Rizal Park Relief Map Adventure: Exploring the Philippines in One Hour!

Imagine exploring the entire Philippines in just one hour — sounds impossible, right? Well, not if you visit the incredible Relief Map of the Philippines at Rizal Park, Luneta! 🇵🇭

During my recent visit, I found myself walking across this massive outdoor map, which beautifully showcases the country’s diverse landscapes. From towering mountains to winding coastlines, every detail is meticulously represented. It felt like taking a mini road trip through the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions without ever leaving Manila!

What’s fascinating about this relief map is how it highlights the variations in elevation. Using detailed shading, contour lines, and vibrant color schemes, the map depicts the country’s mountain ranges, valleys, and bodies of water with impressive accuracy. It’s both educational and exciting — perfect for kids, students, and curious travelers like me.

I couldn’t help but marvel at how much effort went into crafting this detailed masterpiece. Standing by the miniature Mayon Volcano, I felt a renewed appreciation for the Philippines' natural beauty.

If you're planning a visit to Rizal Park, make sure to stop by the Relief Map of the Philippines. It’s a fantastic spot for sightseeing, photography, and learning about our nation's geography — all in one memorable adventure!

Watch my full adventure in the embedded video below and join me as I explore this iconic landmark. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more travel stories! ✨

🎥 WATCH THE VLOG:

Museo de Baler: The Face from the Past.

But in my case, we rented bikes and rove around the town proper of Baler. We just drop off at the Museum after we took pictures of Manuel Roxas’ Monument.

Adjacent of the museum outside is the vintage car. Take a look the image below:

Just a heads up, there are available rolling stores outside (That was the place where we ate our breakfast)

Advertisement by Google: Outside, the remarkable façade shows a very detailed mural. It Mural was was created by sculptor Toym Imao, son of National Artist for the Visual Arts Abdulmari Imao. The   work was commissioned by Sen.  Edgardo Angara and the Baler Historical

Entrance fee is for free. You just give a donation for the maintenance of the museum.

You can take pictures inside; in fact there is an indoor photo booth.

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Lot of artifacts are displayed

Not surprisingly, the museum contains pieces that are significant to the town’s history.

Up-close and Personal to Manuel L. Quezon by visiting Quezon Memorial Park.

First stop on our biking adventure around Baler was Quezon Memorial Park. This quiet and green park of trees and lawns was established in honor and in memory of the late president Manuel L. Quezon. An indicator fenced by solid and set on a circular cement platform serves as a landmark of Baler, it being the site of the late President Manuel L. Quezon’s birthplace and house. A bronze sculpture of President Quezon seated in his usual stately fashion serves as centerpiece of the park.

Who is Manuel L Quezon?

Historically, Manuel Quezon is the first Filipino to lead the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from year 1935 to 1944. Filipinos considered him as the second president next to Emilio Aguinaldo. Moreover, he is known as the “Father of the National Language”.

He died of tuberculosis Aug 1, 1944 at his age of 66.

Major Accomplishments during his leadership:

• He was able to solve the problem of powerless farmers in countryside
• Reorganization of the islands
• Enforced military defense
• Approved government reorganization
• Promotion of settlement and development in Mindanao
• Dealing with the foreign stranglehold on Philippine trade and commerce
• Land reform
• Opposed graft and corruption within the government

Meanwhile, it is very easy to visit the place. From Metro Manila, take any Baler Bus and drop of at Poblacion, Baler Bus Station. From the bus station at the Baler market, one can walk to the site that takes 3-5 minutes. This historical site is located just infront of Museo de Baler.

Manuel L. Quezon is one of the most influential icons in the Philippines. In fact, Major Landmarks were established and named after him as a tribute like in Quezon City Circle. But the most historical place is the place where he was born Baler and it is also the place where he met his wife Aurora Aragon Quezon.

Upclose and personal to Doña Aurora Aragón-Quezón through visiting her house.

Maybe you guys are aware already that BALER, a distant littoral municipality in Tayabas which currently called Province of Aurora, was home to both Manuel and Aurora Quezon. If you are more into history, this article is perfect for you.  I will be writing more about Doña Aurora Aragón-Quezón and remembering her by doing an ocular visit to her house. I personally visit her house as part of Baler Tour.

