Rizal's Execution Site

There are countless Jose Rizal monuments around the country, many Jose Rizal anecdotes,  many Rizal Parks all over the country and many Jose Rizal documentaries produced, but there is only one place where he was executed.  As we all have studied in our history classes from elementary until university days, Jose Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan in December 30, 1896.  Bagumbayan later became known as Luneta Park and Luneta Park would later be renamed to Rizal Park, in honor of our national hero, Jose Rizal.   I just recently discovered that there is a secluded area in the entire park where the exact place of his execution happened.   Facing the Jose Rizal monument, the place of his execution is located towards the left.  And a minimal amount is required from visitors to enter this historical area. 

Rizal's execution is depicted in the life-sized statues of Rizal's executioners and of Rizal at the time when they open fired at him causing Rizal to fall on the ground.  However, the statue of Rizal here is when he is about to drop on the ground, neither hitting the ground face up or face down.  Around the center spot are the chronological order of events leading up to the execution which really tell the story and the emotion surrounding that historical moment.   I chanced upon this area when I participated a company tour and while inside the premises, I saw some tourism students from universities studying each scene intently and learning by heart how to explain what transpired in each depiction.    This is a great area to bring history classes to so that students can have a vicarious experience of that historical moment especially as Rizal's death was one of the events that led Andres Bonifacio and other heroes to finally revolt against our colonial masters.