This week’s milestones: July 26 to Aug. 1

July 26, 2014 The National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a historical marker at Culion, Palawan, to commemorate the Culion Leper Colony. After the United States’ capitulation of Manila in 1898, thousands of people were afflicted with leprosy. At a time when no cure or effective treatment was known, isolation and segregation of the sick “lepers” were done to protect those who were healthy, and the sparsely populated Culion Island was judged suitable for the purpose. By virtue of Executive Order No. 35, issued on Aug. 22, 1904 by then Civil Governor of the Philippines Hon. Luke Wright, it was officially established as a leper colony. The site began admitting patients with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) on May 27, 1906. The first group of 365 patients arrived from the Visayas. By the 1920s, it had become the world’s largest and model leprosarium, which catered to about 50,000 patients since its operation. The number of patients sent to Culion only declined in 1927 with the establishment of regional treatment centers. In 2006, it was finally declared leprosy-free by the World Health Organization, and was converted into the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital in 2009. July 28, 2007 Cabadbaran was converted from a municipality into a component city of Agusan del Norte province through a plebiscite that ratified Republic Act No. 9434, signed on April 12, 2007, by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Now a third-class city with a population of 82,343 as of the 2024 Census, Cabadbaran is also known for its well-preserved colonial houses. While no historical records predating the Spanish colonial period have been found, Chinese ceramics from the 15th to 16th century were discovered in Barangay Sanghan. In 1867, Cabadbaran was a small village chosen by the Spaniards to be turned into a “reducción” called “La Reunion de Cabarbaran.” The reducción later disbanded in 1879, revived between 1880 and 1881 as “Tolosa,” and was elevated into a town in 1894. During the American period, it regained the name Cabadbaran. This week’s festivals Malagnang Festival (July 26 to Aug. 2) The Malagnang Festival is a premier cultural celebration that takes place in San Vicente, Palawan, honoring the town’s rich heritage and traditions. Rooted in the community’s mud identity, one of the festival’s most iconic highlights is the cultural dance performed on “putik,” or mud, symbolizing the resilience, unity and the deep connection of the people to their culture, nature and traditions. This year’s festival carries the theme, “Kulturang Pinagyaman Mo, Ipagmalaki at Ibahagi sa Buong Mundo,” and features an exciting lineup of events such as parades, various competitions, fireworks display, a mass wedding, magic show, discos and more. Article continues after this advertisement Kadagatan Festival (Aug. 1 to Aug. 8) The Kadagatan Festival is celebrated in Mercedes, Camarines Norte, as a form of thanksgiving of the fisherfolk for the blessings and bounty they receive during seafaring, fishing expeditions and their fish farming endeavors. It also pays tribute to Mother Nature for endowing the town with a gift of vast fishery resources, magnificent shorelines and other aquatic potentials. More than a celebration, it also serves as an opportunity to reflect on the responsible use of these natural resources and the importance of preserving ecological balance to uphold the town’s environmental dignity and natural beauty. Now in its 29th year, this year’s eight-day celebration coincides with the town’s 78th founding anniversary, featuring Bangkaton (motorized banca race), a bottom fishing shore casting tournament, a lighted floating sea creatures mascot competition, a concert, a mass wedding and other vibrant cultural and community events. Dana Gracielle Quirante, Inquirer Research, Sources: Inquirer Archives, elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph, adnppo.pro13.pnp.gov.ph, psa.gov.ph, blgf.gov.ph, philhistoricsites.nhcp.gov.ph, csgh.com.ph, cdeocitycouncil.com, sanvicentepalawan.gov.ph, tpb.gov.ph; Malagnang Festival and Mercedes Tourism Facebook page Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.