The Ortigas Foundation was incorporated in November 1996 with the goal of providing a forum for the study of Philippine history, art and culture. Its aim is to encourage and assist scholars and institutions in researching and conserving the nation's natural artifacts.

The Ortigas Foundation Library is the cornerstone of the Company’s ongoing research and conservation program. The Library makes available to scholars its unique collection of historical documents in a quiet setting, conducive to study. The library staff and special consultants are trained in the proper handling of antique and fragile materials and follow internationally accepted standards of archival conservation.

The library was established with the acquisition of the Netzorg Filipiniana Collection from Cellar Books in Detroit, Michigan and the personal reference library of the late Dr. Gregorio Zaide.

Morton "Jock" Netzorg was a life long student of Philippine history and, for decades, the foremost dealer in Filipiniana books in the United States. Dr. Zaide, on the other hand, was a prolific writer and one of the Philippines' most prominent historians for many years. He regularly represented the country at academic conferences and symposia abroad. Over the years, the Ortigas family and friends have added valuable material to this core collection.