...the PH cities in New 7 wonders tilt

Cebu, Iloilo, Vigan vie for New7Wonders title

 

By Kim Arveen Patria

Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom

Fri, Oct 11, 2013

 

rajkumar1220 - Mestizo District, Vigan, Luzon, Philippines

After the Puerto Princesa underground river was named one of the new wonders of nature, three Philippine cities are now being recognized by Swiss firm New7Wonders.

The cities of Cebu, Iloilo and Vigan bested more than 200 other cities to be part of “long list” of 77 revealed by New7Wonders President Bernard Weber October 7.

The “long list” of 77 is based on the results of online voting which began in March 2012. More than 300 cities were initially considered from nominations sent from around the world.

“Global in its scope, this remarkable New7Wonders long list reflects the energy and culture of the city at its best,” Weber said in the New7Wonders website.

“[C]ities remind us of the possibilities of civilization when, for the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population live in cities,” he added.

The list of 77 will further be trimmed to 28 and will be subjected to online voting by October 21. The top seven cities will be announced by year-end 2014.

Weber earlier said he hopes the campaign will be a “catalyst for discussing everything from urban planning to metropolitan governance, from tourism to architecture.”

The New7Wonders Cities is the third global voting campaign by the Swiss firm, after the man-made New 7 Wonders of the World and the New7Wonders of Nature.

In 2011, Palawan’s famed Subterranean River National Park was named as one of the world’s New7Wonders of Nature, amid an aggressive campaign by local officials.

Weber said, “My hope is that the New7Wonders Cities campaign will generate debate about the challenges cities face… and how they are responding to them.”

The cities Cebu, Iloilo and Vigan would have to compete with the following cities so far to be among the New7Wonders Cities:

Accra, Ghana
Asuncion, Paraguay
Athens, Greece
Auckland, New Zealand
Baghdad, Iraq
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Bangkok, Thailand
Barcelona, Spain
Beirut, Lebanon
Bethlehem, Palestine
Bogota, Colombia
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cairo, Egypt
Casablanca, Morocco
Caracas, Venezuela
Cuenca, Ecuador
Chicago, U.S.
Curitiba, Brazil
Cusco, Peru
Doha, Qatar
Dubai, UAE
Durban, South Africa
Edinburgh, UK
Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Havana, Cuba
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Istanbul, Turkey
Jakarta, Indonesia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kyoto, Japan
La Paz, Bolivia
Lagos, Nigeria
Las Vegas, U.S.
Lima, Peru
London, UK
Mendoza, Argentina
Mexico City, Mexico
Miami, U.S.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Montreal, Canada
Mumbai, India
Muscat, Oman
Naples, Italy
Nadi, Fiji
Nairobi, Kenya
New York, U.S.
Panama, Panama
Paris, France
Perth, Australia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Prague, Czech Republic
Quito, Ecuador
Reykjavik, Iceland
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rome, Italy
St. Petersburg, Russia
San Jose, Costa Rica
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santiago, Chile
Seattle, U.S.
Seoul, South Korea
Shenzhen, China
Singapore, Singapore
Surakarta, Indonesia
Sydney, Australia
Tehran, Iran
Tokyo, Japan
Toronto, Canada
Valparaiso, Chile
Vancouver, Canada
Vientiane, Laos
Zurich, Switzerland

 

 

...the UN Heritage Site Management awardee

Vigan City bags UN award for heritage site management

By Kim Arveen Patria

Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Fri, Nov 9, 2012

Vigan's Calle Crisologo is named after Mena Crisologo, a revolutionary, lawmaker, governor, and poet.

Keeping history alive is apparently more fun in the Philippines, with Vigan City bagging a United Nations award for world heritage site management.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recently given the city in Ilocos Sur its first-ever "Best practice in World Heritage Site Management" award as the international body ended the 40th World Heritage Convention in Japan Thursday.

Vigan City bested 27 other cities from 23 countries considered for the recognition, which UNESCO said is aimed at highlighting challenges to world heritage conservation, lessons learned, priorities and opportunities.

"Vigan's successful and sustainable management has been achieved with relatively limited resources, which should make it adaptable to sites in all countries..." UNESCO said.

"[T]he local community is well integrated into many aspects of the sustainable conservation and management of the property; and a multi-faceted approach to the protection of the site has been developed," it added.

This year’s convention theme "World Heritage and Sustainable Development: the Role of Local Communities" highlighted the need to marry conservation programs with local community growth.

Vigan City, famous for conserving early architecture and other features, was named a world heritage site in December 1999.
"Vigan is an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European trading town in East and South-East Asia," UNESCO said in its website.

"The architecture is truly reflective of its roots in both materials and design, in its fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning," it added.

The case of Vigan City and other sites discussed in this year's World Heritage Convention, UNESCO said, may "enrich current debates about the implementation" of conservation projects the international body is set to name the 1000th world heritage site.

