Historical Places

The Philippines is rich in history, dating back hundreds of years ago even before the famous explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, landed on the shores of Leyte’s Limasawa Island.

1.    The Luneta Park

The Luneta Park, also known as the Rizal Park, is one of the country’s leading attractions, being its most famous park. Its former name is Bagumbayan (new town), wherein the Philippine’s national hero Jose Rizal was executed in 1896. Luneta is a place of full of history. It was here that the Gomburza execution of 1872 took place; here, too was where the official proclamation of the country being a fully independent republic in 1946 made. The Luneta Park includes in its environs the Quirino Grandstand, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the main office of the Department of Tourism, the National Museum, the National Library, the Orchidarium, the Planetarium, the Butterfly Pavilion, an open-air auditorium, and a chess plaza.

The national park is located in Manila, Philippines; a place called before as Bagumbayan and become a tribute to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

2.    Corregidor in Bataan

Corregidor is a small rocky island in the Philippines, about 48 kilometers west of Manila, which is advantageously positioned at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island fortress stands as a monument to the courage, valor, and heroism of Filipino and American defenders who valiantly held their ground against the great number of invading Japanese forces during World War II. Also known as “the Rock,” it was a key bastion of the Allies during the Second World War. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December 1941, the military force under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur carried out a delaying action at Bataan. Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied forces and the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government.

The big guns of Corregidor in 1941 were used in support of Filipino and American defenders of Bataan until the island itself was invaded by Japanese Forces.

3.    The Malacañang Palace

The Malacañang Palace is the official residence of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. The palace is located along the north bank of the Pasig River in Manila. The official etymology from the 1930’s says that the name comes from a Tagalog phrase May lakan diyan, which means “there is a rich man there”.  It was once the home of a wealthy Spanish merchant before it hosted the nation’s chief executive, although the Spanish themselves said the name came from “Mamalakaya,” or the fishermen who once laid out their catch on the bend of the river where the Palace now stands.

The Malacañang Palace

Today, the complex consists of Malacañang Palace itself, the Bonifacio Hall (formerly the Premier Guest House used by Ferdinand Marcos, the office of successor Corazon Aquino, and the residence of Joseph Ejercito Estrada), the Kalayaan Hall (the former executive building built under the American administration), the Mabini Hall (the Administration Building), and the New Executive Building (built by President Aquino) among other, smaller buildings. Across the river, is Malacañang Park, which has a golf course, a park, billets for the presidential guard, a Commonwealth-era presidential resthouse (Bahay Pangarap), and a recreation hall.

4.    Intramuros

Intramuros is located along the southern bank of the Pasig River. It was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Its name, in Spanish, literally means “within the walls”, meaning within the wall enclosure of the city/fortress. During the Spanish colonial period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself. The site of Intramuros was originally a large Malayan-Islamic settlement named “Maynilad”, ruled by three chieftains, namely, Rajah Sulayman, Lakan Dula, and Rajah Matanda.

The entrance of Intramuros.

The strategic location of Maynilad, being on the Pasig River and the Manila Bay, made it an ideal location for indigenous Tagalog tribes to trade with other Asian civilizations, including Chinese and Islamic merchants who had come from China, Borneo, and Indonesia. Maynilad was also the seat of power for native chiefs who ruled the area before Europeans first arrived in Luzon.

5.    EDSA Shrine

The EDSA Shrine is located at the crossroads of Epifanio de los Santos (EDSA) Avenue and Ortigas Avenue in Quezon City. It is formally known as the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA). It is dedicated to Our Lady who miraculously interceded to oust the Marcos dictatorship in a peaceful and bloodless uprising that is now world-renowned as the People Power Revolution of 1986.

The EDSA Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace

On December 15, 1989, the EDSA Shrine was established with then Rev. Fr. Socrates B. Villegas as Rector. Since then, the church has grown with the help of volunteers who have now formally organized themselves as the EDSA Shrine Community. A Holy Ground marker was inaugurated at the EDSA Shrine on February 25, 2001 during the 15th anniversary of the first EDSA People Power.

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