The Lost Jewel

WOW! Hindi ko alam na meron nagkaron pala tayo ng ganitong simbahan sa pinas! Stunning!

Feels like Europe right? This is the old Oton church of Ilo-ilo. One of the architectural achievements of the colonial period. In a form of a Greek cross, it is one of its kind in the country as it was the only one with such a plan and architecture blending Byzantine with Gothic and classical elements. This structure that would have been one of the most majestic churches of the country was spared during the second world war, but it was destroyed by an earthquake in January 1948. So sad that it has never been rebuilt.

Its interior reminds me of Old English churches which chairs are arranged horizontally aligned with the side walls. I didn't know why those chairs aren't facing the altar...weird. Hehe. Interesting that we once had this kind of church architecture that I only seeing in classic english movies such as the "Shadowlands". I dreamt of such jewel standing on our own land. Not as a "copycat" of western architecture, but a symbol of our glorious past.

Rizal Park

After namin sa Paco Park, tumuloy na rin kami sa Luneta para naman um-attend sa 29th Anniversary ng Couples For Christ sa grandstand. We're lucky na malapit lang ang Paco Park sa Luneta at pwedeng lakarin. Just like the other historical landmarks of Manila, sobrang natutuwa ako kapag napupunta ko sa Luneta. Although, nakalimutan ko na nung huling pumasyal ako don, nakikita-kita ko din naman yon kapag napapadaan ako sa lugar sakay ng jeep or bus.

[Lecturan ko muna kayo ah, hehe] Luneta, commonly known as Rizal Park is a National Park of our capital and of the country. It's good to know that during the American Occupation, Daniel Burnham do the Master Plan for the City of Manila and made Luneta as the center of the Philippine Government patterned after "The National Mall" of Washington D.C. Yes! Daniel Burnham is also the person who master-planned Baguio City, that's why the city's central park is named after him -  Burnham Park. As planned, lahat SANA ng government departments, bureaus at agencies eh itatayo sa paligid ng Luneta in neo-classical architecture (exactly like U.S.'s capital). Sa totoo lang, nasimulan naman talaga yung project, but only three units were built: the (1) National Museum (Formerly the Legislative building), (2) Department of Agriculture (now housed the Department of Tourism) and the (3) Department of Finance (currently the Museum of the Filipino People). Pero sayang, as in sobrang sayang at nakaka-lunkot dahil hindi na natuloy ang original plan ni Burnham para sa Manila dahil sa pagsimula ng World War II kung san halos walang natira sa Maynila. Even the City Hall is not spared during the war and most of the structure has been destroyed. Simula non, Mr. Quezon created a new Capital for the country outside Manila which was named after him - Quezon City.

(Luneta, Bird's Eye View)

(The National Mall, Washington D.C.)

(The OLD Agripana Circle)

The saddest part is, hindi na nga natuloy ang plano ni Burnham para sa Luneta, hindi pa din nakuhang ayusin at malinis ng agency na namamahala sa park yung lugar. Yes medyo malinis naman pero...hindi sya gaanong name-maintain. I don't know. Yung relief map walang tubig, panay lumot. Yung fountain hindi manlang gumagana. Oo siguro malakas kumonsumo ng kuryente pero hello! It's our NATIONAL PARK! Mas okay na sakin na gastusin yung pera na binabayad sa tax para ipanggasta sa fountain kesa mapunta lang sa bulsa ng kung sino. At sana  magkaron manlang ng taste ang nagme-maintain, may mga swan na bato sa tabi-tabi??? PINK na National Museum??? At sana tanggalin nalang nila don si Lapu-Lapu at dun nalang sya sa Cebu. It's Rizal Park in the first place. Not Rizal ang Lapu-Lapu Park. Hayyyyy. Bakit ganyan??? Anyway, para naman maintindihan nyo ko, here are some pictures of Luneta.

Address: Km. 0, Roxas Blvd., Manila