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Photo: Rizal Park in Manila
Popularly known as
Luneta, this sixty hectares oasis in the center of the city has
flowers, fountains, lawns and music, attracting
thousands of strollers and lovebirds in the late
afternoon and evening. If you are there at
5.00am, you can catch the first eager Chinese
doing their tai chi. On Sundays during the
afternoon, you can watch Filipino martial arts
displays or watch the free concert at the
park at the open-air
Auditorium in the evening. It is interesting to watch the
changing of the guard at the famous tourist
attraction of Rizal Memorial,
located at the bay end of the park,
which is not far from where the national hero Dr
Jose Rizal was executed by the Spaniards on 30th
December 1896. The dramatic execution squad
scene is the subject of a group of brass statues
near the Memorial and forms the centerpiece of a
Light and Sound Show (6.30pm-7.30pm) based on
the execution.
On either side of
the open-air auditorium and Planetarium are the
beautiful Chinese and Japanese Gardens. If you walk
towards Taft Avenue, you will come to to the
Valencia Circle, which is surrounded by
(clockwise) the Orchidarium and Butterfly
Pavilion, the National Museum of the Filipino
People, a topographical model of the
Philippines, a children's playground and the
Department of Tourism.
Across Roxas Blvd
(towards the water) are the parade grounds and
the Quirino Grandstand. Nearby is a row of
restaurants, from which diners can enjoy views
of the bay and during the weekends, locals loved
to walk or simply take a stroll in the relaxing
atmosphere found here.
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