Konted's Make My Day 2: Paco Park: Enchantingly Beautiful

Paco Park: Enchantingly Beautiful

Amidst the tempered celebration last Sunday, with colorful butterflies fluttering upwards and some pigeons making their way to the tree tops, the newly wed couple stepped out of the ancient chantry, smiling and waving at well-wishers.

It was a romantic wedding solemnized at the St. Pancratius Chapel located within the historic Paco Park. I was there as a kibitzer.

Paco Park has been declared as a National Historical Shrine. It is located at the corner of Padre Faura St. and San Marcelino St. in Manila. This is the main gate and the outer wall.

This is the 2nd or inner gate. Pigeons perch on the ledges of the arch.

The secondary or inner wall of Paco Park

The paved walkway between the outer wall and the inner wall.

There are old style lamp posts throughout the park.

Paco Park is one of the oldest parks in Metro Manila. It started as a municipal cemetery during the Spanish regime. The wealthy Spaniards used to bury their dead at what was then known as Paco Cemetery.

The oval-shaped park, which stands within a relatively vast tract of prime land, has niches constructed within the walls. There are actually two walls: the inner wall and the outer wall.

The view as you enter the 2nd gate.

Some members of a wedding entourage get ready for the next mass .

The St. Pancratius Chapel located inside the park. When the water fountain is activated, you surely will have picture-perfect shots.

Paco Park is one of the most popular wedding venues in Metro Manila.

An old bell hangs near the chapel's vault. The chapel is now air-conditioned.

Schedule of masses at the St. Pancratius Chapel. It is under the supervision of San Vicente de Paul Parish.

The chapel's interior.

Quaintness is the chapel's major description.

Concrete stairs leading to the elevated walkway

This one leads to the outer wall.

When Jose Rizal died by firing squad in Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896, his body was secretly taken to Paco Park where it was buried with a cross placed on top of the mound. His initials in reverse, RPJ, served as marker. Authorities wanted to keep it a secret as they feared his death would create a martyr-worship cult.

Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, better known as Gomburza, who were executed in 1872, were also interrred at the Paco Park and Cemetery. Interment stopped in 1912.

Dr. Jose Rizal

Execution of Jose Rizal in 1896 at Bagumbayan

The original grave of national hero Jose Rizal. He was reportedly buried without a coffin.

It took several days for the siblings of the national hero to find the body of the fallen Rizal. In 1912, the remains of Rizal were transferred to Luneta Park.

As inscribed here, Jose Rizal died a mason.

Two die-hard Rizalistas visit the grave of their idol. They refer to him as "Ka Pepe".

The park is circular in shape.

One of the very few niches that can still be seen at Paco Park. This one was interred in 1907.

Most of the niches at Paco Park are empty as the remains were transferred elsewhere when the place stopped operating as a cemetery in the early 1900's.

The remains of the three priests known collectively as Gomburza, and who died as martyrs, are interred at Paco Park.

More about Gomburza

As the wedding car moved out of Paco Park, I sat on a bench and gazed around. A huge acacia tree stood proud near St. Pancratius Chapel.

With stillness pervading throughout the park, my mind wandered to that summer day in 1975, when Father was driving and I was his lone passenger. We were heading towards Paco Park. It was five thirty in the morning. I could still hear his voice: "The Governor is already there. The Commanding General of the Philippine Army flew all the way from Dadiangas. Don't keep them waiting."

It was my wedding day. It was set at 6 am. If Rizal was sentenced to die by firing squad and later buried at Paco Park, I, too, was given a sentence on that fateful summer day. It was like I was sentenced to Reclusion Perpetua. I was chained to somebody for the rest of my life. I lost my freedom at Paco Park.

- Konted