Inside Paco Park

When I was a kid, Paco Park is one of the places usually mentioned in History class because that's where our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal was buried right after his execution in 1896. Fast forward to present times, I've been living in the Manila area for quite some time now and I still haven't been to this place. To add insult, it's just a few blocks away from the place I live.

So one day, my sister, Charmaine and I grabbed the camera and decided to head off to Paco Park. From our place, we just walked a few blocks to get to the park. 

Historical marker outside the park

Paco Park is originally a cemetery that was built by the Dominicans in 1814. It is popularly known as the burial site for those who died during the cholera epidemic that hounded the city in 1820. Interment was stopped in 1913 and most of the niches were emptied. In 1966, it was declared as a National Park by President Diosdado Macapagal.

My sister, Cha, standing in front of the arch leading to the inner cemetery

When we arrived, a cool breeze greeted us as we entered the gates. Not the ghostly cool breeze but the kind of cool breeze that comes from a place with a lot of trees. Time seems to stop when you're in here because the tranquility of the place keeps your mind off the everyday stress that you encounter.

The wall of the inner cemetery.

There are pathwalks above the walls of the inner and outer cemeteries
wherein you could have a 360-degree view of the park

We explored the outer cemetery first and here we saw designated areas for the remains of adults and children. It is also where the tomb of the three martyrs, Fr. Mariano Gomez, Fr. Jose Burgos and Fr. Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA) and the initial burial site of Dr. Jose Rizal is located.

In memoriam to the three martyred priests

Dr. Jose Rizal's burial site from 1896-1898

When we got in the inner cemetery, here is what we saw:

Formerly a mortuary chapel, the Chapel of St. Pancratius
is now a popular venue for weddings

Taken from the fountain area

Taking a short tour of Paco Park somehow takes me back in time because you'll get a glimpse of how rich and colorful our heritage is. As the security guard is rounding up to remind visitors of the closing time, we called it a day as the moon started to appear in the horizon.

How to get there:

• If you're coming from Robinson's Place Manila, go to the Padre Faura exit and turn right, heading towards Taft Avenue.
• Cross to the other side of the road and keep going straight until you see the adobe walls of the park. The walk takes only about 10-15 minutes.

Tips:

• Entrance fee costs Php10 (about US $0.23)
• The park is open from Mondays to Sundays from 8AM to 5PM.
• Paco Park Presents is a concert that showcases Filipino musical talents, held every Friday at 5:00 PM.
• You can grab a bite at the nearby Oasis Hotel for some panizza from My Kitchen by Chef Chris, some apple strudel form the Old Swiss Inn or the all time favorite Pinoy lugaw from the "Goto House" near the Yakult building. (Trivia: I still have to try all of it, though. But a lot of good feedback from those who came here prompted me to put it here. Food is essential for me, my dear reader. Mrhrhr)

Read more about the history of Paco Park here.