What followed
was a long walk from the Post Office to the vicinity of Rizal Park.
Do yourself a favor and take a jeep. In my case, it was the classic case of Everything seems so near! phenomenon. You see several landmarks close to one another and then you assume that they are within walking distance. Well, that is true
to some extent, but group them together and you would be surprised how far the landmarks from both ends are from each other!
I decided to take
the road along SM. Taft Avenue.
Is it called Taft Avenue
all the way or does it have split personality like Quezon Avenue/España? Anyway,
I was able to see the Philippine Normal University along the way. Picture! Cross Taft Avenue
to get to the park, which I think is Lapu-Lapu’s.
By the entrance is
a pond which displays a map of the Philippines. It does not make sense
from a normal vantage point. Perhaps you will be able to appreciate it if you
have the ability to levitate or fly. The view might be
better from the LRT. Good luck in thinking of ways to stop the train so you
could take a clear picture, or maybe that is the purpose of the train's emergency breaks.
Lapu-Lapu’s giant
statue is the highlight of this park. I have no idea as to when all these were constructed. All I could remember was that in the 90’s there was just Rizal
surrounded by grass, or perhaps we just did not explore the area along Taft Avenue.
Anyway, you just have to cross the street to get to Rizal Park. The funny thing is that there are various parks within the park itself, or maybe it would
be better to call them gardens. There is a Japanese
Garden and a Chinese Garden.
Of course there is a Filipino
Garden, and then an
Orchidarium. Death by plants.
The two identical
buildings housing the National Library and the Department of Tourism are also
within the area, on opposite sides. Rizal’s monument is on the Roxas Boulevard
side. This particular area usually gets crowded with tourists, mostly East Asians and students.
It is unknown if Lapu-Lapu hates this fact, although there has not been any
report of a catfight between the two heroes on opposite sides of the
park. Or maybe that is exactly the reason why they were placed far from each
other. Who knows! What I know is that the carabao on the other side of Roxas Boulevard
does not give a damn because its monument enjoys dominion over the wide field of
grass in front of Quirino Grandstand.
Yes, the Quirino
Grandstand is just on the other side. No need to be ecstatic though, it is just a
grandstand. An old grandstand. What you would probably enjoy is the mentioned
field in front of it. As long as the weather permits there are usually a lot of
people there doing various activities ranging from flying kites, making out,
and taking a pee. Are you tired yet? Lay down on the grass. Enjoy the view.
Fall asleep if you like, but do not blame me if you find your wallet missing
afterwards.
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