{"id":12359,"date":"2019-08-05T10:00:57","date_gmt":"2019-08-05T02:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/?p=12359"},"modified":"2019-08-05T18:17:50","modified_gmt":"2019-08-05T10:17:50","slug":"creative-hub-in-basco-batanes-of-handwritten-letters-stationery-and-ivatan-artistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/2019\/08\/05\/creative-hub-in-basco-batanes-of-handwritten-letters-stationery-and-ivatan-artistry\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Hub in Basco, Batanes: Of Handwritten Letters and Ivatan Artistry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unknown to many, Batanes has some of the most interesting\u00a0places where Ivatan artistry is best exhibited. Galleries are scattered in the province, mostly taking inspiration from the late\u00a0Ivatan visual artist\u00a0Pacita Abad,\u00a0<\/strong>as well as\u00a0the works of\u00a0the many Ivatan craftsmen and designers currently taking the\u00a0same path.<\/p>\n

Creative<\/strong> Hub<\/strong>, located in Basco town proper, is one place where you can find all\u00a0sorts of souvenirs, paintings,\u00a0trinkets, and memorabilia featuring the creativity and identity of Ivatan artists!<\/p>\n

\"\"Find this place along the National Road!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Upon entering, you will\u00a0be welcomed by the Raywen-Hamyan Gallery<\/strong>, where several paintings depicting the\u00a0daily lives of Ivatans backdropped against the beautiful landscapes of the island are displayed.<\/p>\n

\"\"The paintings serve as\u00a0the artists’ portfolio
\n<\/em><\/span>
\n\"\"Paintings exhibited depict the lives of Ivatans<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Deeper inside, an onslaught of souvenirs can be found. Handpainted t-shirts with unique designs, some featuring the stone houses in Sabtang, will surely suit the\u00a0modern taste of\u00a0anyone visiting.<\/p>\n

Some of Creative Hub’s t-shirts can even rival those in Manila with\u00a0statements like, “We Tame the Sea” printed.<\/p>\n

\"\"T-shirts start at Php 800<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Keychains and ref magnets are popular souvenirs, but those in Creative Hub\u00a0<\/strong>might just be the\u00a0most adorable you’ll ever see!<\/p>\n

The Ivatans sure have a way to express their creativity with designs ranging from lighthouses and stone houses to characters wearing a\u00a0vakul<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Ref magnets are priced from Php 20 to Php 150<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Creative Hub is also a haven for the old soul as\u00a0they bring back handwritten letters by letting you\u00a0send\u00a0postcards<\/strong>, just like the old times. You can write your messages at the store. They even have a\u00a0typewriter, which you can also use when inked!<\/p>\n

A postman\u00a0collects\u00a0the letters every Monday. These will then be sent to your loved ones, locally or internationally, who can receive it at least a month after sending.<\/p>\n

\"\"For a minimum of Php 30, you may send postcards to your loved ones locally!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Stationeries and art materials can also be found inside like stickers, sketchbooks,\u00a0paints, and paintbrushes.<\/p>\n

\"\"Even these self-cut stickers are illustrations of Batanes’ symbols and landmarks<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Sketchbooks range from Php 150 to Php 1,000<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

With a goal to\u00a0establish a place that will let artists and art enthusiasts pursue their\u00a0creative passion freely, founders\u00a0Xavier and Michelle Abelador<\/strong>, indeed paved the way to exhibit Ivatan pride and identity through the Creative Hub.<\/p>\n

How to get here:<\/strong><\/p>\n