Isla de la Convalecencia (), commonly known as simply Isla de Convalecencia (also spelled ''Isla de Convalescencia'' and sometimes erroneously called ''Isla de Convalencia''), is a small narrow

river island River Island is a London-based, multi-channel fashion brand, founded in 1948 by Bernard Lewis. The retailer has a presence in over 125 of worldwide markets, in stores and online. Best known for its trend focused womenswear offering, River Isla ...

in the

Pasig River The Pasig River ( fil, Ilog Pasig) is a water body in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it bisects the Philippine capital of Manila and Metro Manila, its surrounding urban area into northern and souther ...

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

, the Philippines. It is the only island dividing the Pasig River in Manila located between the districts of San Miguel on the north bank, and

Ermita Ermita is a district in Manila, Philippines. Located at the central part of the city, the district is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of the city, bearing the seat of city g ...

and

Paco Paco is a Spanish nickname for Francisco. According to folk etymology, the nickname has its origins in Saint Francis of Assisi, who was the father of the Franciscan order; his name was written in Latin by the order as ''Pater Communitatis'' (fath ...

on the south. The island, best known as the location of the Hospicio de San José, is administratively part of San Miguel's Barangay 646, Zone 67. It has a total area of approximately and is connected to both sides of the river by the

Ayala Bridge Ayala Bridge, in Filipino ''"Tulay ng Ayala"'' and in Spanish ''"Puente de Ayala"'', is a steel truss bridge over the Pasig River in Manila, Philippines. It connects the districts of Ermita and San Miguel, passing over the western tip of Isla ...

. Although the island is primarily occupied by the Hospicio, it also hosts a detachment of the

Philippine Coast Guard The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ( fil, Tanod Baybayin ng Pilipinas) is recognized as the third armed uniformed service of the country attached to the Philippines' Department of Transportation, tasked primarily with enforcing laws within Ph ...

that patrols the periphery of the

Malacañang Palace Malacañang Palace ( fil, Palasyo ng Malakanyang, ; es, Palacio de Malacañán), officially known as Malacañan Palace, is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the Philippines. It is located in the Manila distric ...

complex located just northwest of the island on the north bank of the Pasig River. The island hosts the Hospicio’s small community which includes the 412 children, 64 special needs and 120 elderly residents.

History

The island's name dates back to the 1830s when the ''Hospicio General'' was built and the island was used principally as a place of recuperation or

convalescence Convalescence is the gradual recovery of health and strength after illness or injury. It refers to the later stage of an infectious disease or illness when the patient recovers and returns to previous health, but may continue to be a source of ...

for patients of the Hospital of San Juan de Dios. It was earlier called Isla de San Andrés (English:

Saint Andrew Andrew the Apostle ( grc-koi, Ἀνδρέᾱς, Andréās ; la, Andrēās ; , syc, ܐܰܢܕ݁ܪܶܐܘܳܣ, ʾAnd’reʾwās), also called Saint Andrew, was an apostle of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is the brother of Simon Peter ...

’s Island) in honor of ''Don'' Andrés Blanco Vermúdez, who owned the island but later donated it to the San Juan de Dios religious order. Prior to the construction of the orphanage and hospital, the island was the site of two Spanish fortifications known as ''Bastión de San Rafael'' and ''Bastión de San Andrés''. The Bastion de San Rafael located on the island's eastern end had its main gate facing the river with a large wharf made of ''piedra de China'' (granite stones). This structure has since been replaced by the convent hospital built by the San Juan de Dios religious order. On the island's southern portion facing San Fernando de Dilao (now Paco) and Concepción (now part of Ermita) was the Bastion de San Andres. The Hospicio General was originally housed in an old ruined building called ''Petruz'' on the island's western portion. It had a small chapel, two infirmaries and several wards. It was later renamed ''Hospicio de San José'' after

Saint Joseph Joseph (; el, Ἰωσήφ, translit=Ioséph) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who, according to the canonical Gospels, was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. The Gospels also name some brothers of ...

, the orphanage's patron saint.

References

{{Metro Manila populated places Geography of Manila Pasig River San Miguel, Manila River islands of the Philippines Islands of Metro Manila

History

See also

References