Lakbay Jose Rizal Heritage Trail

When I was in High School I played the role of Jose Rizal on our “prelude to Lupang Hinirang”. Everything was perfect – my hair, my costume – except for one thing, my height. I’m 8 inches taller considering his height according to his statue in their house in Calamba is 4’11”. Anyway, I’ve got so attached to the role that I even took a picture of me in a full Rizal costume hours before my last performance with a black and white Kodak film (not so many digital cameras back then) to add “old photo” effects. Well that was my only picture left during my short stint as a stage actor.

Anyway, since I was so attached to the role, I wondered how it felt to be like Rizal. I’ve dreamt of going to places he has been and relive Rizal’s life and retrace his steps. The kid can dream right? But now, I will be having the chance to not only fulfill my dreams but to rediscover Rizal as a Hero. In celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Inter-Agency Working Group composed of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Heritage Conservation Society, Intramuros Administration, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the National Parks Development Committee present "Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150" (Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail Project). Launch last May 20, 2011, it is a year-long tour at your own pace to Rizaliana sites all over the Philippines, from Luzon, Visayas to Mindanao.

The One-Stop Heritage Trail at Rizal Park

There were 27 sites identified as to where tourist can go. These are the following:

National Capital Region

    1. Prison Cell and Rizal Shrine, Fort Santiago
    2. Chapel Cell of Rizal, Fort Santiago
    3. Site of the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, Intramuros
    4. Site of the University of Santo Tomas, Intramuros
    5. Site of the Trial of Rizal, Intramuros
    6. Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard
    7. Rizal Monument, Roxas Boulevard
    8. Rizal Execution Site, Roxas Boulevard
    9. Rizal Fountain, Roxas Boulevard
    10. Paco Park, Paco

Central Luzon

    11. San Fernando Train Station, San Fernando, Pampanga
    12. Kamestisuhan District, Malolos, Bulacan

Calabarzon

    13. Rizal Shrine, Calamba City, Laguna
    14. Calamba Church, Calamba City, Laguna
    15. National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Church), Antipolo City, Rizal

Bicol Region

    16. Rizal Monument, Daet, Camarines Norte

Western Visayas

    17. Molo Church, Iloilo City, Iloilo

Central Visayas

    18. Dumaguete City
    19. Fort San Pedro, Cebu City, Cebu

Zamboanga Peninsula

    20. Rizal Shrine and Waterworks of Rizal, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    21. Dapitan Plaza, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    22. Site of the Casa Real, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    23. Dapitan Church, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    24. Relief Map of Mindanao, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    25. Santa Cruz Beach, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    26. Dipolog Cathedral, Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte
    27. Rizal Farm, Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte

The Lakbay Jose Rizal Passport

                Lot’s of places to go to, that’s why the committees also issued a Kalakbay Passport and I’ve got mine yesterday at DOT Rm. 106. At the back of the “Passport” is the Rizal @150 Heritage trail map. Bordering it are the sites with corresponding boxes where a stamp will be affixed as proof of your visit. The good news is, the first 100 pilgrims to complete visiting all the Rizaliana sites shall receive a token and a Kalakbay ni Gat Jose Rizal Certificate subject to a validation process to be conducted by NHCP. But for those who won’t be able to be one of the 100, you can still get completion certificate provided that you will finish all the 27 sites until June 19, 2012.

                And everyone (local and international tourists) is encouraged to join the competition. For me I have to start my journey and hopefully will finish it as soon as I can. Don’t worry, I’ll be posting updates here so that my readers can dream too…:)

For more info, visit http://www.tourism.gov.ph/ or http://www.nhcp.gov.ph or call Ryan Sebastian at the DOT Office of Product Research and Development, tel. no. (632) 523-8411 local 265.