Vigan Vies for a Spot in New7Wonders Cities
From an original list of more than 300 cities, New7Wonders released its long list of 77 cities which made it to the Qualification Phase of the global election which started in March 2012. Three cities from the Philippines made it to that long list namely Cebu City, Iloilo Sity, and Vigan. Last October 21, the 28 Official Finalist Candidates were announced. In that shortlist, Vigan remained a strong contender to the final list which is expected to be declared on December 2014.
28 Official Finalist Candidates for New7Wonders Cities
Athens, Greece
Bangkok, Thailand
Barcelona, Spain
Beirut, Lebanon
Casablanca, Morocco
Chicago, USA
Doha, Qatar
Durban, South Africa,
Havana, Cuba
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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
Vigan, Philippines
Seven people including Professor Federico Mayor, Zaha Hadid, Professor Winy Mass, Simon Anholt, Bernard Weber, Kennedy Odebe and Professor Amitabh Kundu, comprise the Panel of Experts who advised of the selection of the 28 cities. Weber, who is the Founder-President of New7Wonders praised the list as “particularly exciting in its variety”. The final list of 7 is expected to represent the “achievements and aspirations of the global urban civilization”. The global election will run through three elimination phases.
Vigan History
The City of Vigan is found in the province of Ilocos Sur in the Philippines and is designated as the capital city of the said province. It was originally a settlement of Chinese traders giving rise to one version of how the city’s name came to be. From the Southern Fujianese language, the place was said to be referred to as “Bee Gan” meaning Beautiful Shore. Another version point to that of the Biga’a plant which was abundant in the place, after a supposed misunderstanding in an inquiry made by Captain Juan de Salcedo to the locals with regards to the name of the place. Apparently the locals thought he was asking about the plant.
It also became known as Villa Fernandina and eventually Ciudad Fernandina de Vigan, after the first born son of King Philip II of Spain. Vigan was an active coastal trading post even before the Spaniards came. It figured prominently in the many historical efforts of Filipinos to free themselves from foreign rule.
The Allure of Vigan
Vigan is a recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, being one of the very few Hispanic towns that remained intact through time. It combines the architectural elements of the Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino. Its original urban plan was deliberately patterned after Intramuros, the walled city in Manila.
The city boasts of several points of interest including the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, Archbishop’s Residence, Quezon Avenue, Plaza Salcedo, the Crisologo Museum, the Syquia Mansion, Pagburnayan ,and Plaza Burgos, among others. However, the place that will always represent Vigan in the public’s mind is the Vigan Heritage Village. Known as the Meztizo District, it is the perfect picture of a beautifully preserved past as seen through Spanish era ancestral homes, cobbled-stone streets, and the horse-drawn buggy called calesa.
My Say
I have no doubts in my mind that Filipinos will again support Vigan in the same way manner we did when Puerto Princesa Underground River became a finalist for the New 7 Wonders of the World. Places like these two can only make us Filipinos realize just how beautiful our country really is. Here is hoping for the best come December 2014.