Trip to Culion

CULION CHURCH VIEW FROM THE BOAT


CHRIST STATUE ATOP HILL OVERLOOKING PIER


CULION CHURCH FROM THE PIER


CULION CHURCH FROM THE JESUIT RESIDENCE ATOP THE HILL


CULION CHURCH FRONT


VIEW FROM FORMER CHURCH GUARD TOWER


TOMB OF FR. JAVIER OLAZABAL SJ


CULION LEONARD WOOD STATUE


CULION LOYOLA COLLEGE


CULION LEPROSARIUM

I flew to Coron Palawan on Saturday Oct.23 2010 and arrived at noon. I immediately took a public van to the pier to cross to island of Culion. The boat left at 2:30pm and reached Culion pier at 4:30pm. I proceded to the Jesuit residence from the pier but no one was there so I walked down to the monument of US Gov. Leonard Wood who established Culion Leprosarium after the turn of the 20th century. It once was the largest leper colony with 3000 patients. Now there are only 100 former lepers who have been cured and the leprosarium has been converted into a sanitarium.

From the leprosarium I walked a short distance to the 18th century old Church built on top of a hill with a strategic view of the sea and the coastal communities. There is a watchtower at the back of the church by the edge of the cliff. I passed by Loyola College of Culion a small Jesuit school for the residents. From the church I checked into the lodging house of the Jesuits beside the rectory where I spent the night very peacefully. I had dinner at the open verandah overlooking the calm sea on a moonlit night with 3 lady bankers based in Coron.

Early morning I walked down to pier where I caught the 6am Sunday Mass before taking the 7:30am boat trip back to Coron.

I was very happy because I have now fulfilled my late father's wish to visit Culion Leprosarium which was one of his favorite projects as an officer of the Order of the Sovereign Knights of Malta. He used to visit the place from Manila and was a good friend of the Jesuit chaplain there Fr. Javier Olazabal SJ who died in 1988 and is buried in the Church.

Thank God for the opportunity to visit Culion a very peaceful and happy place.

Gabby