MEDIA RELEASE

11 December 2010

New Life in Manila’s Parks

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to improve and revive the old glory of Manila,
the main gateway to the Philippines. The Department, through the National Parks
Development Committee (NPDC), will focus on rebuilding the old parks of Manila to
provide places to enjoy not only for residents of Manila but for domestic and foreign
visitors as well.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said that “Manila needs better attractions. Improving and
selling Rizal Park (Luneta), Intramuros and other parks will surely help. This goes the
same for other destinations all over the country.”

He added that one of the key strategies of the Department right now is developing new
and enhancing existing products to better compete globally.
In Intramuros, for example, the San Ignacio Church will be rebuilt and reused as a
museum and special activities will be held to add more life in the Walled City at night.

Together with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and National Parks Development Committee
Executive Director Juliet Villegas, Secretary Lim inaugurated last week the newly
renovated Rizal Park Children’s Playground in Manila.

More than a thousand kids from different social service institutions around Manila, such
as the Manila Day Care Center, Hospicio De San Jose and Asilo de San Vicente de
Paul greeted the guests of honor, and were the first to enjoy the revitalized park.

Director Villegas welcomed all the visitors and led Secretary Lim, Mayor Lim and the
crowd in a simple tour inside the playground showing the different kinds of attractions
the park has to offer. Among the main attractions are pre-historic dinosaurs, animals, a
giant shoe house, a replica of Mayon Volcano, falls and brides, slides, a swing, and
different species of trees and plants.

With a minimum fee of P10.00, which will go to maintenance, both kids and adults can
enjoy a whole day of fun and entertainment at the park. The Children’s Playground
operates from 06:00 in the morning until 10:00 in the evening.
The restoration of the playground is just a part of the first phase of the Department and
NPDC’s ongoing renovation and makeover of the Rizal Park. The DOT is reviving the
dancing fountain and bringing back cultural events.

There will be “Concert at the Park” shows at the Rizal Park open-air auditorium on
December 12, 19 and 26 at 5:00 PM; and “Christmas Carols by the Lagoon at Rizal
Park” from December 16-17 at 6:00-7:00 PM, with music groups from different
universities such as UP, DLSU, PWU and MAPUA, and bands performing. Alongside
the activities at Rizal Park, Paco Park will also host its 2 nd Concert Season on Dec 03,
10 and 17 at 6:00 PM.

For performance schedules and other information, contact the NPDC at 302-7381 or
visit its website at www.nationalparks.ph.

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EVEN PARKS GET A MAKEOVER. Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim (R) is joined by Manila Mayor
Alfredo Lim (L) and National Parks Development Committee Director Juliet Villegas (C) during the ribbon cutting
ceremony for the Rizal Park Children Playground’s makeover.

TWO LIMS FOR LUNETA. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and DOT Secretary Alberto Lim seal their cooperation with a
handshake for Rizal Park’s redevelopment over the makeover marker of the newly rehabilitated Children’s Playground
while NPDC Director Juliet Villegas and Manila school children and other guests look on.