Our 75th entry in this blog is our trip to Rizal Park.  This is my first time (I think) to be in this park as well as for the kids, and also Ate Gina.  Gooya, Lolo, and Papa D has already been here years before.  First impression: not that big as I have imagined but surprisingly clean. 🙂 “Rizal Park, also known as Luneta Park or simply Luneta, is a historical urban park in the Philippines. It was formerly known as Bagumbayan in the era of colonialism under the Spaniards. It is located along Roxas Boulevard, Manila, adjacent to the old walled city of Intramuros, and is one of the largest urban parks in Asia.” –wikipedia.  It is quite hot this day and Sai here is hiding his face from the Sun.

We saw a mini train circling the park, and so we immediately hopped right in it.  Everyone is relieved to ride the mini train to save our precious legs and efforts from walking under the 10AM sun heat. This is where our Filipino hero Jose Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896.  The Declaration of Philippine Independence from the United States was held here on July 4, 1946.  As well as several historical political rallies including those of Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino in 1986 that culminated in the EDSA Revolution. Wow! Too much history just right under our feet.

And not just that… During the Spanish period, the place became notorious for public executions. “A total of 158 political enemies of Spain were executed 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.” –wikipedia.
I have no plans of staying here after dark.  It might be very spooky 🙂

There are several gardens inside the park such as the Children’s Playground, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Noli Me Tangere Garden, Orchidarium, and Butterfly Pavillion.

We went inside the 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” –wikipedia.
Here we are looking at all the details of the Chinese structures inside the garden.

There are a lot of establishments nearby but since we came here quite late due to traffic, we have to cut our visit short.  Ate Rei and Sai are now eager to walk towards Manila Ocean Park 🙂

We will surely be back Luneta! Next time, when Ate Rei and Sai will be old enough to understand our own Philippine History, it will be interesting to spend the whole day in here (I hope). 🙂