11/01/2026
REMEMBERING BERT
(His Legacies to the People of Culion and to Mankind).
While not all of us are eager to study history as a discipline, we are all fascinated when we hear good stories from the past — whether it’s about the way people used to live, how empires were built or how a hero was born.
This neglected lionheart cited in this article had never been mentioned in the annals of Culion. So far, only the medical directors, physicians and other paramedical workers were quantified for their good performances and services during the infancy of Culion as a l***r colony. However, the old timers of Culion knew this person pretty well.
In the 1980s, a cure for leprosy; the multi-drug therapy (MDT) was developed, signaling the beginning of the end for l***r colonies globally. In 1992, the Culion L***r Colony (Sanitarium) was officially converted into a regular local administrative unit (municipality) by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 7193, which was passed on February 18, 1992 following the passage of the relevant local government code legislation. The first set of its elected local government official sat in the year 1995.
Throwback: the American government entered into wars with the Spanish forces in Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. It was the first major overseas war of the United States. The mysterious explosion of the U.S. battleship “USS Maine “that killed 266 US sailors in Havana Harbor, Cuba on February 15, 1898, blamed on Spain, intensified the anti-Spanish feeling and led to the U.S. declaration of war in April of 1898.
In the Philippines, the U.S. navy quickly won a decisive victory against the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, a key battle in the Pacific theater. The American forces took over the Philippines in September 1898. By December 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed officially ending the war. The war solidified the U.S.'s position as a global power and marked the decline of the Spanish colonial empire. Due to this, territorial acquisitions were taken by the U.S. such that Spain ceded Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the U.S., and SOLD the Philippines to the U.S. for 20 million US dollars. The wars concluded with a significant shift in the global power dynamics.
General Elwell S. Otis took over the Philippines as the military governor after the Spanish-American War of 1898. The Americans found Manila and the rest of the Philippines soaking dirty and wallowing on small pox, malaria and leprosy. The rural areas were lacking of basic facilities such as toilets and hospitals. Six thousand (6,000) Filipinos were dying of small pox per year. There were estimated 30,000 Filipinos afflicted of leprosy in the entire Philippines. The U.S. as a global power that time continued to strengthen its armed forces vis-à-vis its role in the Asia and the Pacific. American volunteers were secured among male citizens. The system required eligible American men aging 18-35 to sign up and register for military service into the U.S. armed forces. The Congress, acting on behalf of a national emergency, authorized the US President to issue indictments under the Military Selective Service Act. Failure to comply with the registration requirement is a felony punishable by significant fines and imprisonment. The system had been in effect since the American Civil War (1861-1865) through the World War I (1914-1918), the Korean War (1950-1953) and Vietnam War (1955-1975).
On February 4, 1899, just two days before the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, fighting broke out in the Philippines between the American forces and Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo who sought independence rather than a change in colonial rulers. The US government immediately re-enforced his troops in the Philippines to quell the Filipino insurrection. William Howard Taft arrived in the Philippines in July 1901, most of the islands were under U.S. control, and the civil government was established. He established the 2nd. Philippine Commission that created the Board of Health for the Philippine Islands headed by Dr. Victor G. Heiser. This became the main agency leading to the control and spread of several communicable diseases brought forth by the aftermath of the war and other natural calamities.
The outbreak of cholera began in Manila sometime March 1902. This devastating epidemic spread throughout the island and claimed the lives of over 200,000 Filipinos exacerbated by unsanitary conditions and troop movements during the war (Americans against Filipino nationalists) and its spread was particularly severe in areas where Filipino civilians were concentrated in camps. The disease was brought to the Philippines by a ship from Hong Kong and spread rapidly.
Bert Baldwin Parmelee Sr. at age 26, volunteered in the US Army by virtue of the Selective Service System in 1902. He was sent to undertake 6-months military training at Camp Merriam in Angel Island, California. After the training, with the rank of Private first class, he boarded one of the several naval vessels together with other hundreds of US soldiers at Presidio, California for a long journey to the Philippines. Due to his previous experience at the City Hospital in Rochester, New York, he was designated as one of the Navy corpsmen (hospital corpsmen). Among his duties were to provide medical care to sailors, marines, and their families. He served in diverse roles, assisting with everything from battlefield emergency care and physical examinations, assisting surgeons and administering vaccinations, acting as vital support personnel in a wide range of medical fields and settings.
