“Rizal Park: A Bullet of Suffering”

by: Martha Velasco

Welcome in this blog where it aims to showcase the dark history of a well-known tourist attraction in Manila, a dark tourism site, and a place respected by every Filipino, “Luneta Park”. Where Philippine History and Philippine Literature are represented in one, the main focus of this topic is to remember the suffering of the Philippine National Hero, Dr. José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda in connection to the subject Travel Writing and Photography.

Historical Background

This is the exact spot of Dr. José Rizal’s execution, located at the right sidewalk from the Rizal Monument.

Bagumbayan, which we now know as Luneta or Rizal Park, is the exact spot where Dr. José Rizal was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896.

His fate was sealed earlier on December 26, after he was charged with rebellion, sedition, and illegal association. Once he was confirmed dead, the Spanish didn’t want his body to become a symbol for the revolution, so they had soldiers carry it away and buried him secretly at Paco Cemetery. No marker, no ceremony, just quiet and hidden.

But Rizal’s family didn’t give up. They managed to find and identify his remains in August 1898. Then on December 30, 1912, 14 years later, his body was finally moved to Bagumbayan as his permanent resting place.

That’s now the Rizal Monument, and it’s treated as a national shrine.

Cultural Identity

This is the popular Rizal Monument tourists take photos at when they visit Luneta Park.

The main spot you have to check out is the Rizal Monument. It is a tall, quiet monument right where Filipinos remember José Rizal. People leave flowers, snap pics, and you can just feel that calm, respectful vibe around it.

Right near there are the Chinese and Japanese Gardens if you want a quick chill break. There is also an open-air auditorium and a big bandstand that usually has performances when there is an event going on.

Tourism Attractions

This is where local vendors sell Filipino street foods and refreshments for tourists.

One of the best low-key things to do here is just taking a morning walk across the lawns. Nothing beats catching the sunrise over Manila Bay while it is still quiet.

You will see families having picnics, kids flying kites, and people hopping on those cute boat-shaped paddle rides nearby. It somehow turns the whole park into this big hangout spot for everyone.

If you are into guided tours, there are local tours that link the park’s history with trips to the museums and heritage spots around it such as the National Museum and the Astronomy/Planetarium, just a short walk from the park edges.

Tip: if you want any of the paid attractions or join an organized activity, booking your tickets ahead of time will save you from long lines and makes planning way easier.

Reflection, Insights, & Recommendations

This is my photo sitting on a stone where in front of me is the exact spot where Dr. Jose Rizal got executed.

Going here was not my first time. I used to visit here when I was in elementary school during our field trip. However, it was my first time commuting as I went there for another visit. At first, I thought it would be hard, hassle, and time-consuming, but was actually not because you can feel the worth of experience, time, and money spent after.

When we did our educational tour in elementary school, not everything in the place was toured, we only took photos on the monument and walked around the park. That is why I highly recommend visiting this place not just once or twice because it has so much more to offer and discover. As I spent some time exploring the area, I found the exact spot where Dr. José Rizal was shot. Before, I thought the monument is where he was shot but as I explored and did some research, it was actually where he was buried as his final resting place. It was a big knowledge I gained that I wanted to share especially to those who relate with my initial understanding.

Upon finding out the exact spot of his execution, it made me feel really sad seeing the statue representations of how the Spanish authorities teamed up for one man fighting for my own country. The photos we see online are nothing compared to actually visiting the site because when you are in there, you can really feel the weight of suffering from the past since not only José Rizal is executed in Bagumbayan, but also Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora.

Get Dark Tourism In The Shadows’s stories in your inbox

Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.

Remember me for faster sign in

Overall, this experience taught me the importance of exploring dark tourism sites as a citizen of this country so I can confidently share the history of the Philippines to other people who lack knowledge and experience just as I used to. Additionally, I recommend visiting this site at night for a full dark experience because visiting in the morning or afternoon has a big difference in experience as compared to visiting at night where lights lit up in the place.

Other Visuals & Media

This is the sidewalk in the park where tourists can a ride bike, walk around, or take photoshoot from a local photographer.

This is the view from the back of the Rizal Monument where several Philippine flags were raised.

This is the exact spot where Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora were executed.

This is the way to the exact spot of José Rizal’s execution where most of the people I intereviewed have not yet visited.

This is where some of José Rizal’s writings were engraved.

This is a carved stone representation of José Rizal’s stages of life.

This is the side view to the statue representation of Jose Rizal’s execution.

This is the statue representation of José Rizal’s Mock Trial.

This is the statue representation of José Rizal’s last meeting with his relatives.

This is the statue representation of José Rizal writting his famous poem “Mi Ultimo Adios” as his last farewell.

This is the statue representation of José Rizal reuniting with his beloved Irish wife, Josephine Bracken.

This is the statue representation of José Rizal being visited by his trusted friends Lt. Taviel de Andrade and Fr. Vicente Balaguer.

This is the statue representation of a military doctor, Capt. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, took Rizal’s palm before he was to be shot and found out that his pulse was normal to which Rizal addressed, “ I have no fear to die because I have no fault.”

This is the statue representation of José Rizal’s execution.

Conclusion

The importance of Manila’s dark tourism site like the Rizal Park in culture and tourism is to remember and give honor to the historical suffering from the past while keeping the place as a tourist attraction for more people to learn and feel what suffering from the past felt like. By highlighting not just the physical attraction but also the story behind it promotes the essence of culture and tourism. Therefore, let us explore dark tourism sites and discover the sufferings from the past.

Foother/Credits

This blog is part of a performance task to the subject Travel Writing and Photography.

Acknowledgement:

I would like to acknowledge the friendly local vendors, photographers, and security guards in this attraction for welcoming me.

References:
Website source:
Global Traveller. (2026, January 4). Rizal Park ( Luneta ): History, Landmarks & Visitor Tips - Rizal Park travel guide. Traveloka. https://www.traveloka.com/en-ph/explore/destination/rizal-park/1004344

E-Book Source:
The Diorama Experience of Philippine History. (2025). Google Books. https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=BXyFEQAAQBAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA138&dq=luneta+park+cultural+identity&hl=en&source=gb_mobile_entity&ovdme=1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=luneta%20park%20cultural%20identity&f=false

‌
About Me

This is my photo in front of the iconic Rizal Monument.

Hi, I’m Martha Velasco, a Tourism Management student from STI College — Bacoor Campus, passionate about promoting cultural, historical, and dark tourism sites through education and tourism projects. This blog was created as part of my collaborative academic performance task to highlight dark tourism sites where I focused on Manila City’s tourism potential.