Come Saturday late afternoon, I decided to attended mass at the lovely Church of Sto. Domingo de Basco, the oldest in Batanes.  The church was just walking distance from the inn I was staying in. The mass was held in the unique Ivatan dialect.

Church of Sto. Domingo de Basco

First built from 1787 to 1796 (one of the first limestone buildings to be built under the Spanish regime), it was destroyed during a typhoon and rebuilt in 1812 by Dominican friars. Its façade fell to the ground during the 2000 earthquake.  The present white Baroque church, built in the espadaña style, has massive pilasters buttressing the thick walls from foundation to top.  It incorporates the original front and north walls while the rear and south walls are inside the original ruins.  The convent beside the church was built in 1814.

The church interior