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Vote Vigan City, Ilocos for New 7 Wonders Cities Pool

vigan ilocos


Vigan, a  UNESCO-protected area in Ilocos is the only representative of the Philippines to vie for a slot for New Seven Wonders Cities in the World. I have been to Vigan for a few times and I love the place. The most memorable of them was in 2012 when I went to Vigan to join the International Conference in Cultural Tourism , a gathering of heritage advocates from all over the world. I stayed in a hotel named after the place, Vigan Hotel and it is a gem of the past. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for an authentic feel of the things in the past to stay here.

cafe leona vigan ilocos


Vigan was saved because of a love story
It was also during that conference I learned something cheesy but worth a mention. Do you ever wonder why of all the rest of the country, why Vigan with all of the old houses was spared from the bombings of the Japanese soldiers?

According to the zarzuela presented by the Municipality of Vigan, during the Japanese period, there was a Japanese high ranking soldier who married a Filipina. When the Americans are slowly taking over the Philippines, they were ordered to leave the country and bomb every city they pass. Worried that his kids and wife might die if Vigan will be bombed, he entrusted his family to a German parish priest at that time. The priest asked him that yes he can secure his family only if Vigan is spared from destruction.
Vigan was indeed spared so is the family of the Japanese high – ranking soldier. Unfortunately he was killed by a guerilla while trying to escape along with his comrades.

Calle Crisologo
 Strolling along Calle Crisologo is like being transported back during the Spanish presence especially walking along the Calle Crisologo.  Aside from its cobblestone streets, it is known for its house architectures that are a fusion of Oriental and European designs.


vigan tourist spots


October of 2013, it was declared from among 1, 200 nominees coming from 200 countries, Vigan made it to the Top 28.   This July 7th 2014,, the list will be trimmed to 21 until the final New Seven Wonders Cities on December 7, same year.


abel iloko weaving in ilocos


The rest of the 28 Official New7WondersCities are: Athens, Greece; Bangkok, Thailand; Barcelona, Spain; Beirut, Lebanon; Casablanca, Morocco; Chicago, USA; Doha, Qatar; Durban, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Istanbul, Turkey; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kyoto, Japan; La Paz, Bolivia; London, United Kingdom; Mendoza, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Mumbai, India; Perth, Australia; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Prague, the Czech Republic; Quito, Ecuador; Reykjavik, Iceland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Seoul, South Korea; Shenzhen, China; Vancouver, Canada, and Vigan, the Philippines.


inabel in ilocos


Mayor Eva Singson – Medina, Vigan’s mayor is asking every Filipino to vote just like how the entire country supported Puerto Princesa Underground River in 2012 to be officially part of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.


tourist spots in vigan


This is the link:  www.new7wonders.com/en/cities to vote for Vigan City as part of the New7Wonders Cities. 

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