Rizal Park also known as Luneta Park or colloquially Luneta, is a historical urban park located
along Roxas Boulevard, City of Manila, Philippines, adjacent to the old walled city of Intramuros.
Since the Spanish Colonial Era, the Park has been a favourite leisure spot, and is frequented
on Sundays and national holidays. It is one of the major tourist attractions of the City
of Manila. Situated by Manila Bay, Luneta is also an
important site in Philippine history. The execution of national hero José Rizal on
December 30, 1896, fanned the flames of the 1896 Philippine Revolution against the Kingdom
of Spain. The area was officially renamed Rizal Park in his honor, and the monument
enshrining his remains serves as the park's symbolic focal point. The Declaration of Philippine
Independence from the American Occupation was held here on July 4, 1946 as were later
political rallies including those of Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino in 1986 that culminated
in the EDSA Revolution.
The Philippines' Kilometre Zero is located within the Park on Roxas Boulevard, in front
of the Rizal Monument. It serves as the point from which all road distances from Manila
are measured.
Location Luneta is situated at the northern terminus
of Roxas Boulevard. To the east of the boulevard, the park is bounded by Taft Avenue, Padre
Burgos Avenue and Kalaw Avenue. To the west is the reclaimed area of the park bounded
by Katigbak Drive, South Drive, and the shore of Manila Bay.
History Spanish Colonial Period
Rizal Park's history began in 1820 when the Paseo de Luneta was completed just south of
the walls of Manila on a marshy patch of land next to the beach during the Spanish rule.
Prior to the park, the marshy land was the location of a small town called Nuevo Barrio
that dates back to 1601. The town and its churches, being close to the walled city,
were strategically used as cover by the British during their attack. They were cleared by
the British during their short rule from 1762 to 1764. The area later became known as Bagumbayan
Field where the Cuartel la Luneta, a Spanish Military Hospital, and a moat-surrounded outwork
of the walled city of Manila, known as the Luneta because of its crescent shape.
West of Bagumbayan Field was the Paseo de la Luneta named after the fortification, not
because of the shape of the plaza which was a long 100-by-300-metre rectangle ended by
two semicircles. It was also named Paseo de Alfonso XII, after Alfonso XII, King of Spain
during his reign from 1874 to 1885. Paseo de la Luneta was the center of social activity
for the people of Manila in the early evening hours. This plaza was arranged with paths
and lawns and surrounded by a wide driveway called "La Calzada" where carriages circulate.
Execution of Gómez, Burgos and Zamora During the Spanish period from 1823 to 1897
most especially in the latter part, the place became notorious for public executions. A
total of 158 political enemies of Spain were martyred in the park. On February 17, 1872,
three Filipino priests, Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, collectively known
as Gomburza, were executed by garrote, accused of subversion arising from the 1872 Cavite
mutiny. American Colonial Period
Rizal Monument
The bronze-and-granite Rizal monument is among the most famous sculptural landmarks in the
country. It is almost protocol for visiting dignitaries to lay a wreath at the monument.
Located on the monument is not merely the statue of the national hero, but also his
remains. On September 28, 1901, the United States Philippine
Commission approved Act No. 243, which would erect a monument in Luneta to commemorate
the memory of José Rizal, Philippine patriot, writer and poet. The committee formed by the
act held an international design competition between 1905–1907 and invited sculptors
from Europe and the United States to submit entries with an estimated cost of ₱100,000
using local materials. The first-prize winner was Carlos Nicoli of
Carrara, Italy for his scaled plaster model titled “Al Martir de Bagumbayan” besting
40 other accepted entries. The contract though, was awarded to second-placer Swiss sculptor
named Richard Kissling for his “Motto Stella”. After more than twelve years of its approval,
the shrine was finally unveiled on December 30, 1913 during Rizal’s 17th death anniversary.
His poem "Mi Ultimo Adios" is inscribed on the memorial plaque. The site is continuously
guarded by ceremonial soldiers of Philippine Marine Corps’ Marine Security and Escort
Group National Government Center
In 1902, William Taft commissioned Daniel Burnham, architect and city planner, to do
the city plan of Manila. Government buildings will have Neo-classical edifices with Greco-Roman
columns. Burnham chose Luneta as the location of the new government center. The Old Legislative
Building, which was envisioned to be the Philippine version of the Washington Capitol, was to
become its core. It will be surrounded by other government buildings, but only two of
those buildings were built around the Agrifina Circle, facing each othter. They are the Department
of Agricultureand the Department of Finance. These two buildings were completed before
the Second World War.