Upon reaching the Philippine shores, together with other US corpsmen, he was directed to proceed to Batangas and took care hundreds of Americans and Filipino soldiers wounded in the various military engagements like in Santa Clara and Rosario, Batangas where General Miguel Malvar surrendered to the Americans. General Malvar was the last Filipino general to surrender after assuming command of the Filipino forces following General Emilio Aguinaldo's capture in Palanan, Isabela on March 23, 1901.
Pfc. Bert Parmelee was around somewhere in Cavite and nearby provinces and had witnessed the surrender of some minor renegade forces of General Aguinaldo. He took care both the wounded Americans and Filipino soldiers. In sum, he was immersed in the insurrection conflict in the Philippines for 41 months as military medic under the governorships of Howard Taft. The conflict became a brutal struggle as Filipino nationalists fought for independence from American rule, which had begun after the U.S. acquired the Philippines from Spain in 1898. The war concluded with an official victory of the Americans and the dissolution of the First Philippine Republic established by General Emilio Aguinaldo after three years of Philippine-American War (1899-1902). The war resulted in the death of over 4,200 Americans and over 20,000 Filipino combatants, while as many as 200,000 Filipino civilians died from violence, famine, and diseases.
Manila notwithstanding the entire Philippines was soaking dirty as a result of the aftermath of the war. The U.S. colonial authorities, under the Bureau of Health, implemented massive strict sanitation and Public Health measures. Ordered the burning of contaminated houses and belongings, especially in crowded districts. Closed and disinfected markets, slaughterhouses, and wells suspected of contamination. The Americans launched public health campaigns to teach Filipinos about hygiene, boiling water, and avoiding contaminated food. Hundreds of corpses were buried quickly in sanitary cemeteries to prevent contamination.
June 27, 1905, Pfc Parmelee applied for honorable discharged from the U.S. military service and joined the American civilian services in the Philippines. He was assigned at San Lazaro Hospital, Rizal Avenue, Manila. His expertise in military medics and good performance during the war made him popular to Dr. Victor Heiser. He was designated to head the Morgue and Crematorium Section of the San Lazaro Hospital. At that time, the Americans believed — correctly — that cholera spread through contaminated water and food, especially when
human waste from infected people entered wells or rivers.
After narrowing the devastating effect of the cholera epidemic, the 2nd Philippine Commission focused on the control of leprosy. Later part of 1905, Pfc. Parmelee was called on by the Dr. Heiser to transfer his interest and commitment to work in the control of leprosy. He underwent series of seminars on leprosy control spearheaded by the Bureau of Health with other Filipino and American workers who would be joining in the control of leprosy and establishing an isolated leprosy hospital.
Bert Parmelee turned the honcho of Dr. Heiser responsible for registration, recording and documentation of l***r patients from Mindanao and Visayas. He was instructed as one of the administrative staff who routed the three collection points of l***rs. First week of May 1906, he boarded the coast guard cutter, “Polillo” together with two Filipino assistant doctors, Filipino nursing attendants from San Lazaro Leprosy Control division, some clerks, administrative staff and some Filipino constabulary guards. After three days, he reached the Cagayan de Misamis (now Cagayan de Oro). Several l***r patients were accommodated into the cutter, “Polillo”. The cutter proceeded to Cebu and fetched several l***r patients thereat. From here, Dr. Heiser together with Dr. Jose Abreau, Dr. Vicente Llamas, Dr. Antonio Roxas, 10-15 nursing staff and orderlies, European nursing sisters, who were affiliated with the Asilo de San Jose and Cebu hospital joined the collecting trip. Thereafter, the same vessel moved to Iloilo for the last leg of the historic collection of l***r patients. In Iloilo, l***r patients collected from Panay and Negros islands with few constabulary guards and assistants were loaded. Polillo sailed north-west across Sulu Sea toward Culion.
