Rizal Regret

In any hot, overcrowded, dirty city, green open-spaces are to be cherished; the air seems a little cleaner, a little cooler and the roar of the traffic fades in these big-city parks. And that's a welcome respite for residents and tourists alike.


Manila's big inner-city open space is Rizal Park. It promises much; recent tourism literature touts 'dancing' lakes, orchid and butterfly gardens and art galleries.

But the lake doesn't dance; the fountains are long-since broken, the orchid garden has no orchids, the butterfly garden no butterflies and the art galleries are closed. So what is there to see in Rizal park? Well nothing unless you like looking at mangy cats and desperately poor Filipinos sleeping rough.

That's another Filipino travesty as again corruption funnels money away from helping the tourist industry and thereby the locals, and into some politician's pork-barrelling, vote- buying, silly scheme.