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History |
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Isla de Culion
In 1622, with the zeal of the missionaries to
spread Christianity in Palawan (Paragua), the
Order of the Augustinian Recollects reached Isla
de Culion. There begun the evangelization of the
island.
Due to the zeal shown by the missionaries, the
progress attained in this Mission was copious as
well as rapid. But this progress was not to last
long. The evangelization of Mindanao, the land
of the followers of Mohammed triggered the
so-called Moro raids.
Fort Culion
About 1740 Fort Culion was constructed as a
defense measure against the Moro raiders. With
fortified walls, it enclosed the top of a
promontory, forming a square: a bulwark of solid
and hewn coral rocks encompassed the three sides
and a church and a convent enclosed one side. It
had some turrets where artilleries were
strategically placed. This military art was the
result of the labor of the natives of Culion,
who were relieved from paying tributes for three
years, under the supervision of Fray Juan de San
Severo, O.A.R.
Establishment of “Culion Leper Colony”
After the capitulation of Manila in 1898, the
United States found itself faced with serious
health and sanitation problems. Aside from
outbreaks of epidemics and countless deaths from
various diseases, thousands of “lepers” were at
large. It was estimated that there were 3,500 to
4,000 leprosy cases in the country. Since there
was no known method to control the disease, it
soon became clear that segregation – long been
practiced in Hawaii – would have to be
implemented in the Philippines.
In 1901, both the American military and civil
authorities decided upon the establishment of a
“leper” colony. A military board sought an
isolated place. The sparsely populated Culion
Island was judged suitable for the purpose.
Plans were forthwith made to establish the
“leper” colony in Culion.
On October 27, 1902, the Second Philippine
Commission appropriated an initial $50,000 for
the establishment of the “leper” colony in
Culion. On August 22, 1904, by virtue of
Executive Order No. 35 promulgated by the Civil
Governor of the Philippines, Hon. Luke E.
Wright, Culion was established as a “leper”
colony. Inhabitants of the island were requested
to leave. Soon construction started, mostly on
and around the hilly promontory crowned by the
Spanish fort. It took over a year to get ready
for the first “expedition of lepers.”
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THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS,
EXECUTIVE BUREAU.
MANILA, P.I., August 22, 1904.
EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 35
Pursuant to the provisions of Act Numbered Six
hundred and forty-eight, Philippine Commission,
entitled “An Act authorizing the civil Governor
to reserve for civil public purposes, and from
sale or settlement, any part of the public
domain not appropriated by law for special
public purposes, until otherwise directed by
law, and extending the provisions of Act
Numbered Six hundred and twenty-seven so that
public lands desired to be reserved by the
Insular Government for public uses, or private
lands desired to be purchased by the Insular
Government for such uses, may be brought under
the operation of the Land Registration Act,” I
hereby withdraw from settlement, entry, sale, or
other disposition under the public land laws,
all the public land within the Island of Culion,
Province of Paragua, and reserve the same for
the purposes of establishing a Leper Colony and
a Government Stock Farm thereon.
The Court of Land Registration is hereby
notified of said reservation, and will
immediately initiate proceedings for requiring
the registration of all private titles within
the boundaries thereof.
LUKE E. WRIGHT
Civil Governor
---------------------------------------------
First Missionaries
On March 16, 1906, Rev. Fr. Manuel Valles, SJ,
the first chaplain assigned to Culion, arrived.
This was the beginning of the Jesuits’
monumental commitment and dedication to Culion.
On May 25, 1906, four French Sisters of Saint
Paul of Chartres arrived. They were to be the
first, and for some years, the only nurses for
the patients in Culion. Their zealous service
and selfless devotion instilled a sense of
normalcy to the lives of the patients.
World’s Largest “Leper Colony”
The first batch of 370 patients was brought from
Cebu by two coast guard cutters, Polillo and
Mindanao, on May 27, 1906. The second batch of
patients arrived on July 4 of that same year.
802 patients were brought to Culion during the
first year. By Act 1711 passed of September 2,
1907, the Director of Health and his authorized
agents were empowered to apprehend, detain,
isolate, segregate, or confine all leprous
persons in the Philippines. A government coast
guard vessel for gathering patients kept
bringing patients to Culion at two or three
months interval. On its 25th year, a total of
16,138 patients had been brought to Culion,
making Culion the world’s largest “leper
colony.”
Big Laboratory
By 1921, Culion had become a big laboratory for
scientists and other individuals interested in
the disease. In 1922, when Gov. Gen. Leonard
Wood became the Governor General of the
Philippines, a special treatment fund was set
aside for Culion. By 1929, the plancha or
infiltration method of ethyl ester of
chaulmoogra oil was used extensively which was
believed to have been largely responsible for
the marked increase in the number of negatives
during that time.
War Years
In April 1942, the same month that Bataan fell,
the Japanese Imperial Army landed on the island
for the first time. They disabled the radio
equipment of the Telegraph Service. As the
Nipponese were traditionally terrified of
leprosy they did not remain long in the island.
On the other hand, “lepers” were prohibited from
going to neighboring islands to seek food.
Attempts to get relief were made but aborted.
Food supply was completely cut. The island had
at no time supplied its own food. The lack of
nourishment and the lack of even common
medicines caused many deaths. In 1942 alone 691
died. During those three years of Japanese
occupation 2,067 inmates succumbed. The
situation was at times indescribable. Culion had
been spared from the direct damage of war but
the impact was more devastating and deadlier
than the war itself.
Liberalization Law
In 1947, the use of sulfone was introduced in
Culion. The following year, almost one-half of
the patients were placed on sulfone therapy,
supplanting chaulmoogra entirely. Many patients
were pronounced negative through its use.
In 1952, due to significant number of cases
declared negative by the sulfone therapy the
Segragation Law was revised, allowing home
treatment. On June 18, 1964, Republic Act No.
4073 – an act further liberalizing the treatment
of leprosy – was promulgated. The law prohibited
the admission of early cases of leprosy in the
colony. Permits to settle in Culion were issued.
Prelude to the Creation of the
Municipality
In 1987, following the recommendation of the
World Health Organization (WHO), the use of
Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), a definite cure for
leprosy, was fully implemented in Culion. The
consequent elimination of leprosy in Culion
resulted in a clamor for recognition of Culion
as a regular municipality.
Creation of the Municipality
In 1991, Speaker Ramon Mitra and House
Representative David Ponce de Leon introduced a
House Bill for the creation of the Municipality
of Culion. On February 12, 1992, Pres. Corazon
Aquino signed Republic Act No. 7193 creating the
Municipality of Culion in the Province of
Palawan. It was ratified through a referendum
held on September 12, 1992. On May 8, 1995, the
first election of municipal officials of Culion
was held resulting in the election of Mr.
Hilarion Guia as its first duly elected mayor.
Here then is Culion – an island and its
inhabitants isolated by a government policy from
the rest of the world, but now reintegrating
into it. May Culion and the struggle of its
people continue to bring inspiration and hope as
Culion moves to a brighter tomorrow.
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