Dig in—the food's always fresh in Batanes

Basco, Batanes is under a typhoon signal as I write this, and I'm stuck remembering four sunny days I spent there. 
 

The sun kissed us too much—there’s still a faint burn on my feet—but the long treks were rewarded by great food; not because they’re exactly exotic, but served fresh under the sky roof.
 

Most Ivatans make a living from farming and fishing, harvesting sweeter-than-usual vegetables and drying seafood by the salty ocean’s air. 
 

Lobster can be as cheap as P150, a heavenly price for crustacean lovers like me. But the most sought-after coconut crab can go as much as P950 a kilo in Basco (it's half the price at Sabtang Island, where the strong-pincered crab is sourced).
 

Located at the northernmost tip of the Philippines, Batanes is classically photogenic, and food items follow suit. After hours of shooting people and sceneries, you can’t help but take a few more frames of meals before digging in.



–KG, GMA News