Vigan for the New 7 Wonders Cities: A shared responsibility

What makes you proud to say, “I am a Filipino”?

Perhaps, every time Manny Pacquiao delivers his killer punch that KOs his opponent, you quickly raise your arms with matching jumps and shouts; sometimes you may even shed tears. Maybe, during the hard-fought battles of Smart Gilas, you post a status or tweet with a “PusoPilipinas” hashtag. Possibly, the time when our beauty queens bring home the crown, you look into the mirror and you are glad that you have that Filipino blood in you.

People like CNN Hero of the Year 2009 Efren Peñaflorida, Figure Skater Michael Christian Martinez, and Saint Pedro Calungsod make you utter the words: “They are Filipinos; I am, too!”

If the earned achievements of your kababayans make you mighty proud about your being a Filipino, then imagine how it feels when you know you have done something for the country to be looked up to by the world.

The good news is you do not have to start big.

All you have to do is visit www.new7wonders.com; click on the “New 7 Wonders Cities” photo with a hyperlink then the “Vote Now” button that will appear. Choose among the finalists your top seven – of course, you should not forget to include Vigan; better yet, make Vigan the first on your list. If you have not logged in yet, you will be asked to do so upon clicking the “Vote” button. Do not worry if you have not signed up yet because it is very easy to create a New7Wonders account; you also have the option to log in using your Facebook or Twitter account.

You can vote once until October 7 so Vigan will be included in the list of the 14 finalists. If Vigan passes this phase of the contest, you can vote for it again until December 7 when they finally announce the New 7 Wonders Cities.

Based on the criteria set by the New7Wonders Foundation, Vigan is definitely a heritage site to be globally appreciated and continuously taken care of.

The city, located at Luzon’s Ilocos Sur, is one of the few old towns that survived time and history. Built as early as the 15th century, the structures, generally made out of bricks, stones, lime, and terracotta, remain intact.

Vigan remarkably reflects the history of the country. It speaks of how the early Filipinos were influenced by their colonizers and their interaction with other races. The fusion of Western style and Oriental design surprisingly makes Vigan a unique city.

Tourists and locals alike make sure that they have a photo taken on the vintage streets of the city or beside the old-fashioned mode of transportation, the “kalesa”, a playfully colorful or classy one-colored cart pulled by a horse. This just proves that Vigan is picture-perfect.

Cast your vote, encourage your friends to do the same, and know that you did your share of responsibility.

On December 7, when Vigan hopefully wins the title, you can proudly stand with the whole nation and say, “I am a Filipino.”

***

Mango Tours is a provider of quality, affordable and convenient travel services that include low-priced airline tickets, customized Philippine and International Tour Packages, Cruises, Land Transfers, Passport and Visa Concerns. It is the #1 producer of reliable travel services particularly when it comes to Philippine travel arrangements to the Filipino-American community in the US Mango Tours is able to provide its customers with a number of travel options at affordable rates because of its consolidator contracts with over 11 airlines. Book your travel bookings with Mango Tours by calling its 24/7 U.S. toll-free number at 1-866-2-MANILA (1-866-2-626452). Visit www.mangotours.com to know more about its latest promos and travel offers.

The Filipino-American Community Newspaper. Your News. Your Community. Your Journal. Since 1991.

Copyright © 1991-2024 Asian Journal Media Group.
All Rights Reserved.