Indigenous foundation head calls for stronger Lanyu-Batanes ties

Batanes, June 26 (CNA) The head of Taiwan's Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation (IPCF) on Friday called for closer exchanges between Lanyu (Orchid Island) and the Philippines' Batanes Islands to help preserve Austronesian culture.

IPCF board director Maraos made the remarks during Batanes Day, held annually on June 26 to commemorate the establishment of Batanes as a province in 1783. This year marks its 243rd anniversary.

The celebrations run for a week, featuring beauty pageants, sports competitions, and exhibitions of agricultural and fishery products as well as local cultural showcases from different municipalities.

Invited guests included Taiwan's representative to the Philippines Wallace Chow (周民淦), staff from his office, as well as Taiwanese businesspeople and expatriates in the Philippines.

Speaking to CNA, Maraos said residents of the Batanes Islands also marked the "Vunung" festival on Friday, a tradition of communal food sharing similar to that practiced on Lanyu. He added that more than 4,000 local islanders took part, which made a strong impression on him.

Maraos said the Tao people of Lanyu and the Ivatan people of Batanes share deep historical ties, including similar farming practices, past intermarriage and long-standing maritime trade.

"We are of the same blood, the same family and the same community," he added.

Maraos expressed hope that the two sides will further strengthen exchanges, jointly protect the Bashi Channel, the Pacific Ocean and their shared homeland, and continue passing down Austronesian culture through cultural heritage.

Batanes Governor Ronald Aguto Jr. said he welcomes friends from Taiwan and Lanyu to visit the Batanes Islands next year and join in the celebrations.

German Caccam, mayor of Basco, the capital of Batanes, said in his opening remarks that last week's historic sea voyage made by Lanyu's Tao people marked a new chapter in exchanges between the two sides.

Caccam said the visit, though brief, was meaningful, adding that the ocean does not only separate islands but also connects peoples, histories and hearts.