Presto! on May 27, 1906, cutters “Polillo” and “Mindanao” reached Culion and unloaded the 370 l***r patients together with some medical supplies, foodstuff and other logistics. Of course, disembarked were Dr. Victor G. Heiser (Director of Bureau of Health), Dr. Jose A. Abreau, Dr. Vicente Llamas, Dr. Antonio P. Roxas, 2 more Filipino assistant physicians, Bert Parmelee, European nursing sisters, several Filipino nurses and orderlies, Filipino constabulary guards, and other government clerks. The point of disembarkation was the beach front at the old golfo de Bernabe just below the segundo fuerte de piedra in Culion. They were welcomed by Dr. Carlos de Mey, an American doctor who came to Culion much earlier than the first batch of l***r patients. He later became the first chief of Culion L***r Colony.
Dr. Heiser found the temporary shelters mostly made out of nipa. Medical and administrative posts were already functional. Water, food, and sanitation basics were in place. The l***r patients settled in designated area later on called “colonia” and eventually forming the nucleus of what would become the Culion L***r Colony. Dr. Heiser described the island as “beautiful yet isolated — a natural quarantine station.”
After everything was put in order and segregation of l***r patients was strictly enforced, the non-l***r medical staff and workers were mandated to move out of the colony proper for Siuk (“Sioux"), a farming village across the colony proper. Only the members of the constabulary guards were left inside the colony proper to prevent break free of patients and ensure order in the colony proper. Bert shuttled the colony proper and Siuk on daily basis together with Dr. de May and other medical staff via motorized bancas and sailboats.
Bert was designated as the bigwig of Dr. de Mey in terms of supply and records. He held the same confidence when he was instructed by Dr. Heiser to go with the cutter “Pollilio” from Manila to Cagayan de Misamis in Mindanao to pick up the first group of l***r patients. The combination of American oversight (Heiser), Filipino physicians, nurses, attendants and other staff created the framework for what became one of the most advanced leprosy colonies in the world at that time. Bert also supervised the operation of the crude incineration facility (sunugan or pugon) of the colony.
Bert, being with the supply section, he knew everything what the hospital and the patients’ needs. He always ensured that buffer stock was available before the supply ran out of stocks notwithstanding the availability of the boat traversing Culion and Manila at that time. He used to visit Coron town to coordinate with the various businessmen thereat. One was Juan Palanca Pe Chin Tuan, who had secured an outstanding contract with the government of Culion to supply fresh foods for the hospital. He hailed from (Angke, Amoy-now Xiamen City, China) and married to Mamerta Rodriguez Sandoval who was born in 1860 at Culion (Isla Calamian) and raised to parents Don Laurente Jalbuena Sandoval (Spanish-French-Filipino descent) and Doña Estefania Souza Rodriguez Sandoval (Portuguese-Spanish-Filipino descent) who migrated to Culion in 1850 from Iloilo to partake in the economic boom of Culion as the premiere trading hub in the northern Palawan (Las Islas de Calamianes).
It was in this circumstances that Bert courted one of the daughters of the couple Juan Palanca Pe Chin Tuan and Mamerta Sandoval Palanca. At thirty-three years old, he married Mademoiselle, Luisa Sandoval Pe Palanca, 17 years old on January 9, 1909 in Coron, Palawan. He was lucky to have married, a mestiza de Sangley of Spanish-Portuguese and Chinese descent, a typical daughter of those early union that had long blended the bloodlines of Iberian and Cathay in the island. Her bearing reflected the quiet dignity of the East and the proud grace of the West.
