By Alex Villanueva, Philippine News Agency
The country’s three nature sites have dramatically improved their respective ranking in the ongoing worldwide search for the “New Seven Wonders of Nature”.
The Chocolate Hills, an unusual geological formation in Bohol, is currently ranked number 8th in Tuesday’s live ranking among the top 77 nature sites posted at the New Seven Wonders of Nature website.
The Chocolate Hills, composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, has solicited support from Filipinos, not only from the Philippines, but worldwide.
On the other hand, the Tubbataha Reef, an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea, is occupying the 10th position in the ranking.
Different sectors in Palawan are seriously embarking on a campaign to gather votes for the protected marine sanctuary known as the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park.
Palawenos are calling for the support of Filipinos woldwide for Tubbataha, the only purely marine World Heritage Site in Southeast Asia. It is a unique marine jewel that deserves support from all agencies of the government and non-government sectors.
Tubbataha manager Angelique Songco said the inclusion of Tubbataha in the list of new wonders will bring prestige to the country, increase tourism visitations, contribute to the economy of the country and will make every Filipino proud.
Meanwhile, Mayon Volcano, an active volcano in Legaspi, is ranking 17th from its previous post of 49th.
Chocolate Hills, Tubbataha and Mayon Volcano are now included in the group of 21 finalists from the 77 official nominees eligible by New7Wonders of Nature Panel of Experts.
The voting runs until December 31, 2008, after which the top 77 nominees will be submitted to a panel of experts that will put together a shortlist of 21 finalists by January 2009.
A second round of popular voting for the 21 finalists will then ensue and last until the end of 2009 — with the top seven nominees being officially declared the “New Seven Wonders of the World” by the year 2010.
The list of nominees and the mechanics for voting are posted on the poll’s official website www.new7wonders.com. The search is organized by the Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) and the non-profit New Seven Wonders Foundation, which also undertook the “New Seven Wonders of the World” search that ended last year.
April 10, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Checked the live ranking of the new 7 wonders of nature yesterday and today, all I see now is the chocolate hills , rank 8. What happened to Tubbattaha and Mayon Volcano. Several days ago, saw them within the 21 circle. Not even in the listing of the nominees for Asia. Funny, the mariana trench,Submarine trench- United States of America is in the list of nominees for Asia. Is’nt that weird. It was also confusing when I heard that the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park nomination documents were submitted a couple of weeks ago. Actually, I also nominated this world heritage site cuz i had been there and its awesome. Its a natural wonder. I had been there twice, first one with my family and the second one with my barkadas. I kept checking if its already in the official list but none yet. Is there somebody who could explain to me on whats happening in this so called global campaign. What about the management of the underground river, can you follow it up. I’m pretty sure you can still be in the race. You still have plenty of time.God bless you Palawan.
April 10, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Days ago, I bumped into someone who was apparently hired by the City government to work on the nomination of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and whip up a campaign. Haven’t seen the live rankings but I’m sure the people involved are on top of this.
April 10, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I already voted for the three on the list, particularly on Tubbattaha Reef. Yes, surprisingly, Tubbattaha was gone, and it’s so sad that it almost reached top 16 or 14 (correct me if I’m wrong), but after few more days, it already went down way way out of the top 77. According to the site, ranking is updated twice a day. Whoah, that fast and the reef has declined. However, December 31, 2008 is still December 31, 2008. With enough campaigns from the government and other agencies(I believe), it could still win support from Filipinos here and abroad, as well as for Chocolate Hills, Mayon and Underground River.
April 11, 2008 at 6:30 pm
this is an update on the tubbattaha disappearing from the ranking. Called up their office, they themselves were frantic on what happened including the DOT who was responsible for the nomination. Finally, the N7W replied through email a certain, Stephanie McNamara with email add.. smcnamara@n7w.com. She said that it was deleted temporarily pending the confirmation of N7W. They didnt know that it was needed. The submission of the official supporting committee filled up form and the authority from a legitimate national , regional or local government or public authority who has responsibility for the nominee location. It is explicitly stated in their form. The most likely entity is the local govt of cagayancillo or the provincial govt of palawan, or pcsd by virtue of sep law or denr for the nipas act. I am not really sure of DOT cuz of the key words.. nominee location. So folks, just wait soon it will come back. I hope soon.
April 13, 2008 at 10:07 am
I dont really know much english, but I want to ask why Pacaya´s Volcano dissapear from the ranking on The top 77 candidates of the New 7 Wonders of Nature Nominees, why????????????????
