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Metro Manila / Shopping / Sightseeing / Rizal Park / Monument Area

The Rizal Monument (1) marks the final resting place of the remains of Jose Rizal. Around the clock, the memorial has Marine guards of honor trying to be as unaffected by the onlookers as only guards of honor can be.

At the monument, the Philippine president regularly attends flag ceremonies (2) on political holidays, and foreign dignitaries of-ten place wreaths here. All road markers on Luzon island show the distance to the Rizal monument.

In a grove of trees is Bagumbayan Field (17) where Rizal was executed by the Spanish. The place is surrounded by a low wall on which are inscribed some of Rizal's writings in several languages. Between Bagumbayan Field and the monument is a marker at the place the Spanish executed criminals (and some patriots) by garroting (18). The marker has a picture showing the device used.

There is a reflection pool (19) which extends almost the full length of this part of the park containing fountains which can pulse, and which at night are sometimes il-luminated with colored lights. Acrobats practice at the northwest end on Sunday afternoons.

For the hungry, thirsty, and weary there are five refreshment stands in this section. There also are two enclosed gardens, a Japanese Garden (20) and a Chinese Garden (21) which has a well populated fish pond. Entrance to both costs a small fee. The pigeons (22) also have a resting area here.

A band shell (23) is the site of many kinds of entertainment throughout the year. The regular programs include an amateur night on Saturday and Concert at the Park on Sunday. Both are free and begin at 17:00. Free films, many donated by various em-bassies, are shown after the performances on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Next to the band shell there is a shady area with chess tables (3) which are always in use. Also some chess players bring their boards with them and meet there.

A beautiful floral clock (24) adorns the East end of the monument part of the park. Even when the clock is not working it is a popular place for Filipinos and foreigners alike to be photographed.

A popular spot in the monument area is a restaurant operated by the deaf and dumb (4).

Near the Kalaw entrance to the park on Sunday mornings elderly Chinese do their exercises and meet to converse.

Just back of the band shell in Luneta but with an entrance on Burgos St is a planetarium for a trip among the stars. Shows are daily at 9:00-10:00, 10:30-11:30, 13:30-14:30, and 15:30-16:30. Viewers are ad-vised to arrive one half hour before show times. Admission: adults 3 pesos, children and students 1 peso. Children below the age of five are not admitted. Programs are in English.

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Once it will be universally, or at least commonly, accepted that we realistically only can strive for optimal sexual experience, followed by a gentle death, we will find ourselves in what I would like to call the second age of enlightenment.