In 1917, after serving the Philippine Government for 12 years (1905-1917) with all American Hospital Directors of Culion, such as Dr. Carlos de Mey (1906-1907), Dr. James Biggar (1907-1910), Dr. Paul Clements (1910-1915) and Dr. Oswald Denney (1919-1920), he was persuaded by his parents -in- law (Juan & Mamerta Palanca Pe) for a joined -venture undertaking in managing the farms in Bintuan and Concepcion in the light of the aging father-in-law (Juan Palanca Pe Chin Tuan at 64 yo). Plus of course, the commitment of the couple Palanca Pe to the outstanding contract with the government to supply and augment the provisions of the patients. The olden Juan Palanca Pe employed several Kalamyanen, Cuyonon, Agutaynen, Tagbanwa, Kagayanen, Chinese and even Japanese expats to work on this endeavor. The old Palanca was so kind, that he shared and apportioned some of his land in Bintuan for his workers for free. He did it for purposes of maintaining a workable and available manpower for his farms and among others. With this, Bert was in high hopes to sustainably comply the purchase orders (POs) granted to Don Juan Palanca Pe. He was very happy, despite he resigned from Culion, he continued his distinctive service and undertaking in helping the l***r patients by providing adequate foodstuffs raised from the farms of his parents-in law in Bintuan and nearby areas.
On regular basis, Bert delivered fresh foodstuff to Culion L***r Colony that lasted for almost thirty years. Bert used to butcher 30 heads of cow every Mondays and 20 heads of cow on Thursdays, notwithstanding the number of head of pigs, poultry meat (Cantonese chicken, Peking duck, turkey), various root crops, fruits, vegetables and of course fresh fish (from penet-fish pen) and among others. Bert used the sailboats (named Don Juan and Doña Mamerta) in delivering the various foodstuff from Bintuan to Culion. He was very happy whenever he was in Culion and the patients would greet and called his moniker, “Yankee Bert”, (a general term used to mean for an American outside the U.S).
Whenever, the non- l***r residents of Culion (Balala) would see the two sailboats of Juan Palanca Pe Chin Tuan (collectively known among the residents of Culion as “The Matanceros”) coming out from the Punta Buhi, they usually expected that after unloading the beef, pork and other foodstuff to the General Kitchen inside the colony, the non-l***r residents would troop to palengke (a market along the coastal area of Balala) to buy the heads, tails, legs and entrails of the cows. There were instances that Bert had to deliver panotcha and brown sugar produced by Don Juan galingan (molino de caña) in Bintuan. As years gone by, Bert was gratified when a lot of Americans doctors, clinicians, bacteriologists, pharmacists were temporarily resided in Culion to conduct researches on leprosy. Foremost were Dr. Herbert Wade, Dr, Hanks, Dr. Perkins and among others. He usually visited them in their offices and brought some presents like fresh oranges (otban) and pomelo (kahil) he harvested from the Don Juan orchard farms.
During WW2, Bert and his family was advised by his Japanese friends, Mr. Taroji Fusato to cool off from the public view for the meantime. He was advised by the same Japanese friend (later found out as a high-ranking Intelligence officer of the Japanese Imperial Army) assigned in the Calamian group of islands) to keep his family and other relatives to the hinterland of Busuanga such as Cheey, another barrio located northeast of Busuanga Island. The Japanese Army never did visit the said place. Bert was so desolate when he learned that the food rations of the l***rs were scarce due to the on-going war. He missed the same l***rs who were good to him, who travelled with him from Mindanao and Visayas and famously named him “Yankee Bert”. Numerous l***r patients by way of backdoor absconded. Some even sneaked out at night to reach Linapacan, Cuyo, Bacuit, Casian and Liminangcong using their pangkos and sail boats looking for food. Bert despite in the hinterland of Busuanga, he donated some root crops and fresh fish for the consumption of the l***rs.
After the war, Bert with some friends immediately looked for Mr. Fusato because the guerillas in the Calamian were looking for him. Under the cover of darkness, Bert initiated the safe transfer of Mr. Fusato from Busuanga, and surrendered him to Dr. Wade in Culion for good. This was his ultimate reciprocal gesture given to Mr. Fusato for securing him and his family during the height of the WW2.
