Philippines / Metro Manila / Sightseeing / Rizal Park

This park of about one third of a square kilometer (7.4 acres), located between Intramuros and Ermita, can be considered the oversized city plaza of Metro Manila. It is one of the most beautiful city plazas (or city parks) in the world, less because of the way it is designed, landscaped or planted, but because of ways in which the people of Manila make use of it.

The park, named after the national hero, Jose Rizal, is divided into three parts by Roxas Blvd and Maria Orosa St. The part nearest Manila Bay is referred to as the Grandstand Area. The portion between Roxas Blvd and Maria Orosa St is the Monument Area named after the Rizal monument, while the segment between Maria Orosa St and Taft Ave is designated the Globe Area, in reference to a globe in center of the skat-ing rink.

In spite of its giant size, Luneta, as Rizal Park is commonly called, never looks big. On the contrary, every Saturday, Sunday or holiday, it seems too small to accommodate all the people strolling around. And Rizal Park does not close at night. The music, broadcast through numerous loudspeakers, continues until after midnight, and the lights do not go out until dawn.

Luneta is emptiest around noon time, be-cause more often than not, it is too hot to stay in the sun. The most pleasant time in Luneta is in the evening.

Photographers by the dozens are in the park to take pictures of strollers for a small charge, and various vendors hawk their wares. The park also serves as a meeting place for both saints and sinners, as there are small evangelical groups and faith healers as well as male and female pros-titutes.

Even though Rizal Park is listed here un-der sightseeing, along with historic monu-ments, it is not only a place to see but a place to be. Foreigners residing in Manila easily adopt the Filipino habit of just stroll-ing through the park during leisure hours.

Significant areas of Rizal Park: