New Tourist Activity in Manila: Dress Up in Filipiniana at Rizal Park

Filipinos and tourists will soon have the chance to dress up in national costumes while strolling around Rizal Park in Manila.

The National Parks Development Committee announced that a costume rental shop will open inside the park, offering Filipiniana and barong outfits for visitors who want to take photos among its monuments and gardens.

This new activity is similar to what you see in Seoul or Kyoto, where tourists rent hanbok or kimono before visiting palaces and temples. At Luneta, the set-up will let you strike a pose in Filipiniana right in front of landmarks like the Rizal monument, the fountains, and the park’s walkways.

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The project is part of efforts to make Rizal Park more engaging to the crowd while encouraging visitors to connect with Philippine history and heritage in a creative way.

Image credit: Canva Pro

The upcoming costume rentals at Rizal Park will be managed by the group behind Villa Tortuga in Taal, which is known for letting guests dress up in heritage outfits. This time, visitors can rent Filipiniana dresses or barong Tagalog while exploring Luneta. To complete the look, props like parasols, fans, or salakots can also be used. Guests are free to bring their own attire too, whether traditional or with a modern twist, and still enjoy photo opportunities around the park’s landmarks.

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The idea takes inspiration from other countries where wearing traditional clothes has become part of the tourist experience. In Korea, travellers rent hanbok at palaces, while in Japan, visitors walk around temples in kimono. In Thailand, tourists put on silk outfits in Chiang Mai for cultural activities, and in China’s Jiuzhaigou, people dress in Tibetan costumes for photos. Rizal Park’s version will highlight Filipino identity, giving locals and visitors a new way to enjoy one of Manila’s most historic spaces.

So far, there is no confirmed launch date or price range for the rentals, but the National Parks Development Committee has already confirmed that the project is on the way.

Featured image credit: Canva Pro