Here at the Quezon Institute, echoes of a battle against a silent killer resonate. Tuberculosis was once a major health crisis in the Philippines. This institute played a crucial role in combating it.
Let’s step back to the early 20th century. The Philippines, under American colonial rule, faced a severe tuberculosis outbreak. The mortality rate was alarming. The Philippine Islands Anti-Tuberculosis Society emerged in 1910. Its aim was to fight the spread of this deadly disease. Eleanor Franklin Egan and Sixto de los Ángeles spearheaded the organization. Egan served as its first president.
In 1918, the society opened the Santol Sanatorium. It was a small facility to treat tuberculosis patients. Years later, Senate President Manuel L. Quezon championed the Sweepstakes Law. This law allocated 25 percent of its proceeds to the Philippine Tuberculosis Society. It was a game-changer.
With these funds, the organization established a proper hospital in 1938. The Santol Sanatorium was renamed Quezon Institute. This renaming honored President Quezon. He had been instrumental in securing funding. Architect Juan Nakpil designed the Quezon Institute in the Art Deco style. Nakpil was later honored as a National Artist for Architecture in 1973.
During World War II, the Japanese Imperial Army occupied the Quezon Institute. Staff were relocated. Equipment and furniture were looted. The hospital suffered greatly.
After the war, President Sergio Osmeña allocated funds for anti-tuberculosis efforts. With the help of the United States Army, the Quezon Institute reopened. President Ramon Magsaysay increased the annual allocation from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes.
Even during the Marcos dictatorship, the Quezon Institute played a role. Political prisoners suffering from tuberculosis were sometimes confined here. Writer Pete Lacaba was among them.
The Quezon Institute has also appeared in films. It was a setting for episodes of the horror films Cinco and My Big Bossing. In 2019, it was the setting for the horror films Maledicto and Clarita.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office once had its headquarters here. It occupied a portion of the property until 2010. Ayala Land expressed interest in acquiring the property. They planned to convert it into a mixed-use development. Ayala Land intended to preserve the historical buildings.
The Quezon Institute stands as a testament to resilience. It also shows dedication in the face of a public health crisis. The Philippine Tuberculosis Society continues its work from here.
Notable figures have shaped the Quezon Institute’s history. Doña Julia Vargas de Ortigas, president of the Philippine Tuberculosis Society, expanded the hospital. Dr. José Fernandez Fabella and Dr. Miguel Dujua Cañizares were also key figures. Carlos P. Rómulo and Alejandro Gonzales Roces, Sr. served on the board. Fermín Vergara Sánchez, known for his romantic classicist style, created President Quezon’s portrait. It hangs in the lobby.
Today, the Quezon Institute continues its mission. It battles tuberculosis and serves as a reminder of past struggles and triumphs. The complex still stands as a green space along Eulogio Rodriguez Sr. Boulevard. It also reminds us to uphold the legacy of President Manuel Quezon.