...the "World Living Museum"

Vigan vies for New 7 Wonders of the World

 

Text and photos by DANNY PATA

September 29, 2012

 

 

A toast of indulgence. A taste of the past. Scholarly leisure.

Situated 400 kilometers from Manila, on the western coast of the largest island of the country, Vigan never fails to attract history aficionados, tourists or even plain travelers.

Vigan, the famous historic city in the north of Luzon, offers a brief respite from busy urban life, with its rows of Spanish ancestral houses line cobblestone streets, where kalesas frequently pass by. A church features unique baroque architecture from over two centuries ago, and a plaza houses a 17th century monument. Vigan has everything to quench one's sentimental yearning for the grandeur of the past.

Street dance performance in front of the more than two-century-old St. Paul Cathedral highlights the celebration of Longganisa Festival in Vigan.

Being one of the few Hispanic towns left in the Philippines, Vigan is greatly adored for its vast effort in preserving their centuries-old historical edifices, which have survived the ravages of natural calamities and even the horrors of war.

The heritage city, formerly called Villa Fernandina during the Spanish Occupation, gained recognition both in local and international communities.

In December 1999, UNESCO included Vigan in its World Heritage List. The city also takes pride in being a Hall of Famer as the Cleanest, Greenest and Safest City in Region 1, having been conferred with the recognition for three consecutive years from 2006 to 2008. Just last year, the city bagged another hall of fame award after being proclaimed the “Most Child-Friendly City” for three years in a row.

A kalesa on Calle Crisologo, Vigan City.

But despite the colorful accolades, Vigan chooses not to rest on its laurels.

The city, also known as the “World Living Museum,” embarks on a new journey as it joins the race for the New 7 Wonders — Cities of the World. The city has managed to pass the nomination phase along with six other cities in the country. Now in its qualifying phase, Vigan is on the top spot of the campaign in South East Asia and Oceana.

"We are so proud to have been included in the list," Vigan Mayor Eva Medina said.

To reap yet another international victory, Vigan is not just banking on its rich heritage, but on the collective effort of its people whose cooperation is behind the city's vast achievement.

"We are calling on the Filipinos all over the world to please join us in our quest by voting for Vigan as one of the New 7 Wonders — Cities of the World," Medina appealed. Votes may be cast online at the New Seven Wonders site.

Carabao painting.

After pushing for the inclusion of the now world-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River in the New 7 Wonders of Nature, there's no reason Filipinos can't rally behind Vigan.

The qualifying phase in the competition is from March 7, 2012 to March 7, 2013. This will be followed by the shortlisting process, which runs until March 21, 2013. Cities that will make it to the finals will compete from March 21, 2013 to July 7, 2014. The announcement of the New Seven Wonders — Cities of the World will be on July 7, 2014. — CGL/KG, GMA News

..the leader cities

PHL leads in New7Wonders Cities campaign

 

By CARMELA LAPEÑA

GMA News

March 26, 2012

 

 

After the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) was named one of the  New7Wonders of Nature, Filipinos are eager to win another of the NewOpenWorld Corporation's (NOWC) competitions.

 

Since the New7Wonders Cities global voting campaign was launched in November 2011, no less than seven Philippine cities are in the top spots in the South East Asia and Oceania category.

 

The picturesque Vigan is ranked first, followed by Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Bacolod City. Paranaque City comes in seventh, and is the only one from Metro Manila on the list. 

 

The global vote for New7Wonders Cities began in January with over 1,200 nominees from more than 220 countries. 

 

From March 7 to November 23, the choices are narrowed down to around 300 cities, with one per country, plus the top 77 voted.

 

The finalist phase will begin on Dec. 7, 2012, during which 28 official finalist candidates will be selected by a panel of experts. Voting will continue across the three phases until 2013, when the Official New7Wonders Cities will be revealed on December 7, 2013.

 

The New7Wonders Cities is the third campaign in the New7Wonders movement. Previous campaigns elected the man-made New 7 Wonders of the World and the New7Wonders of Nature.

 

Controversy arose last year when Maldives and Indonesia withdrew their respective entries from the New7Wonders of Nature contest and accused organizers of forcing them to pay “surprise" fees of up to $500,000 or P21.6 million, according to a report from The Guardian.

But Malacañang said the confirmation of PPUR was welcome news.

“Throughout the competition, Filipinos from all walks of life have given time, energy, and resources to this campaign. This effort has raised awareness not only overseas, but nationally as well: visits to the PPUR have increased tremendously. This is proof positive of how effective a national effort of this sort can be: to build awareness, express pride, and achieve results,” the Palace statement said. — RSJ, GMA News

...the Cebu aspiration

Cebu to vie for top spot in 7 Wonders Cities of the World

 

Sun Star 

15 March 2012

CEBU – Cebu City may become even more popular among local and foreign tourists and may just land in the list of the New 7 Wonders Cities next year.

That is, if it can get enough votes to compete with big cities like New York, Paris and Tokyo.

As of Wednesday, Cebu City ranks second among 44 cities in Southeast Asia and Oceania in the search involving some 1,200 cities from 220 countries.

