Rizal Monument along Roxas Boulevard beaming with lights

MANILA, Philippines – Colorful lights illuminate the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park to make celebrations of Christmas and New Year come alive.

Elizabeth Espino, executive director of the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), said yesterday promenaders are now enjoying the agency’s Rizal Monument Light and Sound Project, which began on Thursday and will be featured for 18 days or until Jan. 3.

Espino said they had lights installed on opposite sides of the Rizal Monument along Roxas Boulevard facing Manila Bay.

This is the first time that the NPDC has arranged lights and sound for the monument for Christmas, she said.

She noted that there are more park goers during Christmas and New Year than any other days of the year.

On a regular day, the crowd averages about 4,000 to 5,000, while on weekends there are 20,000 to 30,000 people. But during Christmas, the crowd swells to a million, she said.

“It’s better viewed across the street, for instance if you will be positioned at the two carabao statues you could see the colorful lights that illuminate not only the Rizal Monument but also the flagpole and surrounding trees.”

A 20-minute light and sound show will be played every hour from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It will feature “Bayan Ko” and popular Christmas carols, Espino said.

During weekends and holidays, the show will be stretched to 30 minutes.

Espino gave assurance that no landmark was damaged in the installation of lights because these were placed in areas seldom visited by park goers.

She said they decided to put up lights in the area of the 140-acre park this holiday season “so that there will be activity at the Rizal Monument at nighttime.”

One of the most visited by people is the Dancing Fountain, the NPDC said.

“We want people to experience the entire park, even at nighttime. We want to remind them to honor Dr. Jose Rizal,” she said.

She said going to the park is one way of paying tribute to the country’s national hero.

Filipinos will commemorate the death anniversary of Rizal on Dec. 30.