Back to Manila 1: Bagumbayan
A familiar sight? When was the last time you were here?
Located at the heart of Manila, Rizal Park is one of the main attractions of the city. In the Spanish colonial era, it used to be a cleared area aimed to buffer any rebellious acts of the locals against the walled city of Intramuros, which, at that time, was the center of business and social activities. The area was then named Bagumbayan or New Town, but was better known as Luneta because its shape was like a small moon or lunette (Spanish). In 1912, Act No. 243 of the Philippine Assembly, declared the place as the site where a monument of Dr. Jose Rizal and a mausoleum which will house his remains will be erected. This location is almost the same spot where Dr. Jose Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896. Up to this day, two ceremonial guards known as Kabalyeros de Rizal or Knights of Rizal guard the National Hero’s monument twenty-four hours a day and all throughout the week.
How much of Luneta have you seen so far? Do you have a photo by the Rizal monument? Or are you one of those who find this idea appalling? But leaders from other countries do not think so. In fact most visiting dignitaries make it a point to pay respect and lay a wreath at the monument. The many times I’ve been in Luneta, groups of foreign visitors excitedly pose in front to take pictures.
Today, aside from the Rizal monument, Luneta Park has other attractions like the man-made lake with a replica of the archipelago in it, the Quirino Grandstand, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens (favorite venues of students for rehearsals of school presentations), a monument of Lapu-Lapu and a few meters from the monument is the National Museum, and the big flagpole in front of Rizal monument (marks kilometer zero). At night, visitors can catch the light and sound show about the last days of the National Hero in the park’s open theater.
Let me end this post with snapshots of Bagumbayan today:
Photos: marker of Jose Rizal’s execution site; a series of relief sculptures depicting the life of the National Hero; a scene in the light and sound show
Photos: La Madre Filipina (a detail on the right side of the Rizal monument also depicts a mother and has this inscription below: “La Madre Filipina cria el porvenir del pais”*); Binhi ng Kalayaan (unveiled during the Philippine Centennial, dedicated to the heroes of the country); a very attractive tree, Natinal Museum of the Filipino People (used to be the Finance Building); Lapu-Lapu monument; bulova clock
—————
*Rough translation: The Filipina mother nurtures the future of the country (Fil.: Ang ina ang humuhubog sa kinabukasan ng bayan)
Some of the photos in this post courtesy of my friend Agnes. Used with permission.
Nice.
Ang last time akong nakapunta sa luneta ay noong bday ng mother ko (this year lang yun), pumunta rin kami sa Manila zoo. hehehe. Napagtripan lang.
Laarni’s last blog post…Can you pull metallic pants off?
Salve: masarap mag-stroll sa Luneta. at pag may time pa, libutin na rin ang ibang lugar na malapit.
I couldn’t recall the last time I was here but this is one of those places that we need to preserve because what lies here is a remembrance of an act of heroism.
And it’s something that we need to go back to once in a while to remind us of how far we’ve gone as a nation. :p
Salve: True, len. It’s important to look back to our roots.
Girl! Kaloka. La Madre Filipina. That’s where I fell in love with….
…. hmm…. hehehe
brainteaser’s last blog post…“deliberi manong”
Salve: Wow! Give me the juicy details, girl!
The last time I visited the place ay nawala ako dahil iwinala ako ng kasam ko!
“jolog mo naman pare ko,” sabi pa niya!
La Madre Filipina depicts women’s hidden dominance in Christendom. I can prove that…
Rizal’s monument reminds me the words of a friend: “Binaril na sa Bagumbayan ang martir!”
Salve: andami mong theories, VF!
I think you have an interesting story set in Luneta. That’s what I wanna know!
Ow, I was once asked to interpret the ‘La Madre Filipina’. Like Dan Brown’s interpretation of the ‘Last Supper’, the artist is trying to silently depict women’s influence (or perhaps important role) in society.
Siempre, ginamit ko yun for my advantage
.
Anyway, there’s a resto nearby. Dun ako dinala nung kasama kong nawala. It’s a fish resto, Dampa style, with a swimming pool sa gitna. Wish ko lang na kailangang mag-swim ka sa pool to catch your dinner -tingnan ko lang kung may mahuli yung kasama kong jolog!
Ako, may nahuli akong sirena na hindi marunong lumangoy hehehe!
Salve: and what was your interpretation, VF?
