(2018-02-05).jpg) The island in the middle of thePasig River with the Ayala Bridge in its foreground, looking due east | |
_location_map.svg)  Isla de Convalecencia | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pasig River |
| Coordinates | 14°35′26″N120°59′20″E / 14.5906°N 120.9889°E /14.5906; 120.9889 |
| Area | 42,352.86 m2 (455,882.4 sq ft) |
| Administration | |
Philippines | |
| City | Manila |
| District | San Miguel |
| Barangay | Barangay 646, Zone 67 |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 403 |
| Pop. density | 841.75/km2 (2180.12/sq mi) |
| Additional information | |
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Isla de la Convalecencia (lit. 'Island of Convalescence'), commonly known as simplyIsla de Convalecencia (also spelledIsla de Convalescencia and sometimes erroneously calledIsla de Convalencia), is a small narrowriver island in thePasig River inManila, the Philippines. It is the only island dividing the Pasig River in Manila located between the districts ofSan Miguel on the north bank, andErmita andPaco on the south. The island, best known as the location of theHospicio de San José, is administratively part of San Miguel's Barangay 646, Zone 67.[1] It has a total area of approximately 594 square meters (6,390 sq ft) and is connected to both sides of the river by theAyala Bridge.
Although the island is primarily occupied by the Hospicio, it also hosts a detachment of thePhilippine Coast Guard that patrols the periphery of theMalacañang Palace complex located just northwest of the island on the north bank of the Pasig River.[2] The island hosts the Hospicio’s small community which includes the 412 children, 64 special needs and 120 elderly residents.[3]
The island's name dates back to the 1830s when theHospicio General was built and the island was used principally as a place of recuperation orconvalescence for patients of the Hospital of San Juan de Dios.[4] It was earlier calledIsla de San Andrés (English:Saint Andrew’s Island) in honor ofDon Andrés Blanco Vermúdez, who owned the island but later donated it to the San Juan de Dios religious order.[4] Prior to the construction of the orphanage and hospital, the island was the site of two Spanish fortifications known asBastión de San Rafael andBastión de San Andrés.[5] The Bastion de San Rafael located on the island's eastern end had its main gate facing the river with a large wharf made ofpiedra de China (granite stones). This structure has since been replaced by the convent hospital built by the San Juan de Dios religious order.[5] On the island's southern portion facing San Fernando de Dilao (now Paco) and Concepción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 calledPetruz on the island's western portion. It had a small chapel, two infirmaries and several wards.[5] It was later renamedHospicio de San José afterSaint Joseph, the orphanage's patron saint.[4]
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