Paco

Paco is an administrative district in central Manila that covers an area of 2.79 square kilometers. Residential neighborhoods and commercial zones are crossed by two waterways: the Estero de Paco and the Estero de Concordia.

Spanish Franciscan missionaries founded this settlement in 1580 and called it Dilao, a name taken from the Tagalog word for yellow because of the Amaryllis flowers that grew here. The area later became known as Paco as the community grew and developed.

The San Fernando de Dilao Church, Sikh Temple, and Hindu Temple on Looban Street show the religious diversity found here. These different places of worship sit close together and shape how the neighborhood feels in daily life.

The Philippine National Railways station and multiple jeepney routes connect this district to other parts of Manila. Walking through the area, expect crowded streets during peak hours, especially in commercial zones.

Paco Park was once a circular cemetery that held the remains of José Rizal before they were moved to Luneta Park. Today, this unusual round-shaped site still stands as a quiet reminder of that historical moment.