Rizal Park, also known as Luneta Park, is located at the northern end of Rojas Boulevard in the centre of Manila. Located on the shores of Manila Bay, the park has witnessed many significant events in the of Philippine history. Among them is the execution of Jose Rizal on 30 December 1896, which marked the beginning of the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonisation and turned the martyr into a national hero of the country. Later, Luneta Park was officially renamed Rizal Park in his honour, and the Jose Rizal Monument is the the symbolic centre of the park. It was also where the Philippine Declaration of Independence was officially proclaimed on July 4, 1946, and where the political battles between Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino took place in 1986, which led to the resignation of dictator Marcos.
The history of Rizal Park began in the 18th century during the Spanish colonial Spanish colonial period. While the social and business life of Manila took place mainly in the ancient neighbourhood-fortress of Intramuros, a small area south of the fortress walls walls was cleared to thwart attempted attacks by the patriotic locals. This area, known as the Bagumbayan Field, was then home to a Spanish military hospital (later destroyed in an earthquake) and fortifications not associated with Intramuros and known as Luneta due to its lunar shape. In front of the field was the Plaza Alfonso XII (King of Spain from 1874 to 1885), which later became known as Plaza de Luneta and was the centre of social activities in Manila. In the late 19th century, it was the site of public executions of criminals and political enemies of Spain.
Today, one of the main attractions of the park and the country as a whole is the monument to Filipino patriot, writer and poet Jose Rizal, made of granite and bronze. It was unveiled on 30 December 1913, the 17th anniversary of his execution. The memorial plaque bears the words of Rizal's poem "My Last Farewell" and the monument itself is guarded by soldiers called the the Knights of Rizal. Visiting the monument and laying a wreath at its base has become almost protocol for visiting politicians in the Philippines.
Just in front of the Rizal Monument, the Flagpole rises 107 metres above the ground Independence Flagpole, the tallest flagpole in the Philippines. It was here on 4 July 1946, the independence of the Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed. Nearby is the so-called so-called Independence Tribune, designed by Juan Arellano.
Other attractions in Rizal Park include the popular with young people Japanese Garden, arranged in recognition of the friendship between Japan and the Philippines, the whimsical Chinese Garden with a traditional Chinese-style gate with flying dragons, the National Library of the Philippines, the Orchid Orangery, and the Butterfly Pavilion, founded in 1994. The Lapu-Lapu Monument, or the statue of the Guardian of Freedom, is a gift from the people of Korea as a token of appreciation to the Filipino people for their help during the Korean War in the 1950s. Lapu-Lapu was the chief of a Muslim clan on the Philippine island of Cebu and a representative of Sultan of Sulu, the first to rebel against the Spanish colonisers. He was recently recognised as the Philippines' first national hero. In 1521, Lapu-Lapu and 10 men of his clan, armed with spears, fought Spanish soldiers led by Ferdinand Magellan. In that battle, the famous Portuguese navigator Magellan and several of his soldiers were killed. Here in the park Rizal Park, not far from the Jose Rizal Monument, is the "kilometre zero", from which the distance from Manila begins.
On weekends and public holidays, the park is a gathering place for Manila residents - families with children, couples in love, and the elderly retirees. For them, as well as for city guests, there are several picnic areas, various musical groups perform, and sporting events are organized.
