Families flock to Rizal Park despite rains

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the two days of rain, families still spent Christmas Eve in Rizal Park, an official of the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC) said yesterday.

Sheila Javier of the NPDC’s permits section said while they have no estimate of the number of visitors who went to the park, “there were still a lot of families who still did their Christmas bonding.” 

The park – with its wide open spaces, free admission and various attractions – remains one of the cheapest and most popular destinations for Christmas, the NPDC said.

“In recent years, more and more people are celebrating Christmas at Rizal Park because of the variety of wholesome programs that the entire family can enjoy together, and the NPDC has risen to the challenge of offering them new and exciting offering each year,” NPDC executive director Penelope Belmonte said. 

However, she asked visitors to dispose of their trash properly. 

Javier said they have not yet received updates on the volume of trash left behind by visitors. — Robertzon Ramirez