Rizal Park is situated in the heart of the city of Manila, Philippines. It is at the northern end of Roxas Boulevard, overlooking Manila Bay.
Rizal Park's history began in the early 1700s during the Spanish rule. While Manila's social and business activities were confined within Intramuros, a small area just south of the walls was cleared to prevent sneak attacks from the patriotic natives. The area was shaped like a small moon (lunette) and thus was named Luneta. The Park was also called Bagumbayan (English: New Town) in Spanish colonial era, and later known as Luneta.
Luneta has been the site of some of the most significant moments in Philippine history . Among them are the execution of José Rizal on December 30, 1896, whose martyred death made him a hero of the Philippine Revolution. (It was officially renamed Rizal Park in tribute to him.); the Declaration of Philippine Independence from American rule on June 4, 1946; and the political rallies of Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino in 1986.
The 0km marker across the monument also serves as the point of origin or Kilometre Zero to all other cities in the Philippines.
Rizal Park's history began in the early 1700s during the Spanish rule. While Manila's social and business activities were confined within Intramuros, a small area just south of the walls was cleared to prevent sneak attacks from the patriotic natives. The area was shaped like a small moon (lunette) and thus was named Luneta. The Park was also called Bagumbayan (English: New Town) in Spanish colonial era, and later known as Luneta.
Luneta has been the site of some of the most significant moments in Philippine history . Among them are the execution of José Rizal on December 30, 1896, whose martyred death made him a hero of the Philippine Revolution. (It was officially renamed Rizal Park in tribute to him.); the Declaration of Philippine Independence from American rule on June 4, 1946; and the political rallies of Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino in 1986.
The 0km marker across the monument also serves as the point of origin or Kilometre Zero to all other cities in the Philippines.
The Rizal Monument
The park in modern times has become a local spot for families to have picnics on Sundays and holidays and a major tourist attraction of Manila. It has a small man-made lake with a replica of the Philippine archipelago in the middle.
The park has recreational value as well, as bands, orchestras and other sorts of entertainment are provided for free in its open-air auditorium, aptly called "Concert at the Park".
Other attractions of Rizal Park include the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the Department of Tourism main office, the National Museum of the Filipino People, The National Library of the Philippines, the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion, the Planetarium, the monument of Lapu-Lapu, a fountain area, a children's lagoon, a chess plaza, a light and sound presentation on the last days of José Rizal,a large open stone model of the Philippine islands, and the Quirino Grandstand.
Other attractions of Rizal Park include the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the Department of Tourism main office, the National Museum of the Filipino People, The National Library of the Philippines, the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion, the Planetarium, the monument of Lapu-Lapu, a fountain area, a children's lagoon, a chess plaza, a light and sound presentation on the last days of José Rizal,a large open stone model of the Philippine islands, and the Quirino Grandstand.
Lapu-Lapu MonumentOn an area on the right side of the park stands a set of statues depicting Rizal's execution, situated on the spot where he was martyred. Contrary to popular belief, the monument is not the spot where he was executed, but the monument is situated there to serve two purposes: to serve a kilometer zero or starting point od measure for the distances from manila, and to guide incoming boats and ships to Manila Bay, prior to the erection of a lighthouse.
The large flagpole in front of the Rizal Monument is Kilometer Zero, the point from which road distances are measured in the Philippines.
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