Philippine Independence Day celebrations
The Independence Flagpole, standing at 105 feet, is the highest flagpole in the Philippines.
On this spot in front of Rizal Monument, at 9:15am July 4, 1946, the full independence
of the Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed as authorized by the United States President
Harry S. Truman. As of August 2013, the flagpole was restored
and increased its height to 150 feet. The government is expected to spend 7.8 million
pesos, in preparation for the centennial of Rizal Monument
Quirino Grandstand Originally called grand Independence Grandstand.
It was designed by architect Juan M. Arellano, in preparation for the proclamation of Independence
on July 4, 1946, and to avoid overcrowding in front of the National Legislative Building
during the inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic. It was designed in Neoclassical
style. However, in 1949 Federico Illustre, chief architect at the Bureau of Public Works,
modify the some designs of Arellano. It was completed on the reclaimed area along Manila
Bay where President Elpidio Quirino was sworn in after winning the presidential election.
Since then, newly elected Presidents of the Philippines traditionally take their oath
of office and deliver their inaugural address to the nation in the grandstand, which was
later renamed after President Quirino. Many important political, cultural and religious
events in the post war era have been held here.
Luneta National Park In 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay signed
Proclamation No. 234 declaring Luneta a national park. The Luneta National Park spans an area
of approximately 16.24 hectares covering the area surrounding the Rizal Monument. The Commission
of Parks and Wildlife managed the site upon its establishment as a protected area. The
national park is now administered by the National Parks Development Committee under the Department
of Tourism. Philippine Centennial
On 12 June 1998, the park hosted many festivities which capped the 1998 Philippine Centennial,
the event commemorating a hundred years since the Declaration of Independence from Spain
and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. The celebrations were led by then
President Fidel V. Ramos. 2011 renovations
Rizal Park underwent renovations by the National Parks Development Committee aimed at restoring
elements of the park. The plans included the rehabilitation of the old musical dancing
fountain located on the 40 m × 100 m pool, which is the geographical center of the park.
The fountain, which is set for inauguration on December 16, 2011, is handled by German-Filipino
William Schaare, the same person who built the original fountain in the 1960s. Restoration
also included the Flower Clock which was set for inauguration on the 113th Philippine Independence
day; the Noli Me Tangere Garden and the Luzviminda Boardwalk, for the 150th birthday celebration
of Jose Rizal. Recent events in the park
January 15, 1995. The closing Mass of the X World Youth Day 1995 was held here attended
by more than 5 million people. This is the record gathering of the Roman Catholic Church.
June 12, 1998. The Philippine Centennial Celebrations featured a Grand Centennial Parade culminating
in a majestic fireworks display emanating from ships in Manila Bay that was the most
spectacular and most expensive ever produced in the country. Rizal Park had over five million
celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the Republic of the Philippines.
December 31, 1999 – January 1, 2000. The turn-of-the-century celebration was held here
attended by more than 5 million people. November 27, 2005. Rizal Park was the venue
of the opening ceremony for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games at the Quirino Grandstand. It
was held at an open-air park instead of a stadium, a historic first for a Southeast
Asian games' opening ceremony. It was again used on December 5, 2005 for the games' closing
ceremony. January 17, 2010. Pentecostal Missionary Church
of Christ held its International Missionary Day at Quirino Grandstand.
August 23, 2010. The park was the site of the 11-hour hostage crisis where a Hong Thai
Travel Services tour group on a coach was hijacked by Rolando Mendoza, causing casualties
and injuries. February 28, 2012. The Iglesia ni Cristo held
a Grand Evangelical Mission in Quirino Grandstand, simultaneously with other different locations
in the Philippines, and was attended by 3 million people.
August 22–26, 2013. The Million People March was held in the park, and other different
locations, to protest against the improper use of Priority Development Assistance Fund.
Annual Events at the Quirino Grandstand January
January 8–9: Feast of the Black Nazarene June
June 12: Philippine Independence Day Celebration June 30: Philippine Presidential Inauguration
August Anniversary Overnight Annual Family Appointment
with El Shaddai* October
Anniversary Celebration of Jesus is Lord Church December
Christmas Overnight Family Appointment with El Shaddai*
(*) The events of the El Shaddai is now already held at the Amvel City Business Park, Parañaque
City Park layout
The park is divided into three sections beginning with the 16-hectare Teodora F. Valencia Circle
adjoining Taft Avenue, where the Department of Tourism and the National Museum of the
Filipino People are located, is the Northeastern section; followed by the 22-hectare park proper
that extends down to Roxas Boulevard is the Central Section; and terminating at Southwestern
section which includes Burnham Green, a 10-hectare open field, the Quirino Grandstand and the
Manila Ocean Park along Manila Bay.
