Rizal Monument at Luneta Park
Best things to do in Luneta Park
Bagumbayan [New Town] popularly known as Luneta Park and/or Rizal Park is a historical place located in the northern end of Roxas Blvd. sitting alongside Manila Bay. Luneta Park was shaped like a small moon [lunette] thus naming it as Luneta. The park’s eventful past started during the 18th Century throughout the Spanish colonial period.
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| Rizal Monument the most famous sculpture landmark in the Philippines |
Luneta Park was formally renamed as Rizal Park, a bronze & granite monument was built and Jose Rizal’s remains stand near the place of his execution by a firing squad of the Spanish army. The national hero’s poem Mi Ultimo Adios [My Last Farewell] is carved on the memorial tablet, uninterruptedly guarded by Kabalyeros de Rizal [Knights of Rizal] or the ceremonial soldiers.
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| Quirino Grandstand facing Rizal Monument |
The park was also been the site of most significant events in Philippine history:
- Military Trial and Execution of Jose Rizal on 30th of December 1896 at the age of 35.
- The heat of Philippine Revolution against the Spaniard’s colonization.
- The Declaration of the Philippine Independence from American rule on 4th of July 1946.
- Political rallies of former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos & Corazon Aquino in 1986 leading to EDSA Revolution.
- Rizal Monument imposing a stainless steel pylon over the granite oblelisk by National Artist for Architecture, Juan Nakpil. From the monument’s original height 12.7 meters, it became 30.5 meter high.The purpose of this upright structure is to be used for support for navigational guidance. The remodeling was widely criticized and was removed 2 years later to Baclaran in Roxas Blvd.
- Philippine Independence Day is celebrated annually, where the highest flagpole [107 meters/351ft] Independence Flagpole stands in front of Rizal Monument.
- Quirino Grandstand [a replica of Independence Grandstand] was built in 1949 by architect Juan Arellano, where newly-elected Presidents of the Philippines traditionally take oath & deliver inaugural addresses to the nation.
- Philippine Centennial celebrations on June 2, 1998. marking a 100 years of Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain.
- World Youth Day – Closing Mass was held on January 15, 1995 with more than 5 million participants.
- Opening and Closing Ceremonies of 2005 Southeast Asian Games.
- And the Quirino Grandstand hostage crisis led by dismissed PNP officer, senior inspector Rolando Mendoza, an 11-hour hostage drama of Hongkong nationals inside the Hong Thai Travel Services tour bus that had caused multiple injuries and casualties.
- Lapu-lapu Monument
- Diorama of Rizal’s Martyrdom
- Kilometer Zero [0km] marker of the Philippines, in front of Rizal Monument, serves as the point from which road distances from Manila are measured.
- Family picnic area
- The park according to our old folks was designed before for roller-skating, skaters can freely roam around the lagoon and fountain.
- Filipino Martial Art [FMA] groups: Eskrimadors or Eskirima practitioner used to hold practice and stickfighting duels around the area.
- A raised-relief map of the Philippine archipelago besides Taft Avenue , now undergoes a reconstruction after its removal years ago.
- An open-air auditorium where Concert at the Park was being held.
- Department of Tourism building
- National Museum of the Philippines
- National Library of the Philippines
- Manila Planetarium
- Chinese Garden
- Japanese Garden
- Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion
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| Lapu-lapu Monument |
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| Kites of various sizes |
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| Manong Sorbetero |
This month of June the whole nation will celebrate Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda or Dr. Jose Rizal’s 150th, sesquicentennial birth anniversary on June 19, 2011. Be part of the 150,000 people to offer flowers at exactly 7:03 a.m. at his monument at Rizal Park.
Luneta Park
Manila Philippines
National Parks and Development Committee
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>ai.. oo ang tagal ko na di nagawi rito.. pag napasyal kasi sa MLA deretso sa mall..lol… was here for PF.
>so true, most people would rather visit malls. It's just been recently I started to roam the parks and museums for my kid to experience it and keep memories of it. 🙂
>i like this post! would definitely visit luneta kapag naluwas kami ng maynila at ng makabili ng colorful kites.:) visiting from PF, happy weekend!
>I had a very memorable experience in Luneta when we visit the park last June 12, 2009. We used to visit the park when we were still in Manila.
>Bago ba yang Lapu-Lapu Monument? parang hindi ko yan nakita when I visited Luneta backin 2007.Thanks for visiting my Pink Friday entry.
>@ Willa: I guess sis, but I'm not sure when it was built there. That same spot used to hold the Philippine map relief. When I got there I was searching for the map relief, upon asking the Luneta "tambay/photographers" 🙂 they said due to people's demand the map is being re-built around the existing fountain grounds. By this time the construction must have been finish in conjunction with Rizal: 150 year celebration. @ Vaneneng: Love the kites too, I still need to exert effort on kite flying 101 :)@ Mylene: we just can't deny being a Filipino 🙂
>The last time I was at Luneta was when mommy was pregnant with baby Roey. It has been about 3 years now. HERE is my PF entry. Hope you can also join us at Messy Go Round meme. Thank you and see you po!
>great post, i would love to bring my kids there kapag nakauwe kami…thanks for sharing all these great information! have a great weekend.