LUBAO, PAMPANGA – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) – Museo at Aklatan ni Diosdado Macapagal will be having an online lecture titled “Rizal Park Luneta: Beautification and Development Through the Years,” on 29 August 2024, at 10:00 AM. The event will be streamed live on the Museo at Aklatan ni Diosdado Macapagal Facebook page, featuring Ms. Margaux Vanessa T. Decripito as the guest speaker.
Ms. Decripito serves as the Creative Arts Specialist II and Head of the Marketing and Business Development Section of the Cultural and Public Affairs Division of the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC). Her expertise will provide valuable insights into the evolution of one of the Philippines’ most iconic landmarks.
Also known as Luneta, it is one of the largest and most historic urban parks in Asia, spanning 54 hectares in the heart of Manila, bordered by T.M. Kalaw Sr. Street and Taft Avenue in Ermita. Originally referred to as “Bagumbayan” or “new town,” and later “Wallace Field,.” the park eventually took on the name Rizal Park, in honor of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who was executed there on 30 December 1896. The park was also witness to other significant events in Philippine history, such as the execution of Fathers Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora—collectively known as GOMBURZA, as well as the deaths of Sancho Valenzuela and Manuel Abella.
The lecture will explore the rich history of the park, along with the role of the NPDC, the agency responsible for the ongoing development and beautification of this treasured public space. This event is part of the National History Month celebrations, themed “Salaysay ng Bayan, Saysay ng Bansa” (Stories of the People, Essence of the Nation). National History Month, observed every August, was established by Presidential Proclamation No. 339, s. 2012, to promote appreciation and preservation of Philippine history.
The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research, and publications, and to preserve historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.
Refer to:
NHCP Historic Sites Education Development
T.M. Kalaw Ave., Ermita, Manila 1000
info@nhcp.gov.ph | nhcpcommunications@gmail.com
(+632) 5335-1217 | (+63960) 328-4200