The search and online voting is being facilitated by the New7Wonders, the same group behind the man-made New 7 Wonders of the World and the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Although it was the first time they heard about the search, officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Visayas, Cebu City Government and the Cebu Investment and Promotions Center (CIPC) welcomed the nomination.

“Just to be nominated, it would already help promote Cebu City as a tourist destination. Cebu City is different from other cities because for one, it is the seat of Christianity of the Philippines and despite being a highly urbanized city, Cebu City is able to preserve its past, its culture and heritage,” DOT Regional Director Rowena Montecillo said.

The CIPC and Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) chairperson and Councilor Margarita Osmena also count the South Road Properties and the construction boom as contributors to Cebu City’s “wonders”.

The list of Wonders Cities in Southeast Asia is dominated by Philippine cities, with Vigan in Ilocos Sur topping the list, followed by the cities of Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Paranaque.
On the eighth spot is Sydney, followed by Singapore and Bangkok.

Montecillo said the DOT-Central Visayas will support the campaign to help make Cebu City one of the finalists.

The global online voting started last January with some 1,200 nominees from 220 countries. More than 300 cities will be chosen for the qualification phase (one from each country and the top 77 cities with the most number of votes).

From the top 77 voted during the qualification phase, the New7Wonders Cities panel of experts advises on the selection of the 28 official finalists. Voting for the finalists continues across three phases until 2013. The Official New7Wonders Cities will be announced on December 7, 2013.

No specific criteria were used for the search.

In their official website, Bernard Weber, founder and president of New7Wonders, said the world is experiencing a mass urbanization and for the first time in history, a majority of the global population now lives in cities.

“Given these dramatic developments, New7Wonders Cities will become a catalyst for discussing everything from urban planning to metropolitan governance, from tourism to architecture,” he said in a statement posted in cities.n7w.com, the website that hosts the voting.

For Mayor Michael Rama and Councilor Osmeña, Cebu City’s rich history and cultural heritage and its proximity to world-class beach resorts are just some of Cebu City’s wonders, but its main asset are its people.

“There’s no other place where you will find people who are as warm and hospitable as the Cebuanos, always ready to greet you with a smile. Cebuanos always make you feel welcome,” the mayor said.

“Cebuanos are hospitable and creative and they’re very proud to be Cebuanos… We respect and preserve what we consider old, our heritage, but we also easily adapt to anything new. We adjust to the rest of the world,” Osmeña said.

CCTC officials are excited about the benefits the city can reap from the nomination, just like the boost in tourism that Puerto Princesa City in Palawan reported when it was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature earlier this year.

“I just hope we’re ready for it… In terms of infrastructure, we could go faster, we need to catch up,” Osmeña said.

Like the councilor, CIPC managing director Joel Mari Yu said he is banking on the Cebuanos’ penchant for joining text or online voting in winning the search.

While Cebu City has been named by Tholons as one of the 10 best destinations for outsourcing business, and while it enjoys a distinction of “being a city embedded in a resort environment,” it needs to improve some of its systems, like drainage, traffic, garbage collection and public transport.

“Cebu City is a beautiful place but we shouldn’t compare it with other cities like Singapore because everything in Singapore is efficient… But since many of us are fond of online or text voting, I think we have an excellent chance of making it in the final list,” Yu said. (LCR of Sun.Star Cebu)

...the new World's New 7 Wonder cities Nominee

Vigan In The Mix For World's New 7 Wonder Cities

By FREDDIE G. LAZARO

February 17, 2012

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — This city, which gives the Philippines pride as a World Heritage Site, has been chosen as one of the nominees for the New 7 Wonder Cities of the World (N7WCW), Mayor Eva Marie Singson Medina revealed Friday.

Vigan City had been nominated for the search of the N7WC with 15 other cities in the country such as Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, General Santos, Vigan, Legaspi, Marikina, Makati, Quezon, Baguio, Davao, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Taguig and Tagaytay.

It was also reported that Vigan is one of the 38 cities nominated worldwide for the said search.

Earlier, the Underground River of the Puerto Princesa in Palawan was voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN).

To enlist Vigan in the new seven wonder cities of the world, anyone can vote on-line.

To note, Vigan is a prominent city globally due to its existing Spanish ancestral houses; its delicious delicacies such as ‘longganisa’ (native sausage), ‘empanada,’ (deep-fried rice dough filled with egg and vegetables), bagnet (deep fry pork) and various ricecakes; its attractive “burnay” jars; native woven cloth called “inabel;” horse-drawn carriages or “kalesas;” the Archbishop’s Palace of the Nueva Segovia and Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral; and other cultural traditions.




Vigan Longganiza



Vigan Empanada

Bagnet

Abel Iloco

It is also noted that Vigan City has been the recipient of several prestigious national awards.

To name a few are the national hall-of-fame awardee as Most Child Friendly Component City of the Philippines and Best Performing Local Government Unit of Region 1.