Sabtang

File:Philippine Island - Batan Islands - NARA - 68156374 (cropped).jpg

The Spanish missionary, Father Artiquez, first visited the island of Sabtang in 1786González Alonzo, Fr. Julio, O.P. (1966). "The Batanes Islands", in Acta Manilana, Manila: University of Santo Tomas Research Center after receiving an affirmative response from the islanders to learn about the Christian faith. The success of the first visit led to two more evangelical trips resulting in the baptism of 181 children and the study of catechism among the adult natives. The evangelization of Sabtang was cut short due to the failing health of the Spanish missionaries. For this, the inhabitants of Sabtang remained faithful to old traditions, especially in the administration of justice by vendetta and murder.

In 1791, the then most powerful chief in Sabtang named Aman Dangat showed defiance of the government of Governor Joaquin del Castillo by killing the Spanish soldiers who went to Sabtang to procure supplies. Lieutenant Tomas Nuñez led the troops to capture the rebels. Aman Dangat was put on trial and allegedly admitted to the crime. While a religious Spanish recorder later claimed that Aman Dangat asked to be baptized, there is no evidence to substantiate this assertion. The inhabitants of Sabtang were then forced to resettle in San Vicente and San Felix in Ivana to be better controlled by the Spanish colonizers.

Some forty years after the resettlement, the Sabteños were allowed to visit their native island. Gradually, these visits allowed them to build homes in their erstwhile land. The government allowed this to happen on the condition that houses should be constructed in the lowlands. To sustain the spiritual care for the Sabteños, a new mission was opened in Sabtang in 1845 under the patronage of Saint Vincent Ferrer, with Father Antonio Vicente as its first vicar. Father Vicente is credited to have built the Sabtang Church, together with a convent, a school, and a courthouse.

Sabtang is located at {{coord|format=dms}}.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of {{convert|40.70|km2}}{{PSGC detail|area}} constituting {{percentage|40.70|219.01|2|pad=yes}} of the {{convert|219.01|km2|2|adj=mid|-}} total area of Batanes.

Sabtang is politically subdivided into 6 barangays.{{PSGC detail|nscb}} These barangays are headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. All are elected every three years.

{{PH brgy table lite|top}}

{{PH brgy table lite|020905001| Chavayan | 157| 169}}

{{PH brgy table lite|020905002| Malakdang (Poblacion) | 234| 245}}

{{PH brgy table lite|020905003| Nakanmuan | 142| 134}}

{{PH brgy table lite|020905004| Savidug | 201| 190}}

{{PH brgy table lite|020905005| Sinakan (Poblacion) | 509| 552}}

{{PH brgy table lite|020905006| Sumnanga | 378| 347}}

{{PH brgy table lite|bottom|1637}}

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{{Weather box

| location = Sabtang, Batanes

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| Jan high C = 23

| Jan low C = 22

| Feb high C = 23

| Feb low C = 22

| Mar high C = 24

| Mar low C = 23

| Apr high C = 26

| Apr low C = 25

| May high C = 28

| May low C = 27

| Jun high C = 29

| Jun low C = 28

| Jul high C = 29

| Jul low C = 28

| Aug high C = 29

| Aug low C = 28

| Sep high C = 28

| Sep low C = 27

| Oct high C = 27

| Oct low C = 26

| Nov high C = 26

| Nov low C = 25

| Dec high C = 24

| Dec low C = 23

| Jan precipitation mm = 44

| Feb precipitation mm = 35

| Mar precipitation mm = 29

| Apr precipitation mm = 48

| May precipitation mm = 204

| Jun precipitation mm = 238

| Jul precipitation mm = 291

| Aug precipitation mm = 325

| Sep precipitation mm = 304

| Oct precipitation mm = 202

| Nov precipitation mm = 141

| Dec precipitation mm = 60

| Jan rain days = 11.1

| Feb rain days = 9.1

| Mar rain days = 8.3

| Apr rain days = 9.2

| May rain days = 15.7

| Jun rain days = 17.1

| Jul rain days = 19.4

| Aug rain days = 21.9

| Sep rain days = 21.1

| Oct rain days = 18.4

| Nov rain days = 16.3

| Dec rain days = 12.4

| source 1 = Meteoblue

{{cite web

| url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/forecast/modelclimate/sabtang_philippines_1691259

| title = Sabtang, Batanes : Average Temperatures and Rainfall

| publisher = Meteoblue

| access-date = 5 January 2019 }}

| date = 5 January 2019

}}

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{{Philippine Census

| align= left

| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}

| 1903 = {{PH census population|1903}}

| 1918 = {{PH census population|1918}}

| 1939 = {{PH census population|1939}}

| 1948 = {{PH census population|1948}}

| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}

| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}

| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}

| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}

| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}

| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}

| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}

| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}

| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}

| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}

| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}

| 2025 =

| 2030 =

| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

}}

In the 2020 census, Sabtang had a population of 1,696.{{PH census|current}} The population density was {{convert|{{sigfig|1,696/40.70|2}}|PD/km2}}.

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{{PH poverty incidence}}

{{main|Sangguniang Bayan}}

Sabtang, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Batanes, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

The Schools Division of Batanes governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region.{{Cite web |title=DEPED REGIONAL OFFICE NO. 02 |url=https://region2.deped.gov.ph/page/14/ |website=DepED RO2 {{!}} The official website of DepED Regional Office No. 02}} The Sabtang Schools District Office governs the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality.{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Masterlist of Schools |url=https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SY-2020-2021-Masterlist-of-Schools-Address-only-1-1.pdf |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=Department of Education}}

• Chavayan Elementary School
• Nakanmuan Elementary School
• Sabtang Central School
• Savidug Elementary School
• Sumnanga Elementary School

• Sabtang National School of Fisheries

File:Chavayan, Sabtang Island in Batanes, Philippines.jpg|Chavayan in Sabtang Island

File:San Vicente Ferrer Church (Sabtang Batanes).jpg|San Vicente Ferrer Church

File:Savidug Stone Houses.jpg|An Ivatan woman wearing a vakul inside a stone house

File:Nakabuang Arch in Morong Beach in Sabtang Island Batanes.jpg|Nakabuang Arch in Morong Beach

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{{Commons category|position=left}}

• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Sabtang

| North = Itbayat
Luzon Strait

| Northeast = Ivana

| East = Philippine Sea

| South = {{nowrap|Balintang Channel (Luzon Strait)}}
Calayan, Cagayan

| West = {{nowrap|South China Sea}}

}}

{{Batanes|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Municipalities of Batanes

Category:Island municipalities in the Philippines