Quezon Institute

Early years

During the American colonial administration over the Philippines, tuberculosis is a major health concern. In 1910, a regional meeting was held in Manila and it was reported the mortality of the disease is estimated to be 40,000.^[2] The health situation led to the establishment of the Philippine Islands Anti-Tuberculosis Society on July 29, 1910. It was approved on August of the same year.^[2][3] Eleanor Franklin Egan and Sixto delos Angeles led the organization's efforts against tuberculosis. Egan served as the group's first president.^[2]

The compound which would later be the site of the Quezon Institute was first opened to the public as the Santol Sanatorium in 1918.^[3] In 1934, then-Senate President Manuel L. Quezon lobbied for the passage of the Sweepstakes Law which allocated 25 percent of its proceeds to the Philippine Tuberculosis Society. This led to the establishment of the hospital arm of the organization, the Quezon Institute in 1938. The health facility formerly known as the Santol Sanatorium was renamed in honor of Manuel L. Quezon who attended the inauguration of the hospital himself.^[2] The complex was designed in the Art Deco architectural style by Juan Nakpil.^[4]

World War II

The Quezon Institute was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II. The hospital's staff were ordered to be relocated to the San Juan De Dios Hospital in Intramuros, Manila. The hospital's equipment, records, and furniture were looted.^[2]

Reopening

After the Japanese occupiers were driven out of the Philippines in 1945, President Sergio Osmeña lobbied for the allocation of ₱1 million peso for anti-tuberculosis efforts in the legislature. ₱800 thousand were allocated to the Philippine Tuberculosis Society. With the help of the United States Army which bought supplies and equipment, the Quezon Institute was reopened. The annual Philippine Charity Sweepstakes allocated for the society was increased to ₱1 million peso by then-President Ramon Magsaysay in 1957.^[2]

2000s-2010s

A portion of the hospital's lot located at the corner of Quezon and E. Rodriguez Avenues were sold where a Puregold supermarket outlet was built.^[1] It served as the main headquarters of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), until 2010 when it transferred to the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.^[5]

As early as 2011, Ayala Land is reportedly interested in purchasing the property occupied by the Quezon Institute and is planning to convert the facility to a mixed used development for "a long time". The firm has expressed its intent in preserving the historic buildings of the complex which then recently became automatically protected under the National Cultural Heritage Act simillar to what it has done with the Nielson Tower.^[1] In 2013, Ayala Land was negotiating with PTSI for a joint venture for its planned development. The PTSI plans to move the Quezon Institute to a new site.^[3]