Taiwanese island folk visit forebears’ land

BASCO, Batanes — Forty-five Taiwanese, mostly members of the Yamei tribe of Taitung county in Lan Yu Island, arrived Sunday afternoon on a sentimental journey to visit this land of their forebears.

The delegation was supposed to have come here by boat last April. However, scare over the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) delayed the visit.

An equal number of Ivatans from this northernmost province would have reciprocated the visit upon the return of the group to Taiwan.

As originally envisioned, the exchange program was to signal the start of direct travel between this northern frontier and Lan Yu, which are only 90 nautical miles apart.

Travel between the two places would have significantly been shortened since Ivatans need not go to Laoag City or Manila to process their immigration documents requirements. The Bureau of Immigration was to set up an office here.

The Yamei tribe, who has inhabited Lan Yu Island for centuries, has a strong similarity with the Ivatans. Both tribes speak almost identical dialects.

The visiting Taiwanese group is led by Walis Pelin, a member of the Yuan legislature, and Lan Yu Mayor Pan Chia Liao.

Ana Aumentado, a staffer of Gov. Vicente Gato, said the program aims to exchange information on cultural preservation and enhancement, and promote tourism, the agriculture and fishing industries and the design and maintenance of landscapes.

Gato told the Taiwanese delegation of his vision of eventually sending manpower to Taiwan, saying Ivatans are skilled carpenters and construction and machine shop workers.

"I hope that our cultural, trade and educational exchange program will strengthen our relationship as neighbors," Gato told the visitors.

In trying to establish their roots in these islands, the Yamei group is visiting all six municipalities of the province.

The delegation leaves on Friday for Kaoshiung in southern Taiwan via Laoag City.