Actress Iza Calzado (left) and Taiwanese boy band F4 star Ken Chu don the Ivatan headwear during the press preview for their film Batanes, after they are adopted as the newest members of the Ivatans, a local group found mainly in the northern Philippine islands of Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat.

Batanes is the story of a love that defies race and language as well as man’s relationship with the ocean, and how the latter’s unpredictability is similar to a woman’s ever-changing mood.

Opening nationwide tomorrow, December 5, the film took 18 days to shoot in Basco and Sabtang. Asian Spirit played an integral role in bringing the island into the film as it is the only airline that offers flights to Batanes.

The film is directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr., and Dave Hukom.