Activities The park is home to various KaliFilipino Martial
Arts groups. Every morning, especially on Sundays, Eskrimadors, or Eskrima practitioners
can be seen at the Luneta. Even up to the present, stickfighting duels are still very
common, albeit in a friendly atmosphere. Various physical fitness groups doing aerobics at
the park are also present on weekends. Points of interest
Children's Playground, the section of the park built for kids, is located at the southeastern
corner of the Rizal Park. The playground was also renovated in 2011.
Chinese Garden. An ornate Chinese-style gate, carved with swirling dragons, leads you into
this whimsical garden which looks like it has been transported from old Peking. Along
the lagoon constructed to simulate a small lake, are pagodas and gazebos that are set
off by red pillars and green-tiled roofs and decorated with a profusion of mythical figures.
Concert at the Park at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium are performances provided for free
to the general public by the National Parks Development Committee, Department of Tourism
and the National Broadcasting Network. Free entertainment are also provided elsewhere
in the park. Featured shows are a mix of performances from dance, theatre, to musical performances
by local and foreign artists.
Diorama of Rizal's Martyrdom. On an area north of Rizal monument stands a set of statues
depicting Rizal's execution, situated on the spot where he was actually martyred, contrary
to popular belief that the monument is the spot where he was executed. In the evenings,
a Light & Sound presentation titled "The Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal", features a multimedia
dramatization of the last poignant minutes of the life of the national hero.
Filipino-Korean Soldier Monument. This monument of two Filipino soldiers aiding a Korean soldier
is dedicated to the Filipino combat soldiers who fought with the Korean troops during the
Korean War. Japanese Garden. The gardens were built to
promote friendship between Japan and the Philippines. Inside is nice place for pleasant walks around
the Japanese style gardens, lagoon and bridge. La Madre Filipina. First unveiled in 1921,
the statue was part of a set of four sculptures that depicted Filipina motherhood which adorned
the pillars of Jones Bridge. After World War II, only three of these statues survived and
were relocated elsewhere; the other two were relocated to the Court of Appeals complex.
Lapu-Lapu Monument. The monument was a gift from the people of Korea as appreciation and
to honor the memory of freedom-loving Filipinos who helped during the Korean War in the early
1950s. Lapu-Lapu was a native Visayan chieftain in Mactan, Cebu and representative of the
Sultan of Sulu, and is now known as the first native of the archipelago to resist Spanish
colonization. He is retroactively regarded as the first national hero of the Philippines.
On the morning of April 27, 1521, Lapu-Lapu and the men of Mactan, armed with spears and
kampilan, faced Spanish soldiers led by Portuguese captain Ferdinand Magellan in what would later
be known as the Battle of Mactan. Magellan and several of his men were killed.
Manila Ocean Park is an oceanarium located in the westernmost part of Luneta behind the
Quirino Grandstand and along Manila Bay. The complex opened on March 1, 2008.
Manila Planetarium Museum of the Filipino People, on the building
north of Agrifina Circle, are the Anthropology and Archeology collections of the National
Museum of the Philippines. National Library of the Philippines is the
country's premier public library. The library has a history of its own and its rich Filipiniana
collections are maintained by the librarians to preserve the institution as the nations
fountain of local knowledge and source of information for thousands of students and
everyday users in their research and studies.
National Museum of the Philippines, located on the northeastern tip of Rizal Park, is
the natural history and ethnography museum of the Philippines.
Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion, established in 1994, was a former parking lot developed
into a one-hectare rainforest-like park. The Orchidarium showcases Philippines' rich collection
of orchid species and butterflies. The pavilion is also a favorite venue for weddings.
Relief map of the Philippines is a giant raised-relief map of the country, including the Scarborough
Shoal, Kalayaan, and eastern part of Sabah, in the middle of a small man-made lake.
Security In 2012, 30 high-definition closed-circuit
television cameras were installed to make the area safer for local and foreign tourists.
The National Parks Development Committee have stationed police and security officers in
the key places in the park for added security. In popular culture
The Amazing Race 5, the fifth installment of the American Reality TV show, featured
the Rizal Monument on Leg 12 as Route Marker. The Port Malaya patch in Ragnarok Online,
a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, features a replica of the Rizal Monument
as one of the town's attractions. Gallery
See also
Jose Rizal Rizal Monument
Paco Park References
External links National Parks Development Committee
Photos from Flickr Photos of Luneta