LUNETA PARK

LUNETA PARK

Also known as Rizal Park, Luneta is one of the city’s premier attraction being the most famous park in the country. From its former name bagumbayan (new town) wherein Philippine’s national hero Jose Rizal was executed last 1896, Luneta is a great place of historic archives like the execution of the Gomburza in 1872, official proclamation of the country being a fully independent republic in 1946, a mass was held here by Pope John Paul in 1995, and the opening and closing of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

In Luneta, you’ll find Quirino Grandstand, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the main office of the Department of Tourism, the National Museum, National Library, Orchidarium, Planetarium, Butterfly Pavilion, an open air auditorium and a chess plaza.

Luneta has been a place for families to enjoy picnics during sundays and holidays. Thousands or even hundreds of thousands of tourists both local and foreign visits Luneta monthly.

One good trivia here is that the flagpole located in front of the Rizal monument is the kilometre zero which means it is the starting point for all

PLACES TO GO AT LUNETA PARK

Rizal Park is in the midst of Manila's hustle and bustle of a concrete jungle stands Rizal Park. A tribute to the country's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, it marks the spot where Rizal, accused by the Spanish authorities of leading the insurrection, was executed by a firing squad. Luneta (as it is commonly called) is a refuge for early morning jogger and tai-chi practitioners. At night, the park is transformed into a romantic rendezvous for lovers. . Apart from its grassy expanse, Luneta also features a planetarium, dozens of fountains, an amphitheatre, a children's playground, a skating rink and the Chinese and Japanese gardens. Direction::Cnr. Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila




Chinese Gardens are found within Rizal Park. The Japanese Gardens are also found within Rizal Park, is authentic but in miniature. It was developed to promote friendship and mutual understanding between the Japanese and Filipino people.













Right into the heart of the capital Manila lies Luneta Park or Rizal Park, which marks the Kilometer Zero of the Philippines and the northern tip of Roxas Boulevard, overlooking Manila Bay. Built in the early 1700s, the park was the site of some of the turning points in Philippine history such as the execution of the national hero Jose Rizal and the declaration of the Philippine independence from USA.

The Rizal Monument ca be found right in front of the park, which has become its famous symbol. The bronze statue, made in Switzerland and remodeled by national artist Juan Nakpil, is famously protected by the Kabalyeros de Rizal (Knights of Rizal) who do not move all-day or all-night long. It is also considered as the most-pictured site of the park.

Nowadays, the park is a favorite place for dating and for family picnics because of its spacious grassy lawns and open-air concert hall that features live entertainment and music. The park also has a chess plaza, a skating rink, fountains, and playgrounds. Every Sunday morning, Filipino martial artists use the park to practice eskrima, a traditional martial arts form.

Rizal Park, also known as Luneta Park or colloquially Luneta, is a historical urban park located in the heart of the city of Manila, Philippines, adjacent to the old walled city of Manila, now Intramuros. Since the Spanish Colonial Era, the park has been a favorite spot for unwinding, socializing, an urban oasis for family picnics on Sundays and holidays. It is one of the major tourist attractions of Manila.
Located along Manila Bay, Luneta has been the site of some of the most significant moments in Philippine history. The execution of pacifist Dr. José Rizal on December 30, 1896, sparked the fire of the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish colonizers, elevating the martyr as the national hero of the country. The park was officially renamed Rizal Park in his honor and his monument serves as the symbolic focal point of the park. The Declaration of Philippine Independence from American rule was held here on July 4, 1946 as well as the political rallies of Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino in 1986 that led to the EDSA Revolution deposing the dictator.