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