It is the only island dividing the Pasig River in Manila located between the districts of San Miguel on the north bank, and Ermita and Paco on the south.
[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 the Ayala Bridge.
[4] It was earlier called Isla de San Andrés (English: Saint Andrew’s Island) in honor of Don Andrés Blanco Vermúdez, who owned the island but later donated it to the San Juan de Dios religious order.
This structure has since been replaced by the convent hospital built by the San Juan de Dios religious order.
The Hospicio General was originally housed in an old ruined building called Petruz on the island's western portion.