politics and governance

A Visit to Paco Park

A Visit to Paco Park

I asked my friends to accompany me to go to Paco Park for my assignment in Rizal. Why did I choose Paco Park as my reaction paper? Please see below historical background of this place.

Paco Park was originally planned as a municipal cemetery for the well-off and established aristocratic Spanish families who resided in the old Manila, or the city within the walls of Intramuros during the Spanish colonial era. Most of the wealthy families interred the remains of their loved ones inside the municipal cemetery in what was once the district of Dilao (former name for Paco). The cemetery was built in the late 1700s but was completed several decades later and in 1822, the cemetery was used to inter victims of a cholera epidemic that swept across the city.

The cemetery is circular in shape, with an inner circular fort that was the original cemetery and with the niches that were placed or located within the hollow walls. As the population continued to grow, a second outer wall was built with the thick adobe walls were hollowed as niches and the top of the walls were made into pathways for promenades. A Roman Catholic chapel was built inside the walls of the Paco Park and it was dedicated to St. Pancratius.

On December 30, 1896, Philippine national hero Dr. José P. Rizal was interred at Paco Park after his execution at Bagumbayan.

In 1912, burial or interment at the Paco Park ceased. It had been the burial ground for several generations and descendants of those who were buried in the park had the remains of their ancestors transferred. During the Second World War, Japanese forces used Paco Park as a central supply and ammunition depot. The high thick adobe walls around the park was ideal for defensive positions of the Japanese. The Japanese just before the liberation of Manila in 1945, dug several trenches and pill boxes around and within the Park with three 75 millimeter guns to defend their fortification against the charging 148th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Battalion of the United States Army and Philippine Commonwealth Army. The park was converted into a national park in 1966 during the term of President Diosdado Macapagal. Paco Park’s grandeur was slowly restored after the war and since then has remained as a public park and promenade for many teen age sweethearts who could spend quiet moments along the park’s benches and private alcoves.

Paco Park as a part of Rizal’s History

On the day of Rizal’s execution, 30 December 1896 , the journey from Fort Santiago to the place of execution, then Bagumbayan Field, now called Luneta, was on foot. His arms were tied tightly behind his back, and he was surrounded by a heavy guard. The Jesuits accompanied him and some of his Dapitan schoolboys were in the crowd, while one friendly voice, that of a Scotch merchant, a resident of Manila, called out in English, "Good-bye, Rizal."

His request to be allowed to face his executioners was denied which was beyond the power of the commanding officer to grant. Rizal reasoned that he did not deserve such a death for he was not a traitor to Spain. It was promised, however, that his head would be respected, and unblindfolded and erect Rizal turned his back to receive their bullets. He twisted a hand to indicate under the shoulder where the soldiers should aim so as to reach his heart. As the volley came, he turned and fell, face upwards, thus receiving the subsequent shots which ended his life.

Moments before his execution, with a backup force of Spanish troops, the Spanish surgeon general requested to take his pulse: it was normal. Aware of this, the Spanish sergeant hushed his men to silence when they began raising "¡vivas!" with the partisan crowd. His last words were: "consummatum est" (it is finished).

He was secretly buried in Paco Cemetery in Manila with no identification on his grave. His sister Narcisa toured all possible gravesites and found freshly turned earth at the cemetery with civil guards posted at the gate. It was guarded for 15 days by the guardia civil Veterana. Assuming this could be the most likely spot, there being ever no ground burials there, she made a gift to the caretaker to mark the site "RPJ", Rizal's initials in reverse.His remained exhumed on 17 August 1898. Placed in an urn made by Teodoro Romualdo de Jesus. Later, deposited in the house of his mother in Estraude Street, Binondo and on 30 December 1912, he was laid beneath his monment in Luneta.

Rizal’s life and works is really an inspiration for every Filipino, because of his death the urge to be free from the invaders strengthen. He may not use sword or gun in fighting, he may not participate in revolution, his hands may not be stained by bloods of the enemies but his quill and ink is as sharp as a sword made in the time’s riches, his principle is unbreakable and his hands are tainted with ink hoping to become a key for our freedom.

In this visit, all his works and sacrifices came flashing back in my mind. Even he in the family and the women that become a part of his life. I wonder what if Rizal was not executed? Will we become free? Will the patriotism arise? Will we fight or our freedom? Will we remain a province of Spain? Will we progressive than today? Lots of things are bothering me. Yet what happen is a will of God, for us to be what we are right now.