How to get there? 

From Manila, Baler is roughly 5-6 hours. Your best option is to take public transportation as portions of the trip include zigzagging through mountainous terrain and rough road. Or, take an all-terrain vehicle.  Once you’ll get at the Town Proper, the house is easy to locate because The House is just in front of Baler church.

What about the House?

The original owner of Doña Aurora’s house was Zenaida Molina, who married Pedro Aragon. No records exist for the birth date of Maria, their oldest daughter, but documents exist showing that their second daughter, Emilia, was born in the house in April 1877, verifying the existence of the house at least to that date.

In the same page, Aurora, their youngest daughter, was born in the same house on Feb. 19, 1888.The Aragon family stay with their four children.

Nowadays, the house was already renovated for public viewing. The whole thing is not anymore the original made when Senator Angara decided to subsidies towards the renovation of the said house.

Who is Doña Aurora Aragón-Quezón?

Aurora Quezon was the wife of the former Philippine President Manuel Luis Quezon, first President of the Republic of the Philippines. She had a very simple life and enthusiastic to charities. She became the first lady of the republic of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944(during the presidency of Manuel Quezon). She was also famous and well-loved figure among Filipinos simply because of her involvement in many philanthropic activities.

Moreover, Aurora Quezon was born to Pedro Aragon and Zeneida Molina on February 19, 1888 in Baler, a distant seaside town in Tayabas which is now Aurora Province. When the President died, she turned down the pension awarded to her by the government, so that the money is used for war widows and orphans. Even the Communist-led Hukbalahaps, who spread terror through the mountains of Central Luzon, could find no word to say against Aurora. And on the morning of April 28, 1949, she together with her daughter baby was assassinated when she left her home to open a new hospital. It was such a tragic death when salvo emerged on the road targeting her vehicle. Mrs. Quezon, her daughter and Bernardo, Mayor of Quezon were murdered straightaway. And after the assassination the province was named after her memory.

Review

The house is still standing on an average sized corner lot. A noticeable wooden house wrapped with nipa roofs. The house looks like an old traditional Filipino style homes. At the back it has an open area connecting to a small garden.

Before you will go upstairs you will notice the open “silong”, it was cemented to provide a large meeting area for the Baler community today; the garden re-landscaped to accommodate an overflow of people should functions be held there.

What I also like about the house are the windows. The house contains a window frames which you can open outwards held in place by a wooden sticks which is the usual Filipino style window. Old photographs and other memorabilia which associated with the life of Mrs Quezon and the family members .There’s also a mini library and a reading center , a small living room and a small kitchen.

Undeniably, a visit to Aurora Quezon’s house is a noteworthy to appreciate the life in Quezon and its community and Balers Cultural lifestyle wherein they still conserved it.

This Post is Part of My Baler, Aurora Adventure.

Visiting Vicente Manansala Historical Landmark in Binangonan Rizal.

Vicente Silva Manansala (January 22, 1910 - August 22, 1981) was Filipino cubist painter and illustrator. He is famous due to his kind of art which the so-called transparent cubism. He developed delicate tones, shapes, and patterns of figure and environment are masterfully superimposed. 

Moreover, In honor of late National Artist Vicente Manansala, his home in Barangay San Carlos (formerly barangay Tayuman)  in Binangonan, Rizal was declared by National Historical Institute into a National Landmark or Shrine under Presidential Decree No. 260 on August 1, 1973, with revised No. 375 on January 14, 1974, at No. 1515 on June 11, 1978.

 

We were very lucky enough, together with my friends were able to witness some of the paintings displayed in his house. 

How to go there?

By Jeep:  in Shaw Blvd, the terminal is located in front of Starmall. Just instruct the driver to drop you off at Brgy Tayuman (PHP 39).  Then look for a tricycle and ask the driver to bring you to Vicente Manansala’s House (PHP 10). But if you want to walk going to the landmark, you can also do that, just simply ask the locals there, and they will surely give you the direction (Actually we just walk)

By FX:  almost the same terminal location yet the fair is (PHP 50)

Entrance is for free for an ocular visit. Just advice the caretaker that you are a travel blogger and they will welcome you with open arms 

Some of the photos