From the BAMSO Museum, it was just a short drive to the iconic Alapad Rock Formation, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Batan Island.

This an inclined rock, facing the Pacific Ocean, was naturally carved by the strong water current and tectonic movements. Since it is strategically situated along the coastline of Imnajbu in Batan Island, it was blasted open, right down the middle, leaving some space in between to accommodate Batan’s circumferential road.

On one side is a hill that serves as a view deck offering a picturesque view of the Pacific Ocean and the seascape, in general, for visitors, while on the other side is a rocky beach.

The rock formation deck also offers a view of the aforementioned BAMSO Museum now housed in the former LORAN (Long Range Aid to Navigation Station) constructed by the Americans in the 1960s, for Coast Guard purposes and, eventually, abandoned in the 1970s.

Check out “BAMSO Museum”

A famous scene in 1991 movie Hihintayin Kita sa Langit, wherein Richard Gomez was carrying Dawn Zulueta, was filmed here. The motorcycle scene in the 2015 film You’re My Boss, starring Toni Gonzaga (as Georgina) and Coco Martin (as Pong), was also shot here.

Adding to its charm are the iconic “Blow Your Horn” signs along Mahatao’s cliff hugging roads, evidence of Ivatan ingenuity and creativity. Carved out from cliffs or boulders to prevent accidents at the blind spots, these unique, yellow-painted road signs, also associated with Batanes, were built to withstand the torrential winds of the strongest typhoons.

Alapad Rock Formation: Brgy. Itbud, 3903 Uyugan,

How to Get There: Uyugan is located 22.2 kilometers (a 45-minute drive) from Basco and 11.9 kilometers (a 25-minute drive) from Ivana.Locals usually ride their motorcycles, bicycles, tricycles, or walk to the Alapad Rock Formation. You can also join a guided tour that includes this attraction.

Provincial Heritage and Tourism Office (PHTO): Mobile number: (0929) 230-5934. Website: www.breathtakingbatanes.com.