Isla de la Convalecencia, commonly known as simply Isla de Convalecencia, is a small narrow river island in the Pasig River in Manila, 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 and Paco on the south. The island, best known as the location of the Hospicio de San Jose, 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. Although the island is primarily occupied by the orphanage, it also hosts a detachment of the Philippine Coast Guard that patrols the periphery of the Malacañang Palace located just northeast of the island on the Pasig River. It also houses a small community which includes the 412 children, 64 special needs and 120 elderly residents of the Hospicio de San Jose.
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 for patients of the Hospital of San Juan de Dios. It was earlier called Isla de San Andres in honor of Don Andres Blanco Vermudez who owned the island but who later donated it to the San Juan de Diosreligious order. Prior to the construction of the orphanage and hospital, the island was the site of two Spanish fortifications known as Bastion de San Rafael and Bastion de San Andres. 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. This structure has since been replaced by the convent hospital built by the San Juan de Dios religious order.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 and Concepción 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 to Hospicio de San Jose after Saint Joseph, the orphanage's patron saint.
