Founder of Culion Foundation Inc.

At 60, Javier Olazabal y Mendoza moved to Culion to fulfill his dream of serving leprosy patients, not to retire. Born on January 7, 1909, in St. Jean de Luz, he was a Spanish citizen. Ordained a Jesuit in 1946, he never abandoned his dream of serving in Culion, even while holding prominent roles in Spain.

In 1971, Father Olazabal was assigned to Culion, where he served for 18 years, affectionately known as Father Ola. Despite his ascetic appearance, he was a determined and compassionate figure. He found 700 leprosy patients living in hopeless conditions and worked tirelessly to improve their lives.

As the island’s chaplain, he provided regular church services, recruited Eucharist ministers, and solicited funds for infrastructure projects. He was a comforter and friend to the patients, organizing activities and offering personal support. Known for his kindness to children, he often gave them candy and cookies.

Father Ola lived simply, closely mirroring the lepers’ lifestyle. He wrote thousands of letters seeking aid and advocated for multidrug therapy (MDT) in the 1980s. He saw the first patients cured in 1987 but died on September 10, 1988. He was honored with both Philippine and Spanish flags at his burial and is interred in Culion’s Church of the Immaculate Conception. A monument stands in his memory. He once said, “My God, I want to go to the very end with these suffering people, whatever may happen to me.”

Founder of Culion Foundation Inc.

Don José María Soriano was a Spanish-American industrialist with business interests in the Philippines and a discreet philanthropist. In 1970, he became Minister Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Co-owner of San Miguel Corporation, he formed a group known as the “Three Musketeers” with Ramon Pedrosa, Antonio Infante, and Pedro Picornell. 

A devout Catholic, Soriano was introduced to Culion by Father Olazabal at a Spanish community event. He and his “Three Musketeers” tackled the island’s challenges, leading to the formation of the Culion Foundation in 1976 with the Isabel Cultural Corporation and the Philippine Jesuits. This nonprofit aimed to improve public health and empower marginalized communities.

Founder of Culion Foundation Inc.

The Protegee & student of Father Olazabal and the President of Fundacion ANESVAD who funded hospitals for leprosy patients, granted educational support, and provided infrastructure assistance projects in Culion.

Learning from its rich experience in Culion, the foundation is promoting the lessons in leprosy control in other projects it supports elsewhere in the world, including China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.