1ST BATANES BIG FILLING STATION
Angelito P. Castro

While there have been many retailing places for fossil fuels in small bottles or cans by the few liters, it is apt to acknowledge that D' ISLANDS FILLING STATION as the first large-scale one in the whole province of Batanes (the northernmost and smallest province of the Philippines). It was blessed and inaugurated on April 20, 2007. It is strategically located along National Road and a few steps southward from the corner of Caspo Road, just beside the Padangan Bridge of Barangay Kaychanarianan, Basco, Batanes. It can be re-supplied conveniently and fast from a big vehicle coming from a ship moored at the Baluarte Bay pier.

This business establishment has a built-in convenience store with a large space for possibly parking or accessory services in the coming days. At the moment, it dispenses premium gasoline and diesel fuel with the following storage capacities, respectively: 16,000 and 22,000 liters. Its registered owner is Lito Abuyo Adarme, a Bascoan (local of Basco), who is married to Emma Ponce-Adarme, an Itbayatan (local of Itbayat). They are both Ivatans in the larger sense of the word, referring to natives or locals of Batanes.

Land and sea transportation in the province will be greatly facilitated and economic activities therein could possibly be primed up thereby contributing somehow to the retention of, or even furthering, the high quality of life that the province has been known for. Kudos to the pioneering spirit or business foresight of its owner, the cooperation toward its realization by government agencies and the patronage of its present and future customers.

A cultural tradition of mutual help is evident here. Long live this Ivatan tradition! .