ORIGINS

Astorm was gathering. Or some form of inclement weather—it’s hard to be certain in these times. It was June, a month on the cusp of what is the traditional typhoon season in the Philippines, and we were on a rocky promontory in Batanes, the northernmost province of the country, on an island that lies right on the exit path of the region’s typhoon track. As the first droplets fell, the crew took shelter and Sharif Hamza, our photographer, instructed everyone to stand down. There would be no pictures here.
As I write this, Batanes has just been whipped by Typhoon Egay (Doksuri) as it made its way out of the PAR toward China. The usual calls for relief goods have been made for nearby provinces Cagayan and Ilocos Norte, but the sea journey to Batanes will be unnavigable, and small aircraft most certainly won’t be able to land until the last gusts have dissipated.
Batanes has always been isolated from the main Philippine island of Luzon. Like the Iron Islands of Westeriosi lore, Batanes is set apart, adrift, its small rocky isles swept up by gale force winds over millennia. The people of Batanes, known as the Ivatan, are necessarily hardier, possessing a fortitude that transcends resiliency. They have survived typhoon after typhoon, with rarely any casualties, because they are prepared, and have always been.
This is the group of islands that Vogue Philippines chose as the location for its first anniversary cover story. Often compared to Scotland or New Zealand, the hilly green terrain is a foil to the prolific tropical imagery of Philippine beaches. But Batanes is truly unique, and not just for the scenery.
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 - Anniversary Issue de Vogue Philippines.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 - Anniversary Issue de Vogue Philippines.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar

a change of PACE
Iloilo City is just one of many escapes sprawling with adventures for you to Discover Juan by Juan

SCRIPTED EMOTIONS
DARREN CRISS is no stranger to the spotlight. But, does his latest role in Broadway’ Maybe Happy Ending solidify his place within the ranks of Filipino theater legends?

LAUGH LINES
Filipino comedy is often tied to family tropes and accents, but VICTOR ANASTACIO satirizes modern- day social tensions instead.

in her words
CHEF MARGARITA FORÉS looks back on her journey as a woman in the kitchen

next CHAPTER
What is MENOPAUSE? In a conversation moderated by journalist KAREN DAVILA, five women weigh in on the facts, share the realities of their personal journeys, and guide us through the science of what's really happening in our bodies.

UNDERSTANDING HUMOR SERIOUSLY
HUMOR SERIOUSLY In Halakhak, the Filipino's hearty laugh and playfulness expands boundaries and paves the way for an inclusive future.

FUN HOUSE
MOSCHINO creative director ADRIAN APPIOLAZA is spinning new classics inspired by the brand's provocative and mischievous history.

TICK, TICK, BOOM
With a pencil, a parasite, and a pop-fed imagination, DEX FERNANDEZ draws outside the line and never stops moving.

COLOR theory
Beauty Editor JOYCE OREÑA immerses into the power of color in individuality.

under the KNIFE
DR. BENJAMIN CAMPOMANES' photographs in “Death to Fruits” pay tribute to fallen colleagues.