SORSOGON STATE COLLEGE

Bulan, campus

Narrative Report

Submitted to:
MR. GASPAR HILOTIN
Prepared by:
MA. VICTORIA G. PAMPLONA
BSIT 1-2

March 21, 2019

 Rizal Monument
Manila

Honor Guard, Rizal Monument, Manila

Located at the western end of Rizal Park is the Rizal Monument which contains the mortal remains
of Dr Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, who was executed near here by a firing squad
under orders of the Spanish colonial authorities on December 30, 1896.

The Rizal Monument is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by honor guard sentries standing
stiffly to attention.
On one side of the Rizal monument is a marble plaque marking the exact spot where the hero met
his death.

The Monument consists of a bronze statue of Rizal standing and dressed in an overcoat and holding
a book in his hand (the books are said to represent Rizal's novels Noli Me Tangere and El
filibusterismo).

Behind the statue of Rizal is a marble obelisk. It rises to a height of 12.7 metres (42 feet). The
obelisk is topped with a pyramid (said to represent Rizal's Masonic beliefs) and decorated with
three stars (said to represent the three main geographical regions of the Philippines, Luzon, the
Visayas, and Mindanao).

On one side of Rizal's statue is a statue of a mother and her child; on the other side is a statue of two
boys reading. These statues are said to represent respectively family and education.

Rizal's statue is set upon a pedestal in which the hero's remains are interred. On the front of the
pedestal is a plaque that reads (in English): "To the memory of Jose Rizal, patriot and martyr,
executed on Bagumbayan Field [now Rizal Park] December thirtieth 1896. This monument by the
people of the Philippine Islands."

Not far from the Rizal Monument is a plaque inscribed with the words of Rizal's final poem Mi
Ultimo Adiós (My Final Farewell) in the Spanish, Tagalog, English and other languages; a life-sized
diorama of Dr Rizal's execution; and a stone fountain from Ulm, Germany, where Rizal studied as a
student.

Son et lumiere (sound and light) shows take place every evening, first in Tagalog and then in
English, that re-enact the events of Dr Rizal's trial and death.

History of the Monument

Somewhat ironically the Rizal Monument was planned and constructed during what some see as
another period of Filipino subjugation, the early years of the American colonial period.

Certain American officials had read and appreciated Rizal's articles and books and they realized the
the importance of Rizal to the Filipino people.

In 1901 the United States Philippine Commission decided that a memorial to Jose Rizal be built and
it passed Act No. 243 that allocated for that purpose the use of public land near where Rizal had
fallen during his execution by the Spanish in 1896.

The Act also specified that the memorial should include a statue of the hero and that it would be the
final resting place for his remains.

Finally the Act set up a committee to fund the project mainly through public subscriptions. The
committee consisted of:

• Pascual Poblete (Filipino writer and feminist and first translator of Rizal's Noli Me Tangere into
Tagalog)
• Paciano Rizal (the hero’s brother)
• Juan Tuason
• Teodoro R. Yangco (Filipino businessman, philanthropist and "father of the YMCA in the
Philippines")
• Mariano Limjap (Chinese-Filipino businessman, patriot and philanthropist)
• Máximo Paterno (Secretary of Public Works and Communications during the First Philippine
Republic)
• Ramón Genato
• Tomás G. del Rosario (attorney at the Philippine Bar)
• Ariston Bautista (Filipino physician, patriot, philanthropist and patron of the arts)

An international design competition was held in the period 1905-07. Entries came from 40
sculptors in Europe and the United States. The first prize was won by the Italian sculptor, Carlos
Nicoli for his plaster cast model named Al Martir de Bagumbayan (To the Martyr of Bagumbayan);
but the contract finally ended up being awarded to the Swiss sculptor, Richard Kissling, who had
gained second place in the competition for his entry name Motto Stella (Guiding Star).

The Rizal Monument was finally completed and unveiled on December 30, 1913 (exactly 17 years
since Jose Rizal had passed away).

As stipulated, the remains of the hero had been laid to rest under the pedestal of the Monument.
Fortunately the remains of Jose Rizal had survived to allow a respectful reburial under the Rizal
Monument. After the execution the remains of the hero had been secretly buried in the Paco
Cemetery but fortunately their location was soon tracked down by Rizal's sister Narcisa – the full
story is here).

In 1961 (100 years after the year of birth of Rizal) a huge stainless steel flagpole was added to the
Monument, taking the height from 12.7 meters to 30.5 meters. The change was very unpopular as
the gleaming steel was felt to be incompatible with the original somber granite base and the height
of the flagpole was felt to dwarf the statue of Jose Rizal. Fortunately good sense prevailed and the
flagpole was removed two years later.

Rizal Monument in
Rizal Park (Luneta) on
June 27, 2015. Photo by
FAQ.ph.

In the Philippines,
probably the most
popular, most visited,
most guarded and
most photographed
monument is the
monument of Jose
Rizal in Luneta.
We know that Rizal has died fighting for the freedom of our country. He is considered our national
hero. He’s even admired and honored by people from the other parts of the world.

His monument in Rizal Park or Luneta is not only built with precious metal and stone, but it also
housed his remains. Hence, every Filipino should learn how to give honor and respect to this
important landmark in the Philippines.

To grow the interest and care of many Filipinos about the monument, here are some facts everyone
should know about the monument of Rizal and Luneta Park.

1. The Rizal Monument in Luneta was planned and constructed during the American colonial period
of the Philippines through Act No. 243 which was approved by the United States Philippine
Commission by the authority of the United States President Theodore Roosevelt on September 28,
1901.

