A WALK IN RIZAL PARK ONE LATE AFTERNOON

29th AUGUST 2017 ~ Rizal Park is another tribute to the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal. This is a  huge stretch of an open area with Intramuros at one end, and the Manilay Bay at the other. This should be a favourite hanging out space for the Filipinos during weekends and public holidays.

 The first local warrior we met at Rizal Park was Lapu Lapu. His huge statue was to commemorate all his bravery to fight against the Spaniards. He killed Ferdinand Magellan and the Philippines was a free country until the Spaniards made their comeback 40 years later. 

Another huge museum that could be found there was labelled the Museum of Natural History but it was not yet in operation when we were there. I have to check the internet about this place.

There were also numerous statues and sculptures of all the past heroes in the history of the Philippines.

The Rizal Monument, with the two guards of
the Philippines Marine Corps

We found the heart of Manila - kilometer zero.

We were there late in the afternoon when the sun was about to set in the horizon. There were actually other interesting spots in the park that we could not visit as time did not permit. And we had other plan too after this. 

[MY MANILA TRIP MAIN PAGE]

THE RIZAL SHRINE IN FORT SANTIAGO

28th AUGUST 2017 ~ Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. He has a special place in every Filipino's heart. After visiting Jose Shrine and another museum, I believe he is a true warrior and deserves the honour bestowed upon him. 

Here are some interesting facts you should know about this great figure, gathered from Wikipedia:

• Jose Rizal was an ophthalmologist by profession - something like an eye specialist.
• He first studied law but quickly switched to medicine when he got to know his mother was going to be blind. He himself operated on his mother's eyes.
• When he was 21 years old, he traveled alone to Madrid to study medicine without his parents' knowledge.
• Rizal was a polymath - someone who was multi-talented. Not only he was good in Science, he was also good in sketching, painting, wood-carving and sculptures making.
• He could write well too - he wrote poems, novels and essays. 

• He was a well-known sculptor, painter, educator, farmer, historian, playwright and journalist.
• He was an expert in architecture, cartography, ethnology, economics, anthropology, sociology, dramatics, martial arts, fencing and pistol shooting.  
• People working on his biography had difficulties in translating his writings like his diaries and letters as he had the habit of switching from one language to another, because he was a polyglot. He mastered 22 languages.

• Rizal sparked the idea of revolution against the Spanish in the Philippines in his writings. The pen is definitely mightier than the sword.
• Rizal was labeled as enemy of the state because of his novels.
• Because of a revolution movement that was going on at that time, Rizal was accused of being the mastermind. He was later pun on trial for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy.
• Sadly, he was executed for the crime he did not commit by the Spaniards at the age of 35.

How everything is just heart-breaking. Even though he was dead, his spirit lived on among the Filipino fighters and Jose Rizal was the one who inspired for the country's independence.

I am truly amazed and inspired by Jose Rizal, and I salute you!

[MY MANILA TRIP MAIN PAGE]