PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines–The Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park, a vast limestone cave complex some two hours north of the city center that attracts thousands of tourists every year, has made it to a list of candidates for the New Seven Wonders of the World search.
The city government has embarked on a campaign to make the cut of 77 nominees by yearend via Internet voting, and get into the second round of selection for the top 21 nature sites to be announced in January.
“I’m confident we will make the cut even before the end of the year. After all, our underground river is very popular locally and abroad,” Mayor Edward Hagedorn said in an interview Sunday.
A second round of Internet-based voting will be held for the remaining 21 candidates starting in January next year and will culminate with the official declaration by the organizers of the New Seven Wonders of the World by year 2010.
Also known as the St. Paul’s Underground River, the tourist attraction consists of 8.2 kilometers of winding narrow waterways emptying into the South China Sea. Local tourism officials claim it is the longest navigable underground river in the world,
The search is organized by the nonprofit New Seven Wonders Foundation.
The same group also undertook the “New Seven Wonders of the World” search that ended last year.
Puerto Princesa’s underground river joins three other nominees from the Philippines led by the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the Tubbataha Reefs also in Palawan and Mayon Volcano in the Bicol region.
The Chocolate Hills and Tubbataha currently share the limelight in the top 10 of the list composed of nearly 300 nominees.
Mayon Volcano, which was ranked 21st a week ago was delisted by organizers for voting after entry requirements were clarified with the organizers, but is expected to be back online.
Tubbataha, which was nominated by the Department of Tourism, was also delisted last week but got back online after resolving questions on requirements also raised by the organizers.
Anyone who has access to the Internet may cast their vote by logging on to the website www.new7wonders.com.
April 14, 2008 at 8:39 am
I have to vote for this one! Another pride of Palawan, Philippines…
April 15, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Yes,kidpalawan.. Lets vote for Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park not only because its a true wonder of nature but holds the distinction as one of the world heritage sites in the Philippines inscribed by UNESCO. There are only 5 world heritage sites in the country. Palawan is lucky to have two, the other one is the Tubbataha Reef marine National Park which is also a nominee and has a rank of 9 in the N7W search.
Lets go Palawenos, all filipinos all over the world and foreign visitors, register and vote in http://www.new7wonders.com . See also the official website http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com.
By the way, Puerto Princesa Underground River started last Saturday , April 10 and after 4 days ,it outran 26 nominees in ranking. If it maintains its speed in going up the ladder , i guess it will reach the 21 finalist slot in less than 3 months especially if you have the city mayor of Puerto Princesa and his Sangguniang Panlunsod to give you moral support, you will definitely go on top just like the other Philippine nominees.
Go! Go! Jamas & the PPSRNP staff, We are right behind you. Why not make the song of Arnel Pineda & Journey band “DON’T STOP BELIEVING” as the themesong. (smiles) I like this song very much. Its a challenge and every one likes a challenge.
April 23, 2008 at 9:27 am
go philippines!!!!!!
April 26, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Update for the New7Wonders of Nature Campaign:
Both Good news and bad news: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in live ranking rank from rank 81 of yesterday to rank 73..Tubbataha went 1 step down, from rank 7 to rank 8. Another delisted nomineed came back thats why majority in the live rank went down. The bad news.. until now the chocolate hills and mayon volcano didnt come yet. I hope they will be back online.We still have a long way to go..still have lots of time to go up and stay up..
April 29, 2008 at 6:30 am
underground river is truely a God’s wonder a gift for palaweño people, yehey proud to be palaweño…
April 29, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is in rank 45 (4/29/08) and climbing the ladder so to speak since it was online officially 3 weeks ago. I just hope that when it reach rank 21, it will not suffer the same fate like tubbataha, chocolate hills and mayon volcano. Tubbataha in rank 8 while Chocolate hills came online very early this morning #9. welcome back chocolate hills. Mayon volcano is nowhere in the list. I hope it will come back soon.
May 5, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is in rank 21. Impressive rise from #275 to rank 21 in just short of a month since it went online in New7wonders of nature campaign. Most of those who knew about the nomination were having misgivings to the idea that it would be able to reach the live ranking of 77 and reaching # 21 is beyond their wildest dream. It was only Mayor Ed and a few people who believed that it was possible inspite of the lateness of the PPSRNP nomination. Still a long way, 240days before the final selection of the 21 finalists.
Tubbataha Reefs Marine national park.. rank 8
Chocolate Hills rank 9
May 25, 2008 at 7:54 pm
for me the palwan is the most peaceful place here on earth! i love palawan!! coz i live there!
July 18, 2008 at 8:59 pm
oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhwa the pride of the philippines : the underground river in palawan maganda itong tanawin na kun saan nakapag akit ito sa
mga turista
July 18, 2008 at 9:01 pm
i2 narn ang ating pinagmalaking tanawin d2 sa atng bansa <di lang d2 kung de sa boung mundo
July 30, 2008 at 12:24 pm
palawan as a new wonder is a solid and potent site to be famous due to warmth and qualtiy rivers