A Monument to the Philippine Revolution

During the 1800s, most of Manila’s social and commercial interactions were solely within the Intramuros. However, a tiny area about the southern part of the walls was marked out to thwart the often patriotic attacks from the locals. The region was called Luneta due to its lunar appearance and the park was called Bagumbayan, meaning ‘new town’ in English. Later on it came to be known as Luneta.

Luneta perhaps holds the facts related to some of the most crucial parts of the Philippine history. Prominently, this includes the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal (Dec 30th 1896). His death made him a national martyr and hero in the Philippine revolution. As a tribute to his sacrifice, the Bagumbayan Park was christened Rizal Park.

The name Luneta is derived from the word lunette. It was believed that the park was of the shape of a half moon, located adjacent to a Spanish fort and served well as a protection from the local attacks. It houses the Rizal monument made in granite and bronze, which is an established sculptural figure for the nation. Here a mausoleum has also been built where the remains of Rizal are preserved.

Today, the Rizal Park is a wonderful attraction site for visitors and a picnic and vacation site for the locals. The park contains a small artificial lake which resembles a replica of the Philippine archipelago. The park also hosts recreational activities like bands and orchestras that are played open to air, and rightly named “Concerts at the Park”.

There is a large flagpole right in front of the Rizal monument. This is called as the Km 0 or the Kilometer Zero. This point is considered as the constant starting point for all types of geographical measurements in Philippines. For instance, the Baguio city is on the north and is approximately around 330 Km away from the Manila city, that is particularly the Rizal Park.

Manila is a bustling hub and visitors have many places to go to and a variety of things to do. While you are enjoying the city, make sure you check out a few Manila serviced apartments for your accommodation needs. There are several Manila serviced apartments for you to choose from, and many of them provide high-quality facilities and services for a comfortable stay.