A Place Where The Flag Never Stops Waving

By Dyan Sheryl Carolino

For centuries, a historic site known to many has witnessed accounts in Philippine history longer than any other life span of any human being.

It has witnessed the execution of the three friars known as GOMBURZA (Gomez, Burgos and Zamora), the death of Jose Rizal, the declaration of Philippine Independence and so forth; even the infamous hostage crisis of Hong Kong tourists that took place only two years ago.

Rizal Park, also known as Luneta Park, has been erected since 1913 as a tribute to the late national hero Jose Rizal on his 17th death anniversary. Designed by Swiss sculptor Richard Kissling, Rizal Park costs about P100,000.

Standing in the heart of capital city Manila, the flagpole in Rizal Park serves as the Kilometre Zero (point of origin) of all the other cities surrounding it.Beside it is the Rizal monument where foreign dignitaries lay wreaths during state visits. In the middle stands a bronze and granite statue of the hero himself, familiar to all the motorists that pass by the place.

From its former name Bagumbayan, the tourist site became Luneta or Rizal Park as it is known today. The name Luneta came from the Spanish word of “lunette” which means crescent, owing to the fact that the park itself is shaped like a crescent moon.

In the morning and afternoon, hundreds of people come to the place to go jogging or to just stroll around, have a picnic—to use it as a scapegoat from the hustle bustle of the city. In the evening, pairs of lovers swarm the park for a romantic atmosphere.

At the entrance is a wall inscribed with Mi Ultimo Adios or My Last Farewell, a poem by Rizal. The Lights and Sounds of Rizal, a 3-D diorama of Rizal’s death consisting of life-size sculptures is on the north side of the park. The Sculptural Tableau is considered as the living memory of Philippines’ hero. Near it is the Rizal fountain and the GOMBURZA marker in honor of the three Filipino priests executed by Spanish authorities in the 1800s.

Inside the park are gardens, plazas, historical markers, restaurants, fountains, a stadium, theatre and many more, overlooking the beautiful Manila Bay. An honor guard secures the place 24 hours a day.

Just a short walk from there is the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion which features a vast collection of orchids and other beautiful and fragrant flowers. It also possesses beautifully-designed waterfalls, a lagoon, an artificial rainforest and a butterfly paradise. Aside from these wonderful places, many other fascinating sites can be found in the park such as the Quirino Grandstand, a chess plaza, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the National Museum and National Library and the Department of Tourism Office.

At the eastern end of the park, the Relief Map of the Philippines showing the entire Philippines can be found. Located at the center is the Central Lagoon and located at the northwest is the Planetarium.

Just by looking at the Rizal Park, one can feel the years of history that the historic grounds has been through. It is said that it is the only place in the Philippines where the flag never stops waving—at any weather, even at times of challenges and hardships for the Filipino countrymen.