Categories: Discover the PhilippinesManila

Quirino Grandstand is the Place To Be For Important Events!

Planning a trip? Those who love to travel know the essence of all travel is about you and your enjoyment. Travelers know that the destination is a major part in planning a trip, experiencing and delving deeper into an unfamiliar places, people and culture is paramount.

Expand your horizons and set your sight to the Philippines, an off the beaten path travel site! An undiscovered paradise made of thousands of islands and white sand beaches all around! A tiny dot in the map of the world, and yet a haven for travelers, backpackers, retirees and even passersby.

It offers awesome tourist attractions, magnificent beaches, hot spring resorts, colorful festivals, hundreds of scenic spots and world-class hotels and facilities. Not to mention the tropical climate, the affordable prices as well as the friendly and hospitable, English-speaking people! You will be glad you came, and we’re sure, you WILL come back for more FUN in the Philippines!

QUIRINO GRANDSTAND

Photo from: mimay35.blogspot.com

The grandstand was named after former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino. This is where Presidents of the Philippines traditionally take their oath of office and deliver their first address to the nation (Joseph Estrada broke with tradition and had his inauguration at Barasoain Church, site of the drafting of the Philippines’ first democratic constitution). Many important political, cultural and religious events in the post war era have been held here, including the mammoth festivities that capped the 1998 Philippine Centennial Celebration. Marking a hundred years since the declaration of independence from Spain, the festivities culminated in the greatest fireworks display ever witnessed over Manila Bay. – wikimapia.org

Photo from: newsflash.org

Photo from: estanli.net

The Quirino Grandstand is located at Rizal Park or Luneta Park. It is usually the venue of the oath taking of the Presidents of the Philippines. It is also the venue for most important events and ceremonies in the Philippines, whether cultural, political or religious.

Some of the events that have been held here include, the Philippine Centennial Celebration, the 1995 World Youth Day Celebration. In fact it is where Pope John Paul II held mass for more than 5 million people, which made it the world record for the largest Papal gathering in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. That should give you an idea of how large the Quirino Grandstand is.

The Quirino Grandstand is basically a part of Rizal Park. The park itself is located in the heart of Manila, specifically the north of Roxas Blvd., and overlooking the beautiful Manila Bay. During sunset, you can just watch the sun disappear beautifully over Manila Bay and the Bataan Peninsular.

The park was built in the 1800s when the Philippines was still under Spanish rule. It is also the site where the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was executed in 1896. Hence, it is now called Rizal Park.

Checking out the Quirino Grandstand and Rizal Park is something that you should not miss. There are many entry points into the park but as you walk along, you will see the Rizal monument, a bronze and granite monument of Rizal which is one of the landmarks of the city. Surprisigly, the monument of Rizal was created by Richard Kissling, a Swiss sculptor and not by a Filipino.

If you have seen news footage of dignitaries visiting the Philippines, this is where they usually lay a wreath as part of their visit’s protocol. It is here you will also see the mausoleum of Rizal where his remains lay.

Aside from the Quirino Grandstand and the Rizal monument and mausoleum, the park also has a replica of the Philippines in a man-made lake. Beside the replica of the Philippines is the Children’s playground where you have dinosaurs for children to climb, boots where children can enter and play inside and different sorts of swings, monkey bars and slides.
Then of course there is the Japanese Garden and the Chinese Garden. Usually there is the light and sound presentation in the Japanese Garden when the darkness sets in the park and let’s not forget the usual concerts.

Photo from: townhall.com