Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
colonial-era glitterati used to promenade after church every Sunday. These days Rizal
Park is an early morning jogging circuit, a weekend playground for children and a
refuge for couples and families escaping the clamour of the city. Hawkers sell everything
from balloons and mangoes to plastic bags full of chicharon , deep-fried pigskin served
with a little container of vinegar and chilli for dipping. The park is often busy, with
many distractions and activities, but few visitors report any problems with hustlers,
pickpockets or what Filipinos generally refer to as “snatchers”. The whole park is
gradually being renovated under an ambitious plan that will take years to complete.
At the far eastern end of the park is an impressive Marcos-era giant Relief Map of
the Philippines , though in dire need of renovation - in contrast, at the centre lies
the lagoon, where the flashy “dancing fountain”' entertains crowds every evening.
The park's other sundry attractions include the Orchidarium & Butterfly Pavilion ,
a tranquil haven from the hustle outside; the fairly bare Japanese Garden ; the
Chess Plaza , where amiable seniors challenge each other to board games; and the
traditional Chinese Garden .
Rizal memorials
Diorama of the Martyrdom of Rizal Wed-Sun 8am-5pm • P10 • Light show in English Wed-Sun 8-8.30pm (min 15 people) P50 per
person • LRT to UN Avenue
The western end of Rizal Park is most associated with its namesake, José Rizal . he
main focus is the stolid looking Rizal Memorial , raised in 1912, where Rizal is
entombed, and the 31-metre flagpole where Manuel Roxas, first President of the
Republic, was sworn in on July 4, 1946. Just to the north is the site of Rizal's
execution in 1896, marked by a memorial that also commemorates the execution of
three priests garrotted by the Spanish for alleged complicity in the uprising in
Cavite in 1872 - despite the carnival-like atmosphere around it, this is a very
poignant site for most Filipinos.
Nearby is the Diorama of the Martyrdom of Rizal , containing a series of eight life-size
sculptures dramatizing the hero's final days. If the gatekeeper is around you should be
able to wander around, but to run the light-and-sound presentation they need at least
fifteen people.
National Art Gallery
Taft Ave at Padre Burgos Ave • Tues-Sun 10am-5pm • P150 (free on Sun), includes entry to National Museum of the Filipino People •
T 02 527 1215, W nationalmuseum.gov.ph • LRT to UN Avenue
Just to the north of Rizal Park, the National Art Gallery is the foremost art museum in
the Philippines, housed in the grand old Legislative Building (completed in 1926 and
home of the Senate till 1996) on the northern edge of Rizal Park. Galleries are laid out
thematically in rather desultory fashion over two floors, but each one is relatively small
and easy to digest. The highlights are paintings by Filipino masters including Juan Luna
(1859-99), Félix Hidalgo (1855-1913), José Joya (1931-95) and Fernando Amorsolo
(1892-1972), with the most famous works displayed in the Hall of the Masters near
the entrance; Luna's vast and magnificent Spolarium (1884) is here, a thinly veiled
attack in oils on the atrocities of the Spanish regime, portraying fallen gladiators being
dragged onto a pile of corpses.
Other galleries are dedicated to National Artist award winners (Amorsolo was the first
in 1972), showcasing Joya's Origins and Amorsolo's Portrait of President Manuel Roxas .
There's also a section on architect Juan Arellano (1888-1960), who designed the
building, and a special gallery dedicated to the large Juan Luna collection; look out for
his haunting Mother in Bed and the simple naturalism of Study for Rice Harvesting . he
second floor contains mostly minor works from modern Filipino artists, and also a
Bones Gallery where a huge sperm whale skeleton takes pride of place.
 
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