Culion, Palawan

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Map of Palawan showing the location of Culion

Culion is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2006 census, it has a population of 18,000 people in 3,082 households.

Contents

[edit] Barangays

Culion is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.

  • Balala
  • Baldat
  • Binudac
  • Culango
  • Galoc
  • Jardin
  • Libis
  • Luac
  • Malaking Patag
  • Osmeña
  • Tiza
  • De Carabao
  • Burabod
  • Halsey

[edit] History

Members of the Culion leper colony in an undated photograph. The women in the center appear to be playing the kulintang traditional instrument.

Culion was once a leprosy segregation camp.[1]

The vast tract of land once owned by the Sandoval in Culion was donated to be utilized as a leprosarium. The Sandovals are the owner of the SKR, a ranch which Busuanga airport is located. It was an isolated island then but in the early 1900's Asuncion Shipping Company (now San Nicholas Shipping) started a missionary trip going to Culion from Coron to serve the community. Even today Asuncion XI, a wooden boat, still unwaveringly serve the municipality of Culion. There were quite a number of wooden boats plying in this route such as the Asuncion IV, Catalyn A (which is still actively serving the economy of Culion and Coron). Other than these, there were Viva wooden boats owned by Viva Shipping based in Batangas City. Unfortunately, Viva shipping ceased its operations in this route.

A remnant of the fort in San Pedro located somewhere in Burabud is a testimony of a rich history of Culion. In the early 1990's, it was thought that this fort was already envaded by the roots of balete trees. This was built by the Spanish friars (Agustinian Recollects)and is older than the one we now see in Culion proper, the Immaculate Conception Church built by the Jesuits. This fort in San Pedro was more or less built on the same span of date as that in Agutaya, Taytay and Cuyo which forts found in these towns still stand today preserved by the Palawan government. It is about time for the Palawan government to discover this lost fort in San Pedro, Culion to complete the history.

Most of the structures built in the early 1900's in Culion Proper especially "inside" the once leprosarium which are still sturdily existing were the fruits of the labor of Leonard Wood, a physician and an American Governor General in 1902. In fact, the Culion Museum is one of these memorabilia of Dr. Wood.

One significant dynamics in Culion is the presence of people coming from Bohol who have settled in BINUDAC located in the northwestern part of Culion island. Given their drive and dream of having a brighter and progressive future, this barangay would eventually become another new town for Calamianes group of islands which will greatly contribute to economic spur. If the provincial government of Palawan will pursue in the development of Binudac especially installing electricity, putting up public school and paving more roads towards this barangay, Binudac will greatly complement Culion and the rest of the Calamianes in the economic growth. You can count on the people of Binudac in spite of their lack of education and yet zest to live and make a better life.

While development gives a better life to the constituents of Culion, apprehension arises on how to strike a balance between the economic development and the preservation of the environment. I believe it can be done. We can learn a lesson from Mayor Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. It was thought it was impossible to do but he did it and if he can do it, other local governments can do it. Yes, it takes a concerted effort of the local council and Mayor Hagedorn acknowledges that fact. He cannot do it without the help of the city council as well the cooperation of the people of Puerto Princesa. One really has to see for themselves the effort of the Puerto Princesa people.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Component local government units of Palawan

Municipalities: Aborlan • Agutaya • Araceli • Balabac • Bataraza • Brooke's Point • Busuanga • Cagayancillo • Coron • Culion • Cuyo • Dumaran • El Nido • Kalayaan • Linapacan • Magsaysay • Narra • Quezon • Rizal • Roxas • San Vicente • Sofronio Española • Taytay

Highly urbanized city: Puerto Princesa City

(Administratively independent from the province, but grouped under Palawan by the National Statistics Office)

Coordinates: 11°53′N 120°01′E / 11.883°N 120.017°E / 11.883; 120.017

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dr. Heiser, V., An American Doctor's Odyssey W. W. Norton & Company, 1936.
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