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Construction of the Fr. Manuel Valles SJ Parish and Rectory in Culion, Palawan

UPDATE: The chapel has been constructed.  Thank you to all benefactors! 

BACKGROUND 

On March 16, 1906, Fr. Manuel Valles, S.J. arrived as the first chaplain assigned to Culion. He immediately gave workmen  instructions to help with the daunting tasks of the leper colony.  In the next years, the Jesuit Mission extended to the islets around the mainland, to lepers and non-lepers alike.  With assistance from generous benefactors and friends, the Jesuits were  responsible for building some hospitals, dormitories, schools, the church and chapels, roads and the airstrip, while taking care of the spiritual needs of the people.  Presently, the work of the Jesuits is undertaken with the La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish and Loyola College of Culion with special ministry for the Indigenous People of Palawan.

Serving the Tagbanuas. In the 1990s, when the number of lepers drastically declined due to the implementation of the Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT),    the chaplaincy’s  mission for  lepers became a point for reflection. After discernment,  a new call to serve emerged in Culion, this time for our Tagbanua brethren.

The Literacy Program. In the early years of the literacy program, the parish spearheaded in establishing ties with nearby communities.  In  2009, the  first teachers who were  parish catechists, were sent to teach our brethren basic reading and writing.  During that year, the partnership with Cartwheel Foundation, Inc. was initiated  in order to assist in the training of teachers which  included the provision of learning aids designed specifically for the Tagbanuas.  The year  2010 marked the first graduates of the adult literacy program and in the  last five years , the program, now recognized by the Department of Education, has  expanded to include grade school children.

After 110 years of love and service, on July 21, 2016, the Jesuits of the Philippine Province will formally turn-over La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish to the care of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay.

Turnover of the La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish.The Philippine Jesuits have been declining  in numbers over recent years.  Because of this, the Philippine province, cannot sustain all of its ministries.  In this regard,  some of the Jesuit parishes had to be  turned over to the local clergy including the La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish.  However, the Jesuit’s work in Culion will still continue thru the  Loyola College of Culion, where the IP Literacy Program will fall under.

As part of the turnover agreement with Bishop Edgardo S. Juanich of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay (AVT),  a new rectory with some facilities had to be built since the Jesuits will still reside at the present one.  Thus, the  “Fr. Manuel Valles, S.J. Parish Center and Rectory”  currently in construction will serve as the residence of the incoming parish priest from AVT.  It will house the parish office as well.

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Features Fund for Apostolic Works

The Jesuit mission in Culion, Palawan: Helping the Tagbanuas

Introduction

The Literacy Program  in Culion, Palawan aims to develop the reading and writing skills of both the adults and children in selected Tagbanua  communities.   The program also aims to preserve the Tagbanua’s local culture and develop stronger and more confident communities.

 Jesuit presence in CulionCulion-map-138x150 The Jesuit mission in Culion, Palawan: Helping the Tagbanuas

In 1904, Gov. Wright of  the American Commonwealth, established  Culion  as  a leper colony paving the way for the first batch of 370 lepers from all over the archipelago to settle in 1906.   In the same year,  American Jesuits were sent to Culion to start chaplaincy work for the lepers and employees of the Philippine Health Service.  Over the years, the  Loyola College of Culion was established and has seen the chaplaincy to La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish grow and flourish.


tagbanua_photo-taken-from-ADMU-website-225x150 The Jesuit mission in Culion, Palawan: Helping the TagbanuasFr. Bok Arandia SJ, during his stay in Culion wrote, “after the establishment of the leper colony, the indigenous Tagbanua communities who were the original inhabitants of the Culion peninsula were  forced to settle in remote islands, with limited access to basic social services and education. They manage to survive through fishing, food gathering, and primitive agriculture. However, because of their inability to read, write and count, certain devious individuals have taken advantage of their ignorance, cheating them to sell their produce and catch at scandalously low prices.  Politicians have likewise used them to secure victory during elections, gathering and containing them in undisclosed holding areas distant from the influence and access of their political rivals.”


