HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE

Ayala Bridge, Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 734-2367; 734-2368
Telefax: 734-2366
Superior/Administrator: Sr. Felicitas Escoto, DC
Chaplain: Msgr. Arsenio R. Bautista

The Historical Beginnings of Hospicio de San Jose

Hospicio de San Jose is a Catholic Welfare institution and a home of orphans, abandoned and special children and elderly people.

The establishment of Hospicio de San Jose was made possible y the charitable legacy of Don Francisco Gomez Enriquez and his wife Doña Barbara Versoza.  In gratitude for having been cured of a fever, Don Francisco donated four thousand pesos (P4,000) in 1778 for the establishment  of a “Hospicio General” for the poor of Manila.  It was said that several others followed the first sum during the couple’s lifetime.  Unfortunately, they did not live long enough to see the actual foundation of this home they envisioned to take care of the city’s poor and unwanted children.

The initial purpose of the establishment of the institution was mainly to respond to the urgent need of the indigent clientele and the mentally/physically handicapped people during those times.  Since its foundation in October 1778, Hospicio de San Jose has continued to meet the needs of the indigent people including the physically handicapped and the elderly people.

The institution was first known as “Hospicio General” and was later changed to its present name “Hospicio de San Jose”.  The newly established welfare institution was then named after St. Joseph, its present saint.  Hospicio de San Jose was formerly located at Pandacan, and then transferred to Intramuros, then to Binondo, Nagtahan and Echague.  It was only 1810 when Hospicio de San found its permanent home at the “Isla de Convalescencia” or the Island of Convalescents.

On December 27, 1810, a Board of Directors governed Hospicio ded san Jose through a Royal Decree, under the chairmanship of the Archbishop of Manila.  The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul came to Hospicio de San Jose only on June 1, 1866 as the administrators and were entirely responsible for the whole operation of the institution.  One of Manila’s prominent ladies, Doña Margarita Rojas who was also one of its benefactors suggested to the Governor General to invite the good sisters of Charity to come to the Philippines to take care of the island’s poor, sick, handicapped and abandoned.

It is important to note that Hospicio de San Jose is the first Social Welfare Agency in the Philippines.  It had pioneered the helping of the poor, sick, the handicapped, the abandoned, the elderly and for a brief period even the mentally and psychologically sick as well as the delinquent youths of the city.  Hospicio de san Jose in its beginnings has made ea commitment to maintain and improve on the early curriculum offered to its clientele.  The curriculum encompasses the Christian, social and work oriented formation program.

Today, Hospicio de San Jose continues to respond to the challenges of society.  It has instituted a holistic approach in responding to the needs of its clientele such as the indigent and physically handicapped people by giving them formal education, as well as health and spiritual programs which are being offered by the institution.  Challenged by the realities of the communities around the vicinity of the institution, an outreach program has been initiated.  This outreach program was organized to serve the needs of the elderly people in the slum areas of Quiapo and San Miguel.

The Vision, Mission and Goal of Hospicio de san Jose

Vision

Hospicio de San Jose, as a Catholic Welfare institution, envisions a transformed and empowered Church of the poor where the young and elderly coming from diversified and marginalized families and communities find home.

Mission

Sensitive to the signs of the times and responsive to the call of the Church, Hospicio de San Jose is committed to serve the abandoned young and old, helping them experience quality life and become agent of social transformation.

Goals:

Hospicio de San Jose shall have the following objectives:

1. To provided holistic program for total human development and Christian value Formation designed for empowerment of personnel and clientele group.
2. To design, develop and sustain innovative programs, services and curriculum to improve the quality of life of the poor.
3. To work for the promotion of the integrity of God’s creation especially on issues dealing with conversion, renewal ad social transformation of the environment.