CULION, Palawan – The re-launching of the Culion Museum and Archives, a one-of-a-kind historical display of this island’s medical quest to find a cure to leprosy, highlighted the 10th year anniversary celebration of the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital on Tuesday.
Dr. Arturo Cunanan, Jr., head of the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital (CSGH) led the formal re-opening of the museum, assisted by Culion Mayor Virginia de Vera, regional health officials, diplomatic guests and private donors.
The museum is housed in a two-storey building adjacent to the hospital and contains historical relics on the medical history of leprosy control.
The displays feature rare medical journals and memorabilia, including currency used by the patients as a result of the segregation policy by the early government.
“Culion survived all that and it is now a vibrant and colorful municipality,” Dr. Cunanan said.
Cunanan described the museum as a showcase of medical triumph over leprosy that saw the island transformed during the American occupation period into an isolation area of people afflicted with the then dreaded disease.
Cunanan also expressed gratitude to the support they have received from agencies and private individuals to complete the museum, endorsing in particular the forthcoming movie Culion produced by iOptions Ventures.
“I highly recommend that movie, as I have seen the script and I made sure it is a truthful account of the island and its struggle,” he told Palawan News.
Mayor de Vera added that the movie, whose world premiere showing will be held in the town itself prior to the opening of the Metro Manila Film Festival where it is entered, will encourage more tourism in the island.
“Our tourist arrivals are picking up. Our concern nowadays is the facilities to cater to tourists and the development of our many attractions,” de Vera said.