In 2006,  the Philippine province  re-examined its mission in Culion. Since there was no need for chaplaincy work due to the fewer number of lepers in the island, the Province decided to help the Tagbanuas, an Indigenous People community, through a literacy program.

In 2008, through the help of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, a literacy program  was began with some teachers from the parish. In 2011, Cartwheel Foundation brought their expertise and modules to help aid and systematize the program.  Since then, the parish, SPC and Cartwheel have been partners in this endeavor.

The program

Before 2011, literacy programs that were introduced had no sustainability mechanisms in place.  Hence,  there was a crucial and urgent need  to establish  one that will remain a fixture in order to equip members of the  communities with essential literacy and life skills.

The first six-month cycle of the new program began at the end of August, 2011 with forty (40) adult learners from two (2)Tagbanua communities – Alulad and Marabal.

In June 2013, the adult capability-building program ran its third cycle, further expanding operations to four (4) indigenous communities from the original two (2) pilot areas.  They have also instituted an early childhood education program for the Tagbanua communities in Culion.

Currently, the Adult Literacy Program is run by  the Cartwheel Foundation, Our Lady  of  the  Immaculate Concepcion Parish and the St. Paul of Chartres Sisters.  Fr. Arthur Nebrao, SJ is currently Parish priest of La Inmaculada Concepcion.

Culion after Typhoon Yolanda

Typhoon Yolanda hit Culion with devastating effects. These photos were taken during the visit of the Ateneo Disaster Response and Management (DReaM) Team and the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan in Culion, Palawan last December 5 to 9. The team visited the different areas and islands devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.


Why help?

Indigenous Peoples, like the Tagbanuas are generally discriminated not only because of their physical appearance but because many of them have low self esteem due to the lack of reading and writing skills.

Please donate to support the Literacy program and help build their lives  in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda!  The Literacy program’s next steps are:

  1. Collaborate with the Loyola College of Culion to house an IP school that would receive students who are ready for formal education through the Literacy Program.
  2. Bring the Literacy Program  to other far-flung communities.
  3. Conduct Train the Trainors workshops among previous beneficiaries to ensure continuous execution of the literacy program.

Click the Blue box above to make an on-line donation.  Or else, click here.


 

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Fund for Apostolic Works

Blessed, broken and given away (Mathew 26:26)

Jesuit Mission

The Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus is engaged in ministries located near rural parishes and parish schools. These works, which fall under the Apostolic Arca, or simply Apostolic works, require subsidy since target beneficiaries are poor and belong to marginalized communities. Jesuit priests are sent to minister to these communities.

Jesuit Communities

The Society of Jesus’ newly ordained priests will be sent to the communities below. Please click on the links to know more:

Henry C. Ponce, S.J. will do prison ministry with the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service in Muntinlupa.

Irmo Francis A. Valeza, S.J. will continue chaplaincy ministry at Philippine General Hospital and also serve as Assistant Chaplain of Jesuit Volunteers Philippines.

Ambrosio F. Flores, S.J. will finish his Licentiate in Theology and in the second semester go to Culion to assist in the parish and in Loyola College of Culion.

Mark Peter L. Lopez, S.J. will go to the mission in Cambodia.

Arnel T. Ong, S.J. will be the chaplain for the Basic Education units of Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Alvin D. Laput, S.J. will be the assistant parish priest in Miarayon, Bukidnon.

Please lend your support by making a donation TODAY! Just click inside the HOW TO MAKE A DONATION box above. You can also like, follow and share the Philippine Jesuit Aid Association (PJAA or Jesuitaid), the development arm of the Society of Jesus, Philippine Province on FB and twitter, or do the same for the Jesuit mission areas mentioned above.  Every little action helps.

Blessed-broken-given-away-183x150 Blessed, broken and given away (Mathew 26:26)
Blessed, broken given away