Advisory No. 2011/029
Date: 16 June 2011
OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE PUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER AS ONE OF THE NEW SEVEN WONDERS OF NATURE
The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to inform all Filipino nationals within its jurisdiction that on 3 June 2011, President Benigno Aquino signed Proclamation No. 182 declaring a national and international campaign for the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven (7) Wonders of Nature (N7WN).
The N7WN is a global polling campaign by an independent, Swiss-based, government-controlled foundation which started in 2007. From an initial list of over 400 locations around the world, the Puerto Princesa Underground River is the lone finalist from the Philippines and now counts among the top 14 of the 28 Official Finalist Candidates selected by a panel of international experts from a list of 77 contenders via the first round of global voting from 2007 to 2010. Its inclusion in the 28 Official Finalist Candidates has made the river world-renowned and is starting to attract international interest that will benefit the Philippine tourism industry. This 8.2 km. long river, formed 30 million years ago, is considered the longest underground river in the world, with unique and outstanding scientific, biological and geological features that merited its being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1999 and being declared as a National Geological Monument in December 2003.
There are more than one billion people all over the world who are expected to vote by phone, internet or text/sms in the selection of the N7WN that will close on 10 November 2011. The proclamation of winners will be on 11 November 2011.
In view of this campaign, all Filipinos, both in the Philippines and abroad, and all friends of the Filipino people are encouraged, as a matter of national pride and patriotism, to support the campaign to ensure that the Puerto Princesa Underground River is proclaimed as one of the New Seven (7) Wonders of Nature.