and reflect and have a wonderful time of reconnecting with God in one of the country’s most beautiful destinations.

Your pilgrimage begins with a visit to the beautiful Mount Carmel Chapel. Uniquely modelled after traditional Ivatan houses, Mount Carmel Chapel or Tukon Chapel offers a picturesque seascape of the West Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean. Proceed to the nearby Fundacion Pacita for lunch. Once the home studio of the internationally acclaimed artist Pacita Abad, Fundacion Pacita pays homage to the creative roots of the Ivatan people.

Next stop is a visit to Basco Cathedral, also known as Sto. Domingo de Basco. This first and oldest church in Batanes is dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of Batanes. Experience the serenity of nature at the Naidi Hills where you will see uninterrupted spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Batan Island atop the Basco Lighthouse.

Visit the heritage towns of Savidug and Chavayan in Sabtang Island. Chavayan is a small village known for its well-preserved stone houses and for being the home of the Sabtang Weavers Association. Celebrate Mass at the San Vicente Ferrer Church, also called Sabtang Church.

Marvel at picturesque views at the Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint.  This beautiful scenic spot has rolling hills and a small trail leading to a dramatic seascape. Not to be missed is a visit to Morong Beach, well known for the Mahayaw Arch that has become an icon of Sabtang and Batanes as a whole.

Head for Ivana. Stop by at the Honesty Coffee Shop, one of the most famous man-made attractions in Batanes. Uniquely known for its business concept, the store is unmanned and solely relies on the honesty of the customers for payment of goods.  Drive south to the San Jose de Obrero Church, one of the best preserved churches in the region. Visit the iconic House of Dakay, one of the oldest houses in Batanes.

Enjoy a scenic stop at the Chawa View Deck to gaze at wonderful, picturesque views of the cliffs and South China Sea.    Catch a glimpse of the Ivatan way of life on your visit to the tiny Diura fishing village. Here, fishermen perform the Kapayvanuvanua ritual to signify the start of the fishing season.  Visit the enchanting town of Mahatao to see the historic San Carlos Borromeo Church. Built by the Dominicans in 1789, San Carlos Borromeo Church is recognized as one of the cultural icons of the Philippines.

Next stop is Uyugan, the town with the most number of intact stone houses in Batan Island. Visit the San Antonino de Florencia Parish Church. Drive by the Ruins of Songsong then proceed for lunch at LORAN Station (Long Range Naval Station), once called the “Little America,” where you will enjoy a history of Batanes during the American era at its National Museum.

Celebrate Mass at the picturesque Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Itbud. Proceed to Imnajbu, the birthplace of Christianity in Batanes. Here, the first mass and baptism in the island was celebrated by the Dominicans who first landed in Imnajbu in 1682. Enjoy some photo shoots at the awe inspiring Alapad Hills and Rock Formations where the site offers spectacular vistas of the Pacific Ocean.

Cap off your pilgrimage at the iconic Racuh Apayaman, more commonly known as “Marlboro Country.” Marvel at the magnificent paranomic view of the ocean, windswept cliffs rising above the sea and lush green pastureland with a handful of cows leisurely grazing. Enjoy the moment where the ambience is simply sublime.

Join a 4-day Pilgrimage to Batanes with Fr. Lawrence Llona leaving on March 19, 2020 and savor your inner serenity amidst the scenic Batanes landscape, a glimpse of heaven on earth.

Pilgrimage Highlights

Basco (also known as Santo Domingo de Basco) is a fifth class municipality and capital of the province of Batanes in the Philippines. Basco is located on Batan Island, the...

Basco

Basco (also known as Santo Domingo de Basco) is a fifth class municipality and capital of the province of Batanes in the Philippines. Basco is located on Batan Island, the second largest island among the Batanes Islands which comprises the province, and are the northernmost islands of the Philippines. The town is named after Capitán General José Basco, who led the Philippines to freedom from the control of New Spain, which is today Mexico.

Mahatao is one of the most popular towns in Batanes Province, which is located in Batan Island. It is a favourite stop of travellers due to its popular attractions. It...

Mahatao

Mahatao is one of the most popular towns in Batanes Province, which is located in Batan Island.

It is a favourite stop of travellers due to its popular attractions. It is in the town next to Basco when you are going to the southern part of Batan Island via the National. Road.

Mahatao is divided into four barangays: Hanib, Kaumbakan, Panatayan, and Uvoy. It’s the smallest town in Batan in terms of land area, but has the second largest population next to Basco.

