Where is Rizal? | Manila, Philippines

---

Work and play

If there’s one compliment I willingly accept that’s I know when I should be strict and when I should be playful. When you manage a team, the last thing you’d want to happen is to become overly friendly to the point that the people you’re handling forget you’re the head of the team. It’s the balance I’ve perfectly maintained for the longest time. And I have no plans of changing this dynamics.

I’ll let you in my strict side some other time, for the time being, let's just be playful and spontaneous. I always end up over-emphasizing that my work is results-oriented. That’s also the reason why I don’t always come to work early because I know that even if I come in late, I’ll be able to deliver whatever is needed from me for the day. I always tell my team that if you’re done, a little play won’t hurt; in fact, it’s necessary with the kind of job we’re in, we need to keep our stress level within healthy limits.

I've shared in a previous post my recent travel to Manila. That's how I ended up in this park in the heart of our country's capital.

---

Rain, rain go away

According to Google Maps, from the last store we checked, it’s only about a 2-km or 15-minute walk to Luneta Park. To be very honest, my feet were already feeling sore, exhausted from the few hours of walking, checking this and that. But what’s 2km away, right? I asked Pros if he was up for the challenge and despite the gloom and the drizzle and the thunderstorm, we pushed for it and found ourselves nearer and nearer to Luneta Park.

I’ve mentioned this a few times before "You’ll never go hungry in the Philippines!” Of course, that’s if you have money. And these food stalls selling all sorts of street food and snacks welcomed us when we entered the Kalaw Avenue entrance of the park just across from The Maritime Training Center of the Philippines.

The moment I walked in, I instantly felt as if I’m not in the center of the city. Everywhere I looked the park's luscious surroundings made me forget I'm in the middle of the busiest streets in Manila. How's that possible? Well, walk with me until the end of this post!

You might have heard of “There’s always a reason for everything” And although part of me wants to complain that it was gloomy and raining lightly once in a while that afternoon, it was for the very same thing that we got to enjoy Luneta Park. There were trees but they were not enough to cover the entire park which according to my research spans a total of 58-hectare space, making it one of the largest urban parks in the country. _Source

---

Dancing Fountain

We moved closer and saw this rectangular-shaped water fountain. It's a shame we couldn't witness its night show. This is bigger than the one I've seen in Vigan. The night show could've been magical!

We moved to the other side of the fountain and the view was even more spectacular from that angle.

I'm undeniably very happy here and we haven't even reached Rizal's monument at this point! 😁

---

More of this, please!

My immersion during my Young Minds Academy (YMA) days made me realize that highly urbanized parts of the country lack public open spaces for leisure and recreational purposes. I could only imagine a community where open spaces like Luneta Park abound; people would be a lot healthier physically and mentally.

Seeing people from all walks of life that afternoon made me think all over again that if only safe and accessible open spaces are made available to the public, they'll be more willing to take a few minutes of walk or jog or bike or even just hang out with their friends and family.

I never imagine that Luneta Park if big enough to accommodate bicycles. Guess I was wrong all these years.

Just in front of the fountain if the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium which was still closed to the public during our visit.

Some photos of me enjoying Rizal Park's grandeur. "Where are your heels?" You might ask, they're inside my canvass bag. 😅

---

But really, where is Rizal?

When we've spent at least fifteen minutes sightseeing near the fountain and auditorium, I've concluded that this is by far the largest park in the country I've been to. I've seen Rizal or Luneta Park on TV countless times but seeing it in person was surreal. It's nowhere near any of the things I've seen and imagined.

But seriously, we've been walking here and there but we haven't even reached the monument of Rizal. I've seen his monument from afar but it required another chill 5-minute walk to reach it! Lol! Taking in consideration the stops I had to make to take photos! 😂

Luneta Park is known for a few names including Rizal Park, simply Luneta and even Bagumbayan. I'm not here to give you a history class, but just to give you an idea why this place has historical importance. It's the very spot where our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was executed by the Spaniards in December 30, 1896.

Rizal's monument faces Roxas Avenue. On our walk towards the monument, it couldn't be helped to stop and take photos of the well-kept off limits garden. Everywhere I looked, it's just green. So relaxing and refreshing after a tiring day at work!

In one corner on the left side of the monument (if you're facing Roxas Blvd.) there's another spot with tall trees and a few benches. I later found out it's called Noli Me Tangere Garden. It was starting to drizzle again and we decided to go straight to the monument.

Then finally, we reached Rizal's monument.

Did you know that the flagpole in front of the monument is the tallest in the country? It's called the Independence Flagpole standing at 150 ft tall.

And finally, we found Rizal! A few tourists both local and foreigners were taking photos of the monument. There were two guards standing next to the monument. For tourists, we can's go near the monument.

Here are photos of me and Pros trying to wear our tourist hat that day! 😎

It has been a fantastic afternoon of walking tour and discovery in Rizal Park! The next time you visit Manila, might as well drop by here!😍

---