The Ivatan people are an Austronesian ethnolinguistic group native to the Batanes and Babuyan Islands of the northernmost Philippines.

Unlike the old-type nipa huts common in the Philippines, Ivatans have adopted their now-famous stone houses made of coral and limestone, designed to protect against the hostile climate.

[2][5] Archaeological excavations also reveal that the islands were part of the extensive trade in jade artifacts (lingling-o), a network that extended to Taiwan, Vietnam, Palawan, Luzon, and northern Borneo.

The Ivatan also maintained close trade relationships and intermarried with the neighboring Tao people of Orchid Island in Taiwan.

Phase 4 (c. 1200 CE onwards), is characterized by imported pottery, indicating trade contacts with the Song and Yuan dynasties of China.

[10] Ivatans can be found in almost every part of the country as a minority, especially in Metro Manila, nearby Cagayan Valley (most specifically Cagayan), Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Palawan and Mindanao particularly in Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur and Cotabato.

[8] The Ivatans widely speak and understand the Ilocano (lingua franca of northern Luzon), Tagalog, and English languages.

Due to severe climatic disruptions to their agriculture, Ivatans have developed numerous successful strategies to protect their food supply and way of life.

These crops include yam, sweet potato, taro, garlic, ginger, and onion, as they ensure higher chances of survival during awry climate conditions.

[4] They have a native delicacy called uvod (the pith of the banana stalk) which is served with the wine palek, on festive occasions such as weddings.

Meter-thick limestone walls,[9] are designed to protect against the harsh Batanes environment,[20] which is known as a terminal passage of typhoons in the Philippines.