Interesting sights in Mahatao include: Chawa View Deck; the beautiful San Carlos Borromeo Church; Batanes Boat Shelter Port; and Tayid Lighthouse and the Hedgegrows of Mahatao.

East of Mahatao town proper is the Diura Fishing Village. It faces the Pacific Ocean and is a fishing area for mahi-mahi or dolphin fish (also called Dorado in Batanes)....

Diura

East of Mahatao town proper is the Diura Fishing Village. It faces the Pacific Ocean and is a fishing area for mahi-mahi or dolphin fish (also called Dorado in Batanes). In this village, Dorado can usually be found on every hut’s roof, drying in the sun. The fishing Sea starts with a Kapayvanuvanua ritual.

After walking around Diura fishing village is the nearby Racuh a-Idi, also called the Fountain of Youth.

Uyugan lies in the southern part of Batan Island in the province of Batanes. Uyugan is bounded by Mahatao on the north, the Balintang Channel on the south and the...

Uyugan

Uyugan lies in the southern part of Batan Island in the province of Batanes. Uyugan is bounded by Mahatao on the north, the Balintang Channel on the south and the Philippine Sea on the East and Ivana on the west. The Uyugan town proper is 19 kilometers from Basco, the provincial capital.

In the language of the Ivatans, “Uyugan” means place of flowing water – which is never far away except in the town proper itself. Today’s brook bed that cuts the town proper in half dried up during the severe earth movements in 1918.  Uyugan is politically subdivided into 4 barangays : Imnajbu, Itbud, Kayuganan and Kayvaluganan.

Uyugan is said to be the town with the most number of intact stone houses in Batan Island, particularly in Itbud and Centro (Kayvaluganan and Kayuganan). Most tours just drive through Uyugan and Itbud.

Imnajbu is one of the 4 barangays that comprise the municipality of Uyugan in the province of Batanes. It is also one of the smallest barangays in all of Batanes...

Imnajbu is one of the 4 barangays that comprise the municipality of Uyugan in the province of Batanes. It is also one of the smallest barangays in all of Batanes and in the Philippines.

According to church records, the first mass and baptism in the islands was celebrated in what is now Imnajbu. Fr. Mateo Gonzales, OP, Apostle of Batanes, first landed in Imnajbu in 1682 AD. He came to survey the prospects of evangelization in the Batanes Archipelago. It was in the village of Imnajbu where the first holy mass in Ivatan soil was celebrated and the first baptism administered, making Imnajbu the birthplace of Christianity in Batanes.

Itbud is the most intact barangay in Batan Island. The barangay still has a lot of old stone houses. It is one of the oldest settlements in the province. Nothing...

Itbud

Itbud is the most intact barangay in Batan Island. The barangay still has a lot of old stone houses. It is one of the oldest settlements in the province.

Nothing much notable about Itbud except for its church named Nuestra Senora de la Medalla Milagrosa that attracts large crowds during its fiesta. It’s a new structure built only around 2005 to 2006 replacing an older smaller church. The new structure was specially designed to accommodate a larger number of churchgoers.

Ivana is a 6th class municipality in the province of Batanes. It is one of the three major pueblos of Batanes in the first half of the 19th century, alongside...

Ivana

Ivana is a 6th class municipality in the province of Batanes. It is one of the three major pueblos of Batanes in the first half of the 19th century, alongside Basco and Marigatao.

The San Jose de Ivana Church was built in 1814 (although its foundation dates back to 1795). This church is truly unique among all the old churches in Batanes as it is the only one not built in the espadana style of the day. It has a crenellated fortress-like campanile or bell tower that gives the appearance of a fortification. San Jose Church fronts the Ivana Seaport and offers a commanding view of the sea and surrounding countryside due to its elevation. It is 14 kilometers from Basco.

Things We Love

  • Pure, clean, fresh air! A far cry from the pollution of the city.
  • Warm, approachable, and hospitable Ivatan people are there to make you feel at home.
  • Honesty Coffee Shop’s way of doing business is based on trust. (Clients choose an item they want and leave the payment in a box.
  • Ivatan stone houses are quintessentially Batanes: traditional and unassuming, but beautifully made and sturdy.
  • The Mahatao Church also known as the San Carlos Borromeo Church is a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines because of its beauty and excellent state of preservation.

Things To Do

  • WATCH.

    Watch an awe inspiring sunset on Naidi Hills in Basco, with an uninterrupted view of the Pacific Ocean.