2. The act also created a committee for raising the funds by subscription and for causing the
erection of the monument. The committee consisted of Pascual Poblete, Paciano Rizal (José’s
brother), Juan Tuason, Teodoro R. Yangco, Mariano Limjap, Máximo Paterno, Ramón Genato, Tomás
G. del Rosario, and Ariston Bautista.

3. The committee held an international design competition and invited sculptors from Europe and
United States to design the monument of Rizal. The estimated cost of the monument was ₱100,000.
The competition with the first prize of ₱ 5,000.00 was won by Carlos Nicoli of Carrara of Italy for his
scaled plaster model titled “Al Mártir de Bagumbayan” (To the Martyr of Bagumbayan). However,
the contract was awarded to second-placer Swiss sculptor named Richard Kissling for his “Motto
Stella” (Guiding Star).

4. The original title of Rizal Monument is Motto Stella (Latin words) or “guiding star” – the title
given by its designer Swiss sculptor, Richard Kissling.

5. The Rizal monument was unveiled on December 30, 1913 during Jose Rizal’s 17th death
anniversary. It makes the
monument more than 100 years
old now!

6. The Rizal monument in Luneta

is composed of a standing bronze
sculpture of Rizal, with an obelisk
as his backdrop, set on a granite
stone base which his remains are
interred inside. The height of the
monument is 12.7 meters or 42
feet.
A close-up look at the monument of Rizal in Luneta as of June 27, 2015. Image by FAQ.ph.

7. The monument in Luneta portrays Rizal in overcoat holding a book that represents his novels
Noli Me Tángere and El filibusterismo. The obelisk is commonly understood as Rizal’s masonic
background while the three stars stand for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The figures at the back of
the monument, such as leaves and a pot, are said to symbolize the Philippines’ natural resources.
The figures beside Rizal (a mother rearing her child and two young boys reading) signify family and
education.

The plaque on the front of Rizal Monument. Photo by FAQ.ph.

8. There’s a plaque on the

monument’s front pedestal that
reads: “To the memory of José
Rizal, patriot and martyr,
executed on Bagumbayan Field
December Thirtieth 1896. This
monument is dedicated by the
people of the Philippine Islands”.

The changing of the guards of

Rizal monument. Photo
by Wijo08 at Wikimedia.org.

9. The monument of Rizal in

Luneta is the most securely guarded public monument in the Philippines. The perimeter of the
monument is guarded continuously by the Philippine Marine Corps’ Marine Security and Escort
Group.
10. The exact location where Rizal was executed is about 100 meters north-northwest of the
monument. Life-size dioramas depicting his final moments can be seen on the area.

11. Rizal Monument and Rizal Park are administered by the National Parks Development
Committee, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism.

12. The first Rizal monument was erected in Daet, Camarines Norte in 1898. The 20-foot high stone
edifice was designed by Lt. Colonel Antonio Sanz, who is also Mason.

13. The tallest Rizal monument in the world is a 7.9 meter (26 feet) bronze statue located in Sta.
Cruz, Laguna. It was unveiled during the opening of Palarong Pambansa 2014. The monument was
designed by sculptor Toym Imao, son of National Artist For Sculpture Abdulmari Asia Imao. Visit
this page to see the monument.

The monument of Rizal in Calamba, Laguna. Image by Chadelvalle at Wikimedia.

14. The biggest monument of Rizal in the world is in Calamba, Laguna. The statue of Rizal stands at
22 feet (6.7 meters). It is placed on top of a 2.8 meter podium consisting of a 15-step stairway
which symbolizes one decade since Rizal was born in 1861. It also has a granite pedestal of 7.87
feet and a 13.12 feet circular stairway base. The monument’s total height is 43 feet and is located at
The Plaza, a 6.7 hectares park in front of the Calamba City Hall. The statue was sculpted by Jonas
Roces.
 The monument of Rizal in Madrid, Spain. Picture
by Luis García at Wikimedia.

15. There is an exact replica of the Rizal Monument

in Madrid, Spain at the junction of Avenida de Las
Islas Filipinas and Calle Santander.

16. Aside from the monument of Rizal in Madrid

Spain, there are also monuments of Rizal in
Wilhelmsfeld (Germany), Jinjiang, Fujian (China),
Cherry Hill Township (New Jersey), San Diego
(California), and Seattle (Washington), Reforma
Avenue in Mexico City (Mexico), La Molina in Lima (
Peru), Litomerice (Czech Republic), and Singapore.

17.

There are at least 118 Rizal monuments in the

Philippines.

The monument of Rizal in Catbalogan, Samar. Photo

by FAQ.ph.

18. Perhaps the weirdest and most unique

monument of Rizal is the monument located in
Catbalogan City, Samar. The monument is a bust of
Rizal, on the top of his two novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo which are carried by three
muscular men who are all naked except for a leaf
that covers their frontal private parts. The
monument was sculptured by Miguel Alcazar, a
native of Catbalogan.

19. In 2012, DM Consunji Inc. (DCMI), by securing a

zoning permit, started constructing Torre de
Manila in a lot along Taft Avenue. The Torre de
Manila has been considered as a photo bomber of
the monument of Rizal by many citizens, especially heritage conservationists. The Supreme Court
issued a temporary restraining order on the construction of the said project on June 17, 2015.

20. The Rizal Monument, and the park that cradled it, was at the heart of a master urban
architectural plan for the capital of the Philippines, devised by the Chicago architect and city
planner Daniel Burnham in 1905.