Few days after, Dr. Wade together with Bert initiated a “Despedida Party” in honor of Mr. Fusato at the Bachelor’s Hall in Balala in appreciation of his kindness during the WW2. Bert volunteered his nephew (by affinity), a sibling of Barracosos of Busuanga to render the much awaited and fitting song with its lyrics for someone showing reciprocity of friendship. The song was written by Harry Warren in 1943, popularized by Nat King Cole, entitled, ‘’You’ll Never Know’’. The Bachelor’s Hall that night was jampacked and all alleys contiguous were filled up with spectators. Please click the you tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLnpMD9-eAY&list=RDFLnpMD9-eAY&start_radio=1
As years went by, Bert, despite his other business pursuits in Manila, he did not fail to fill in supplying the l***rs with their needed foodstuff by virtue of a working contract of his parents-in law with the government.
The neglected hero of Culion was born on February 13, 1876 in Lima, Livingston County, south of Rochester, New York, USA to parents Clifford Parmelee, was 26 (born 1852- died 1908) and mother Mary Cullen, was 22 (born 1855- died 1945). He had four siblings: Robert, Charles, Henry and Pearl. He spent his early life in the same place. He attended his early schooling at the Cobblestone Schoolhouse No. 6, Livingston County. Now, this schoolhouse was turned into Livingston County Historical Museum. He took his secondary education at one- room district school of Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima, Livingston County. Later, his family moved to Mendon, Monroe, New York. In 1894 at age 18, he was a paramedical intern at the City Hospital, Rochester, New York.
His marriage to Luisa Sandoval Palanca Pe brought into being ten children: Bert Jr. Mary, Anthony, Mercedes, Purita, Paul, Lulu, Bertha, Bob and Vic.
Prior to his timely demise, he was brought to the Philippine Veterans’ Hospital in Quezon City. He died on October 15, 1966 at age 90 due to congestive heart failure and arteriosclerotic heart disease in the same hospital and lied at the Funeraria Paz, Quezon City. His body was interred in the specially allocated for Spanish- American War Veterans Plot, North Cemetery, Quezon City with Memorial Identification No. 186694227.
Bert could be best remembered by the people of Culion as one of the first administrative staff of the Culion L***r Colony. He was very instrumental in ensuring the availability of the foodstuffs of the patients by acceptable supply and property management. He played a vital role in securing the supplies and materials during the construction of numerous buildings, wards and other service facilities of the hospital. In sum, he relinquished his prime of life, comfortable and prosperous days in the United States and instead devoted himself to the l***rs of Culion.
He was instrumental in the hauling- out of the l***r patients all the way from Mindanao and Visayas, recorded and housed them in Culion. Despite the severe human cost and ethical issues involved, the segregation policy enforced by the Americans produced several public health and medical benefits, as understood that time: The segregation significantly reduced the spread of leprosy to the general population. By isolating diagnosed patients, transmission rates outside the colony declined, particularly in urban centers. Centralized medical care and research facilities like Culion allowed physicians to study leprosy systematically. This contributed to improved understanding of the disease, its progression, and modes of transmission. The concentrating patients in one location made it possible to test and refine treatments, including early chaulmoogra oil therapy, which later became a foundation for medical advances against leprosy. The policy marked a shift toward modern public health administration in the Philippines, introducing record-keeping, diagnosis protocols, and disease surveillance. While harsh at the beginning, Culion eventually developed hospitals, schools, churches, industries, and self-governance structures that provided residents with a more stable community life.
By treating leprosy as a medical condition rather than a moral or religious affliction, the Health Care system gradually shifted perceptions—though stigma not easily disappeared entirely.
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Sources:
Cervantes, R. A., “The Lost Footnotes in Culion’s History 1211-1900’’
Rafols Pe Palanca Mamerta Sor, D.C., “Unity and Caring, One in Mind and Heart attuned to God”, Family Genealogy Heritage Book, 2024
Spanish-American War Military Naval Service Records 1898-1902
US Army Register of Enlistment 1798-1914
Wade, H.W, Memoirs of Culion, 1960
Photos courtesy by Lydge P. Gerakas
1. Bert during his prime of life
2. Bert and Luisa later in life
3. Bert with other government employees at the Grand Staircase, Culion