  • PHOTO OP.

    Have a souvenir photo taken on the Chawa View Deck which boasts of stunning views of the cliffs and South China Sea.

  • SEE.

    See the oldest limestone house in Batanes on your visit to the House of Dakay, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  • LOOK UP.

    Look at the ceiling of Mount Carmel Chapel in Tukon where you will find beautiful paintings of the saints by Ivatan artists trained at the Pacita Abad Center for Arts.

  • HISTORY.

    Learn a bit of history on your visit to the LORAN (Long Range Aid to Navigation) Station in Basco, now also a museum. It was built in 1953 and housed the US coast guard for 20 years.

Why are our Pilgrimages different?

Spiritually-focused journeys
Insightful pilgrimage chaplains
Quality accommodations
Expertly-crafted itineraries
Friendly and bonded groups
Senior citizen friendly

Testimonials

The whole pilgrimage is a new and fulfilling moment in my life. It’s a nice feeling being with the Lord in His important day. And also, gaining new friends and becoming my new extended family is something I will treasure. I hope that this is just the beginning and we’ll continue to get in touch with one another despite the distance.

Brenda

Hello Co-Pilgrims,

It was indeed a wonderful Pilgrimage: very rich in history, a thanksgiving of blessings, a spiritual renewal and nourishment, and finally ending in a test of Faith.

Thank you so much Pilgrim Leader, Ging Igual, for standing beside us up to the last stretch of our 13-day journey - more particularly in the handling of an unexpected situation (cancelled flight in Mexico and re-direction of flights to make sure the 38 Pilgrims reach LA for their respective flight bookings). Ging, you were an angel to us so blessed with energy, passion, love and Milagrosa. We really felt the presence of Our Lady of Guadalupe fielding angels every step of the way.

The Pilgrimage to California Mission Churches and Our Lady of Guadalupe gives me personal inspiration for the work and activities of the next chapter of my lifetime: farming with promotion of agriculture for millennials (inspired by the scenic view of farms in California), tourism (which is a major industry in all places we visited), and support for a favourite major seminary in Tagaytay and a scholarship fund for deserving individuals (thru a non stock non profit institution).

Thank you to my Co-Pilgrims and prayer partners for the prayer support, sharing of life experiences and friendships;  Fr. Tony, thank you for your spiritual reflections and service;  Fr. Jerry Orbos for an overflowing spiritual reflections and enabling us to have the needed personal encounter with Jesus and Mama Mary (it was like a 12-day Holy Retreat); and the Executive Resources for making a very nice pilgrimage package a part of our lifetime.

Ms. Emma

Lord, we cannot find words enough to say how grateful we are to You. Our pilgrimage made us realize that Your love for us is more than what we deserve.

To all our co-pilgrims, thank you for making us feel we belong to this new family. To Fr. Dante, thanks for your prayers and pieces of advice for our spiritual nourishment. To Sis Lea, for taking care of each one of us. To Sis Joy, thanks for the contagious joys and laughters.

To our prayer partners, Sis Maribel, Melvy and Didick and Bro Mon and Sis Jot, thank you for your prayers. We will pray for you, too!

To The Pilgrim’s Center - Executive Resources, thank you for accommodating us in this Eastern Europe Pilgrimage.

God bless us all always!

Albert and Adee

Dear Pilgrims' Center:

My husband Aldo & I would like to praise & commend our Pilgrim Chaplain Fr. Dante Venus & our Tour Leader Bro. Monty for the very successful & memorable pilgrimage to Italy & the Holy Land we were very fortunate to join on March 26-April 8, 2018.

It was very hectic to be sure, but still they managed our time very well that we were able to visit more places than was promised in the itinerary, and we are very appreciative of that. Likewise, the solemnity of the whole pilgrimage experience was still observed despite many of us in the group, myself included, often forgetting that we were pilgrims & not tourists 😉😉, taking photos, selfies, etc. instead of, or before focusing on what the local guide was explaining or on the scripture readings. I cannot fault us pilgrims on this because for many of us seniors, and I speak for my husband & I, that trip might be our first & last time to visit those places, so we made sure they were properly documented. Nonetheless, it was a truly spiritually uplifting & life-changing experience for us. We continue to thank our Lord for making that experience of a lifetime possible. Indeed, nothing is impossible for God! Thank you very much to Fr. Dante, Bro. Monty & to each of us pilgrims in the group for the prayers, love, care & concern shown to each other. Let us continue to pray for and with each other. It is my hope that we meet each other again soon, to strengthen our bonds of friendships.