Pacaya´s volcano from Guatemala was in the number 13 and suddendly dissapear!!!!!! why?????
April 13, 2008 at 2:15 pm
GOOD NEWS !!
PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK is officially in the list of nominees for the New 7 wonders nature. It was yesterday afternoon that it was in the list. As expectd, its rank is 295. Inspite of the odds, the City Mayor believes that it will reach the finals till December 31,2008. So , what are we waiting for all Puerto Princesans and Palawenos, lets work together and spread the word that the famous Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park needs their votes to be in the race as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Please see the official website of the park: http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com.
Register and vote by logging on this site: http://www.new7wonders.com and click n7w for easy access. Just a reminder, if your confrimation is not in your inbox, check your spam or bulk mail box.
By the way, we have 3 more entries, the Tubbataha reef currently rank 9 , a world heritage site also from Palawan, chocolate hills rank 8 and the missing Mayon Volcano which was within the 21 ranks a week ago. Tubbataha had also been deleted in the list for few days but its back online. Just some technical problem regarding confrimation. I guess, Mayon Volcano might have the same problem. Lets hope that it will be back online too.
April 22, 2008 at 6:36 pm
i dont know why but i can’t find the chocolate hills and the mayon volcano on the list. yesterday chocolate hills is on the number 6 but now its gone.. even on the list.. was that a savotage because chocolate hills is increasing its votes. let us ask for explanation. why did they removed it from the list?
April 23, 2008 at 9:58 am
why is it that when i checked the rankings today chocolate hills and mayon volcano are no longer appearing?im most concerned about chocolate hills, many filipinos in the philippines and abroad are excited to vote to show the support of having a worldclass created nature. a lot of foreigners are about to cast their votes as well, my friends here abroad who are purely blooded americans are asking me asto what happend why its no longer showing, they are amazed w/ all my pictures when i had my vacation in bohol. thay have seen those lovely pictures that i took when i visited chocolate hills..why all of a sudden it was removed? we need an explaination? is ther any violation?i dont think, it is enough if ever, coz we are very much eager in supporting chocolate hills, and we believed that chocolate hills is well deserved to be one of the seven wonders in the world….
April 27, 2008 at 9:10 am
I emailed a press inquiry to 7wonders to ask about bohol and mayon volcano. Here’s the reply I received:
Thank you for your E-mail and for sharing your concern. Please note that all nominees remain provisional nominees until they have been confirmed. Confirmation requires the nominee to set up an Official Supporting Committee, at which point they become an Official Nominee. Any provisional nominees without Official Supporting Committees cannot participate and therefore are suspended until this situation is rectified.
April 27, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Less than a week ago, I entered the site http://www.new7wonders.com & voted for Tubbataha reef, my intention was to vote for Mayon Volcano (I’m a proud BICOLANO & FILIPINO), Tubbataha Reef, Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean River National Park, & Chocolate Hills. To my dismay, I found out that Tubbataha Reef is the only nominee from the PHILIPPINES that is included in the selection when you click it under Asia. Where are the others?! In order that your vote can be counted, it is mandatory to vote for another six, so i forced my self to vote for other nominees that were not even in my wildest dreams can come in. Is the processes running well? I promoted this voting to a number of my customers here in my cafe (Bellpoint iCafe, Naga City), but they encountered the same thing as mine.
When I voted, it’s only the Tubbataha Reef was in the top 77 list (#7) as of date. I couldn’t find the other three. No question about that.
As of current date, Tubbataha Reef is in #8 while Puerto Pinsesa Subterranean River is in #60.
May 5, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Updates on New7Wonders of Nature Campaign
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is Rank 21 now. Barely 4 weeks since it started in rank 275.Since it went online, it steadily rise up till it reach the 21slot. Reaching this rank is when the Organizer decides to check if you have submitted the necessary requirements expected of any nominee in this campaign. Thats what happened to Tubbatha , chocolate hills and mayon volcano. Tubbataha and chocolate hills are both back with ranks 8 & 9 respectively. Lets just hope that Mayon Vocano will also decide to be back.Its almost a month for Mayon Volcano since it was delisted. We still have 240 days till the selection of the official 21 finalists. We still have a lot to cover so lets still campaign for all these philippines nominees.
July 14, 2008 at 9:52 pm
rankings as of 14 july 08
Tubbataha Reef, 4th
Chocolate Hills, 5th
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, 7th
Mayon Volcano, 9th
what about taal volcano? anyone wants to set up an official supporting committee for taal?