THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL in Sydney has recently announced that a Zurich-based foundation is conducting a world-wide campaign to identify the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and four Philippine ecological sites are among the 77 natural features being considered.

The four Philippine sites are Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the Subterranean River of Puerta Princesa, and Mayon Volcano.

The campaign is conducted by New7Wonders Foundation, which received global attention when its founder, Canadian filmmaker-writer-adventurer Bernard Weber, began in 1999 to gather nominations for the new Seven Wonders of the World, which drew in millions of responses.

In 2005, the 77 most nominated monuments were named, which was shortened to a list of 21 monuments by a panel of expert architects. The New Seven Wonders were selected by a popular vote of 100 million people, who chose their pick through the Internet and mobile phone SMS.

Immediately after the New Seven Wonders were announced on July 7, 2007, the Foundation launched the current campaign to identify the Seven Wonders of Nature. The new survey seeks to name the most voted breathtakingly beautiful, natural places, from waterfalls to fjords, rainforests to mountain peaks, freshwater lakes to salt flats that showcase the incredible beauty and variety of our planet.

The new survey has the top 77 nominated places, which include four sites in the Philippines: Tubbataha Reef (Sulu Sea), the Chocolate Hills (Bohol), the Subterranean River of Puerta Princesa (Palawan), and Mayon Volcano (Albay).

Tubbataha Reef :: Photo Philippine Dept of Tourism

Tubbataha Reef and Chocolate Hills are now among the Top Five nominees.

The survey is so prestigious that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is urging Filipinos to cast a vote for the Chocolate Hills of Bohol which, as of May 28, is the leading pick of Philippine natural features.

Votes are cast at the website www.new7wonders.com. The voting for nominees ends on December 31, 2008.

After that date, a panel of experts headed by UNESCO Director General Federico Mayor will release the list of 21 candidates, from which voters will elect the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney encourages the Filipino-Australian community in New South Wales to support the nomination of the four Philippine sites to the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Votes can be placed through the new7wonders.com website.

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