Culion Island, Palawan, Philippines 2023 | thinatravels to the Land of Hope

To travel in one of the most historic place in the Philippines is truly a nerve wrecking and humbling experience. I can’t even count how many times I googled Culion, Palawan because I am really amazed and fascinated with the history of this island.

CULION, PALAWAN

And here you go, last August 2023, I’ve gone to Palawan (again) but this time, it was in Culion, a very historic part of Palawan – Municipality of Coron, Palawan. I have a lot of things to say about this island; but because of the long story that this island kept, it is best to learn in their own history web (history of Culion, Palawan)

But one thing I know for sure, when you visit this small island and took a step on it, you’ll also mesmerized with its story, hidden gem, struggle and beauty… you will be stunned on how this island cope up with in the past.

The island is the site of Culion Reservation, a therapeutic community founded way back in 1906 for the treatment of leprosy or the Hansen’s disease that killed hundreds to thousands of people. Culion Island was known for The Island of No Return because the people with leprosy were cumpolsary sent in Culion Island for strict isolation who were eventually most certainly to die given that there was no cure at that time.

The municipality founded a museum, the Culion Museum and Archives, Palawan: Remnants and Descendants located inside the town’s hospital and sanitarium to preserve all tge historics and archives from the past.

The museum holds a lot of memories that make the story of this island truly remarkable. At that time, part of Culion Island was locked down to expanse the needs of the people with this kind of incurable disease and many respected health care providers, doctors, priest and nuns all around the world merged to give help to those people, and even stayed long enough until their own death draw nigh. (History of Culion, Palawan)

Eventhough the island holds dark and tragic times in the past, we cannot deny the beauty and tranquility of the island. From the historic church of La Immaculada Concepcion Church and historic hotel for which was once a dormitory for girls whose parents were affilicted with disease, the Hotel Maya, now Culion, Palawan is thriving to be a better community for it’s people surrounded with crystal blue waters and beautiful sunrise and sunsets, clean surroundings and friendly people, the island can truly and deserving to accommodate a lot of tourist and travelers around the world. Side trips from different side and island of Palawan is also a must.

🌊 Malcapuya Island 🌊 Kayangan Lake 🌊 Coron 🌊 Ditaytayan Island 🌊 Destino Island ⛰️ Mt. Tapyas ☕️ Nielsen Garden and Cafè ⛰️ Aguila Mountaintop ☕️ Kapeng Tangay 💯💯

Despite the so called Island of the Living Dead and Island of No Return, the people of the island and the community strive to get cure for this disease, long may it seem but it was in 2006 when the island was declared a leprosy-free area by the World Health Organization, and now the dark moniker of the island was now changed to the LAND OF HOPE, truly a beautiful island which were a product of one great love for humanity, health, kinship, solidarity and most specially, hope.

Traveling to these kind of places, makes me happy a million times and going back to it makes it double 🫶 to a lot more travels..

xoxo, thinatravels.