RIZAL

Park
Rizal Park, widely known as Luneta Park is an
iconic park that carries with it a rich history, as
it is the location where the country's National
Hero, Dr.Jose Rizal was executed. The park was
also formerly known as Bagumbayan during the
Spanish Occupation in the Philippines.
Rizal Park (Filipino: Liwasang Rizal, Spanish:
Parque Rizal), also known as Luneta Park or
simply Luneta, is a historic urban park located in
Ermita, Manila. It is considered one of the largest
urban parks in the Philippines, covering an area
of 58 hectares (140 acres). The site on where the
park is situated was originally known as
Bagumbayan during the Spanish colonial period. It
is adjacent to the historic Walled City of
Intramuros.
Situated on the eastern shore of Manila Bay, the
park plays a significant role in shaping the history
of the Philippines. The execution of Filipino patriot
José Rizal on December 30, 1896 in the same area
fanned the flames of the 1896 Philippine
Revolutionagainst the Kingdom of Spain. The park
was officially named in his honor, and the
monument enshrining his remains serves as the
park's symbolic focal point. The declaration of
Philippine independence from the United States was
held here on July 4, 1946, as well as later political
rallies, including those of Ferdinand Marcos and
Corazon Aquino, the latter having culminated in the
EDSA Revolution in 1986.
 HISTORY
Rizal Park's history began in 1820 when the Paseo
de Luneta was completed just south of the walls
of Manila on a marshy patch of land next to the
beach during the Spanish rule. Prior to the park,
the marshy land was the location of a small town
called Nuevo Barrio ("New Town" or Bagumbayan
in Tagalog) that dates back to 1601. The town and
its churches, being close to the walled city, were
strategically used as cover by the British during
their attack.
The Spanish authorities anticipated the danger posed
by the settlements that immediately surrounded
Intramuros in terms of external attacks, yet Church
officials advocated for these villages to remain.
Because of the part they played during the British
Invasion, they were cleared after the short rule of
the British from 1762 to 1764.
CONTEMPORAY
HISTORY
Rizal Park was renovated by the National Parks
Development Committee in 2011. The German-
Filipino William Schaare, who built the old
musical dancing fountain at the 40 m × 100 m (130
ft × 330 ft) pool in the 1960s, handled its
restoration. Among the other things that were
restored were the Flower Clock (now known as
the World-Class Filipino Bloom), the Noli Me
Tangere Garden and the Luzviminda Boardwalk,
which were opened just in time for the 150th
birthday celebration of Jose Rizal.