To Travel and Wander: Travel Diary

St. Pancratius Chapel in Paco Park

Studying away from my hometown gave me life-changing advantage! I still remember my routine in high school was only home-school and nothing else more. But when I turned college, I finally had the chance to travel more than just my dorm and school. It was the best choice I ever made after graduating in high school.

Now in my second year of college, I was able to visit one of the oldest church and cemetery in the history with my college friends — the Paco Park.

Paco Park and Cemetery

Location: San Marcelino Street, Paco, Manila
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday (8:00AM - 5:00PM)
Entrance Fee: 10 PHP

How to get to Paco Park?

I'll do a separate blog about it in detailed. I'll link it here after.

Brief history of the place

The place was started out as a cemetery and the first resting place of national hero Jose Rizal after his execution and also became the central supply and ammunition depot for the Japanese in the World War II before it was declared as a National Park in 1966 which now became the favorite venue for weddings and other events because of its garden-like settings. Indeed, a perfect romantic place from the heart of Manila.

Front of St. Pancratius Chapel

The chapel had an altar that was originally white and gold, on each side of the altar are the repositories for the remain of governors and bishops. The dome-shaped chapel was called as St. Pancratius Chapel to dedicate to St. Pancratius, a converted Christian and martyr that was beheaded for his faith at the age of 14 years old.

First Resting Place of Jose Rizal

You wouldn't notice the cemetery —like what I experienced lol, because the original cemetery is the actual circular shape of the park and It's niches were located within the hollow walls of the inner circular shape.

So much for the history! After taking bunch of photos for our subject requirement, we headed to our next destination: Binondo Church.