🇵🇭 VIGAN • Let's Support Vigan City for the New 7 Wonders Cities

"Live with the people of Vigan and love them. From there, you will learn that there are just culture and traditions that can not be explained in words and can not be showcased in festivals that you have to actually experience it for a considerable length of time for you to understand."

After the success of the New7Wonders of the Modern World, and the New7Wonders of Nature where our very own Puerto Princesa underground river (PPUR) was included, another campaign is being held by the same non-profit organization to choose the New7Wonders Cities and Vigan is nominated for the current phase of that search.

[VIGAN] This is probably, the Philippines' most photographed street, I surmise

[VIGAN] Calle Crisologo at night

Allow me to convince you why you should vote for Vigan to be one of the new7wonders cities.

Vigan is the capital of the province of Ilocos Sur and it is the only World Heritage city in the Philippines. Vigan is the home of well-preserved colonial houses with extent that can never be seen anywhere else in the Philippines.

According to the decision of UNESCO, Vigan represents a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning.

Vigan is also an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European trading town in East and South-East Asia.

[VIGAN] Calesa along Burgos Street

In Vigan, century-old transportation system remains in use -- the calesa, a horse-drawn carriage.

While some other places in the world use calesa for touristy purposes, in Vigan, the use of this old way of commuting is both for tourists and the residents.

Calesa is still being used by the residents in going to certain parts of the city. For example, in front of the University of Northern Philippines, there is actually a part where these calesas fall in line for passengers.

Of course, like a famous bus line, usually they are "fully-booked" because the riding public makes calesa the priority, ignoring tricycles and jeepneys. Since they are limited, they can not accommodate all the commuters so usually getting a calesa ride is by chance.

[VIGAN] A Horse + Belfry

Although a calesa ride is a way of commuting in Vigan, many kutseros now choose to be with the tourists because they earn more penny from this industry.

Vigan is the home of cultural activities and festivities. On January, Vigan celebrates her fiesta with the Longganisa Festival. Longganisa is an OTOP (one town one product) of Vigan, a very delicious sausage you should not miss.

[VIGAN] Longganisa Festival happens every January

At February, Kannawidan Ylocos Festival takes off. It showcases the different culture and traditions of the province of Ilocos Sur.

During April, Vigan becomes a crowded city because it is the peak season for the arrival of tourists and visitors. April is the Semana Santa and Vigan celebrates the Holy Week extensively and deeply. Do try to visit Vigan during the whole Holy Week and you'll know what I mean.

[VIGAN] Semana Santa scene in this city

[VIGAN] Boklan Arts Festival

[VIGAN] Calesa Parade in the City

May is a month for arts because Vigan celebrates the Boklan Arts Festival, Karbo Festival, Pasagad Dressing, Calesa Parade, Binatbatan Festival, Bankathon and many more! It is an activity-filled month composed of many festivals under one mother festival which is the Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts.

During September, Vigan joins other heritage cities in the world in celebrating the World Heritage Cities Solidarity Day. It is a week-long celebration that showcases the rich history and culture of Vigan.

[VIGAN] Binatbatan Festival

[VIGAN] Bankathon: a boat race in Vigan's fishing community

[VIGAN] Pasagad Dressing

[VIGAN] Carabao as canvass

November is the month for the Vigan Raniag Twilight Festival it is another week-long celebration that is being celebrated in the darkness of the night. It happens during Halloween. It gives you a reason to enjoy the All Soul's Day. Every night, colorful lights make the Vigan streets brighter through float and costume parades including the candle-lighting at the Meztizo River.

[VIGAN] Mestizo River in Vigan

[VIGAN] Candle-lit Mestizo River on a Halloween

[VIGAN] Float Parade during the Raniag Twilight Festival

During December, Vigan celebrates the Christmas Lantern Parade. Although the city has many festivals and activities, it is not still enough to showcase the rich culture of the city and the only way to learn about it is to be a citizen of Vigan.

Live with the people of Vigan and love them. From there, you will learn that there are just culture and traditions that can not be explained in words and can not be showcased in festivals that you have to actually experience it for a considerable length of time for you to understand. That what makes Vigan unique.

[VIGAN] Central Business District: Notice the building designs

[VIGAN] Calle Crisologo

[VIGAN] A fisherman of Vigan's coastal communities

[VIGAN] St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

Through the New7Wonders Cities campaign, I want more people to experience the culture and charm of Vigan, taste food you've never tasted before like the bagnet, empanada, pipian, miki, kaskaron, sinanglao, papaitan, dinardaraan, poqui-poqui, dinengdeng (diningding), pinakbet, toron, tinudok, tinubong, and many more!

To be able to realize this endeavour, being chosen as a new 7 wonder city will give this small city a chance to prove that size doesn't matter.

To vote for Vigan city, click here. /end

Vigan #TownExploration Series

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Tags: Vigan for New7wonders cities | Candidates for new 7 wonders cities | Philippine cities neew seven wonders