Batanes takes spotlight in Jessica Lee’s new ‘PROBINSYA’ docuseries

The PH-based Korean vlogger experiences luñis, octopus sisig, stone villages, and the famed honesty store.

The relatively underrated Batanes takes center stage in the new docuseries of Philippine-based Korean vlogger Jessica Lee.

In “PROBINSYA,” Jessica aims to visit all of the country’s 82 provinces in 82 days, staying at least 24 hours in each. The 30-minute pilot, “The Philippines’ SAFEST Province | What Distance Preserves [EP. 1],” spotlights the country’s smallest province and its close-knit Ivatan community.

She tries local food like luñis, dried pork adobo cooked in its own fat; uved, meatballs made of banana pith, ground pork, and flying fish with a clear soup; and prito, a sugar-coated, donut-like snack. She also joins a vunong, a traditional communal meal wrapped in kabaya (breadfruit) leaves. In capital Basco, she visits its largest souvenir shop, known for octopus and beef products alongside woven crafts.

The legacy of Pacita Abad

She talks with Patsy Abad, the granddaughter of internationally acclaimed Ivatan artist Pacita Abad, who’s known for her signature trapunto, paintings that incorporate textiles, beads, and shells. Patsy shares stories of Pacita’s life and activism.

The episode also dives into Ivatan culture, from having at least 15 names for winds to its harsh weather adaptation via stone houses, wakay (kamote) as staple food instead of rice, and underground power lines.

On Sabtang Island, Jessica visits Chamantad Viewpoint, Stonehouse Village, and Morong Beach. On Batan Island, she stops by the iconic Honesty Coffee Shop, an unmanned store where customers leave payment in a box.

Content with a cause

She also speaks with locals, who describe Batanes as “allergic to guns,” reflecting its near-zero crime rate. Jessica wonders, “What if more of us were allergic to guns, too? Maybe we’ve just forgotten how to live like Batanes does.”

The episode also serves as a fundraiser, with its revenue going to the Pacita Abad Foundation, which supports arts, education, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage projects.

With over 1.7 million YouTube followers, Jessica is known for showcasing Philippine culture. She previously trained as a K-pop idol under the pre-debut girl group HIGHTEEN and joined the reality show Idol School before shifting to vlogging.

 

 

K-pop trainee turned vlogger Jessica Lee has launched her ‘PROBINSYA’ docuseries, beginning with an immersive 30-minute deep dive into the resilient culture, stone houses, and ‘gun-allergic’ community of Batanes.

 

 

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