Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Did you know that during the past five years, at least 32 Filipino orphans and abandoned children given shelter by the Hospicio de San Jose in Quiapo, Manila have been adopted by US families?
The same children "are now American citizens," disclosed United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr.
It is likely, according to Thomas, that "there are children on this island who will be welcomed by American families in the near future."
"They will surely enrich the lives of their adoptive families and the strong bond between our two countries will continue to be strengthened through these connections," the envoy noted.
Speaking during his visit to the Hospicio de San Jose on Saturday afternoon, Thomas also thanked the 200-year-old orphanage for "caring for Americans over the years."
"Though this history may not be widely known, many American prisoners of war and Red Cross volunteers were interned at this institution during the Second World War," he noted.
Thomas said, "in spite of great scarcity, the sisters who ran the Hospicio de San Jose cared for these Americans, many of whom were in poor health, while continuing to take care of the disadvantaged and disabled of Manila."
"They shared their rations, provided comfort. They made the time more bearable and likely saved of their lives," he said.
Thomas described as "remarkable" some excerpts from letters supposedly written by some American soldiers to the administrators of the orphanage.
"The admiration the soldiers had for their caretakers at this institution was deep and enduring," he said.
Citing a new publication on the Catholic Church-run orphanage, which he did not name, Thomas said "these are stories that need to be told."
"They not only highlight the need in our communities, but also provide sparkling examples of what is possible. Your first book was full of happy endings and I look forward to reading more in this new book," he said.
According to records of the Archdiocese of Manila, the Hospicio de San Jose (originally called Hospicio General) was founded sometime in October 1778 by Don Francisco Gomez Enriquez and his wife Do?a Barbara Versoza.
Named after St. Joseph, the institution was originally based in Pandacan, Manila. It was later transferred to Intramuros, then Binondo, Nagtajan, and Echague in Manila's Quiapo district.
It was only in 1810 when the Hospicio de San Jose found its permanent home at what was then called Isla de Convalescencia, located right next to what is now the Ayala Bridge (near Malaca?ang Palace).
A Board of Directors, chaired by the Archbishop of Manila, started operating the Hospicio de San Jose through a Royal Decree issued on December 27, 1810 by Spain.
The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul came to the orphanage only on June 1, 1866 as "administrators and were entirely responsible for the whole operation of the institution."
The Archdiocese of Manila referred to the Hospicio as the "first social welfare agency" in the country.
"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," it said.
Today, the Hospicio de San Jose "continues to respond the challenges of society."
"It has instituted a holistic approach in responding to the needs of its clientele, such as the indigents and physically-handicapped people, by giving them formal education, as well as health and spiritual programs which are being offered by the institution," the Archdiocese of Manila added.