Most sincerely, Leclec Cabusora

Leclec Cabusora

My husband and I just came back from a wonderful trip to Israel - with Franciscan Fr Reu Galoy. Thank you Pilgrim Center for the arrangements. We are so happy and satisfied with all that you have done for us. Kudos to Yanyan and Monty from Pilgrim Center, and Fr Reu and Ronin for your caring services. It was a spiritual journey and we felt the abiding presence of the Lord all throughout.

Ann Arguelles Cortes

Our pilgrimage was worth all the hardships (I was having leg pains). We had an excellent leader in the person of Adrian, two priests Fathers Val and Ron, who gave us very nice pieces of advice and homilies, and of course the members of the group who were all very nice. Looking forward to join another pilgrimage.

Emily Bautista

It was the most profound experience I had in my whole life....Walking with the Footsteps where Jesus walked made my life more grateful and humble....My faith become stronger as I express it...A growing faith is a sharing faith....TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! SHALOM!

Carmen Nierra

Vir & I would like to express our gratitude for a wonderful pilgrimage we had from Sept 5-18. From checking-in last Sept 5 & all during the tour, we felt the care from a family. No words can ever describe how thankful we are.

I almost cried last Sept 8, (my birthday) when we (2 of us have the same birthday) were given a surprise mini celebration when after our dinner, we were given a cake. I really felt the love of a family then.

All these things made possible because of your capable coordinator Ms. Ging Igual. She's such a wonderful leader. Kudos to her.

Rest assured that i will refer your company to all my friends who are planning to go on pilgrimage .

Good day & may God always guide & protect all of you in the Pilgrims' Center/ Executive Resources, Inc.

Cora and Vir Franca

I am honored to be included in this pilgrimage. The Pilgrims' Center has very good itineraries worth remembering. No hours wasted. They took very good care of us in spite of our big number of 47 people. The daily mass and homilies of Fr. Manny Cruz held in different shrines and churches were very inspirational and transforming. Accommodations were nice most especially the one on top of the Mountain with an awesome view built in 1909. It's like travelling back in time. I definitely would want to do it again with Pilgrim Center.

Peter Joseph Mapua

The Pilgrims' Center always gives you the best. They let you feel like an Executive in terms of personal service & attention especially during pilgrimage. Their choices of pilgrimages and pilgrim chaplains are outstanding. You go back home very fulfilled and immersed...

Marlene Silvestre

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Frequently Asked Questions

Simply press the I'm Interested button in any pilgrimage page and complete the form to receive the complete details including price, itinerary and inclusions in your email. You can also contact us at support@pilgrimage.ph or 5238581.
Yes! We can arrange private and customized pilgrimages for groups of 10 or more. Please contact us on support@pilgrimage.ph or 5238581 so we can begin arranging your private pilgrimage. We can provide free trips to organizers of groups of 20 or more.
Yes! We have many pilgrims joining from outside the Philippines. We can provide you the cost for only the land arrangement portion of the pilgrimage and advise you on which flights to take from your country. Please contact us and advise your place of origin and we will provide you with the rate without airfare.

Booking Conditions

1) 50 % deposit is required upon reservation.

2) Deadline for full payment should be at least one (1) month before the departure date.

3) Cancellation Charges:

> 50 % of the tour cost will be charged if cancellation is made one (1) month before departure.

> Full tour cost shall be forfeited if cancellation is done fifteen (15) days prior to departure date.

Terms and Conditions

BASIC TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE: Airport terminal fee, hospitalization and other medical expenses, tours and transportation during free periods, porterage of extra pieces of luggage in excess of the maximum allocation (10 kgs.), drinks and beverages taken during meals, items of personal nature such as laundry, telephone, fax, room service, tips for drivers, guides, tour escorts, and other expenses not mentioned in the itinerary terms and conditions.

EXECUTIVE RESOURCES, INC. has arranged for the various tour services to be performed under the responsibility of various contractors. Executive Resources, Inc., its employees or its subagent’s therefore only act as agents for the contractors providing the various services described in the tour and accept no responsibility or liability in connection with losses or accidental expenses due to delays of schedule, overbooking, defaults or “force majeure.” All tours and arrangements are subject to the general conditions specified by each contractor. Tour itineraries and prices are subject to change without prior notice. When making a tour booking, the passenger acknowledges and accepts the foregoing conditions.

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