Beautiful Philippines: A Handbook of General InformationPhilippine Islands. Commission of Independence
History
Beautiful Philippines: A Handbook of General Information
Philippine Islands. Commission of Independence
Philippines -- Description and travel; Philippines -- Economic conditions
To the north of the Luneta is the well-known Manila Hotel, reputed to
be the finest in the Orient. Immediately opposite the hotel site, on
the green at the corner of the former moat, is the monument to Miguel
Lopez de Legaspi and Andres Urdaneta, the civil and ecclesiastical
founders of Manila. This, as a work of art, is far superior to
anything else of the sort now actually standing in the city. The
pedestal supports idealized figures of the mailed warrior and the
priest, holding aloft the banner of Castile and the Cross. These
were cast in Spain and sent out prior to the change of sovereignty,
but was never put up. They were found by the American conquerors in
a warehouse, and it is to them that the monument owes its erection
in its present excellent location. On the side of the green opposite
the hotel and the Legaspi monument are the new buildings of the Elks
and the Army and Navy Clubs.
[The Museum]
To the north of the Manila Hotel is the Philippine Museum, housed in
a modern building. Those interested in the fauna and flora of this
part of the globe, and in archeological collections will find in this
museum an hour well spent.
[The Carnival Grounds]
To the East of the present Luneta, immediately across the road, is the
large tract of land known as Wallace (formerly Bagumbayan) Field. It
is the site of athletic grounds and of the annual Carnival. It boasts
a gruesome past and a distinguished future. Under the old régime it
was a public execution ground for political prisoners, and here on
the 30th of December, 1896, in the shadow of the old Luneta outwork,
since removed, Dr. Jose Rizal met his death before the Spanish firing
squad. In a few years more, under the name of "Government Center," it
will be the site of the new Capitol, and of other Government buildings.
For the present this tract is the scene, for a week or more every
February, of the great Philippine Carnival, which has become one of
the established institutions in the Islands and one of the greatest
attractions of Manila. While it lasts most of the town puts on
festal garb and takes a series of half holidays, and dominoes become
familiar sights on the public streets. Within the grounds are the
usual amusement features--the merry-go-round, the whip, shooting
galleries, a hippodrome with spectacular performances, and extensive
and interesting exhibits of the products of the Islands, sent by the
provincial governments, the schools, and private concerns. Elaborate
parades--military, industrial, and carnival--and great balls in
an immense auditorium, both exclusive and popular, complete the
program. The industrial and commercial exhibits are under the
supervision of the Government.
[Dewey Boulevard]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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