Yung nahuli mong sirena, nung natutong lumangoy, ayaw nang papigil!
yeah tama sila lahat!
ang luneta ay hindi lang basta park no? tantanan ang pagpapayong at pagtalikod sa tabi-tabi.
hitokirihoshi_kawaii’s last blog post…Wordcamp 2008: for healthy & wealthy blogging
Salve: isa ka po ba sa mga nagpapayong dun?
Well, its been a while since I’ve been there. Years na din ata! Cant find time to go there, but my bestfriend, Malen (mynosebleed.com) was planning to revisit Manila…something like a photoblog or sort of….
siguro pag indi na mandatory ang 2 hours OT sa work…hehehe
ruthie’s last blog post…Richard and KC: For The First Time
Maganda pala ang Rizal Park, imagine lumaki at tumanda ako sa Manila hindi ko man lang na explore ang ganda ng Luneta. Para tuloy akona guilty. Hindi ko masabing proud Pinoy ako.
Feeling ko kasi hindi na safe sa lugar na yan, sa mga bagay bagay. (hold up, mga masasaksihan scandal at iba pa.) Meron pa palng maganda sa Maynila.
Promise ko sa sarili hindi ko pagkakait sa bagets ko ang history at kailangan imbes na mall ang puntahan yun mga historical at educational pero bakit ko nakalimutan ang LUNETA or RIZAL PARK.
Well, thank you sayo Avi at na pa realize hindi kailangan lagi na probinsya ang maganda at ipinagmamalaki.
Nga pala bakit sa nabasa ko kung libro ni Ira wala sa magagandang tanawin ang Luneta, pero Baywalk nandun. Ang description magandang lubugan ng araw.
Mag reklamo ako sa nag published ng libro na yun.
heheheh
hay, daan daan lang kami ng pamilya ko. yung last na punta ko kaya dyan e nung nagparade kami kasama ng aking mga katrabaho sa hotel nung 1998, waaaa.
sobrang lapit nyan sa trabaho ko!!!
Greetings from Vegas!
=)
raft3r’s last blog post…Hate (I Really Don’t Like You)
i was always wondering why the guards? will rizal go anywhere? lol. i’ve added you to my links already.
PM’s last blog post…Isang Kababuyan [A Pig Story]
tagal ko na ndi nakakapunta jan altho madalas ako sa manila pag nasa pinas ako.. i dont find it cheesy. i like the idea a lot of putting up luneta, kapag nangibangbansa ka tapos umuwi ka, kapag nasa luneta ka u could say ‘pinas nga ito’
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One thing I’ve realized pagkatapos kong makapasyal uli sa Luneta after soooo many years of going around the different places sa Pinas. Nakaka-guilty na ngayon ko lang uli na-rediscover ang kagandahan ng Luneta…
Hiya girl! Wazzup?
Bakit bigla yata kayong natahimik na tatlo nina Sonnet, Jane and you…
plus sina Rafter, gmac, and rhapsody.
Wazzup guys?
At least si Vhincent, I know why she’s not around.
brainteaser’s last blog post…iliw agpalpaliiw
TOK! TOK! TOK! (Martilio na yan na pinangpupokpok ko sa inyo para magising kayo!)
Di nyo ba nami-miss si VF? Sa susunod, granada na ang gagamitin ko!
Great photos, mare:) Good thing you found time to visit Luneta, I miss the place. Ang dami naming pictures dyan ni kuya when we were kids kasi papa and mama would always take us there on weekends aside from Nayong Pilipino and Cultural Center:)
Antonette’s last blog post…Playground
miss ko na pumunta ng Luneta,4years na ata ako hindi nakapunta.Nagtataka pa rin ako kung bakit kelangan may guard sa monument ni Rizal???
MC’s last blog post…chinese buffet
sa wakas
last Thursday, nasilayan ko uli si Rizal!!!
i’m back!!!
raft3r´s last blog post…Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag
hindi ko na matandaan kung kelan ang huling bisita ko jan. gradeschool pa ata ako… kailangan madalaw ko ulit yan. with matching picture taking! hehe!
Carol´s last blog post…From a painting to a wall.
the last time i was there was 2005, pero dumaan lang kami dun eh… ang last time talaga na tumabay ako diyan was when i was in grade 2, mga 17 years lang naman cguro. lolz!
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