Luneta Park

By Joyce Ira

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Statue of Jose Rizal

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 -- bands, orchestras and other sorts of entertainment are provided for free in an open-air auditorium, aptly called "Concert at the Park".

Here, national hero and genius Jose Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896 as the Spanish soldiers shot him to death.

The monument also serves as the point of origin or Kilometre Zero to all other cities in the Philippines.

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 the Philippines's first hero, Lapu-Lapu, a fountain area, a children's lagoon, a chess plaza, a light and sound presentation on the last days of Jose Rizal,a large open stone model of the Philippine islands, and the Quirino Grandstand.

On an area to 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 of measure for the distances from manila, and to guide incoming boats and ships to Manila Bay, prior to the erection of a lighthouse.


You can take a jeepney, taxi or bus from any point of Manila. LRT or the Light Railway Train is also available for your convenience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizal_Park




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