Iloilo's 'wonder' is it's the Athens of the Philippines

Iloilo's 'wonder' is it's the 
Athens of the Philippines

By Alex P. Vidal

As an online user, I will vote for Iloilo City into the New7Wonders of Cities of the world not because of its impressive tourist spots, delicious seafoods and archaic infrastructures. Iloilo City deserves to be catapulted in the pedestal of great cities in the world because of its priceless tag and towering reputation as "the Athens of the Philippines."

Athens was where the most famous ancient Greek philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle lived. It was the center of ancient education, of knowledge and wisdom even during the time of Pericles, Greece's famous orator and influential leader during the Golden Age.

Even before the New7Wonder of Cities of the world was coined, Iloilo  City already holds the distinction as the premier educational mecca in the Philippines if not in Southeast Asia with seven highly regarded universities -- University of the Philippines-Visayas, Central Philippine University, University of San Agustin, West Visayas State University, St. Paul University, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University and University of Iloilo--and 28 colleges. 

PRODUCE

These learning institutions have produced some of the country's greatest statesmen and pillars of public service; economic, cultural, music and sports jewels. Foreign students also flock to Iloilo City to learn in English, chemistry, accounting, science, agriculture, engineering, among other areas of education.

Aside from its rich historical sites, the city's also the most efficient banking system and booming investment climate. Iloilo City is perhaps the only metropolitan in the country with commercial banks standing in every corner in downtown area. It is the only city in the country surrounded by a clean river and a sea that connects to the Pacific Ocean. It has one of the best wharf and commercial ports in Asia tailor-made for ideal economic activity.

In my opinion, for the city to be known and honored as the best learning destination in this part of the world is better than to be praised for its physical beauty and potential as tourism and economic hubs.

WEBSITE

Meanwhile, a city hall press release recently quoted Bernard Weber, founder and president of New 7 Wonders on its website www.n7w.com, as saying that the new campaign "will become a catalyst for discussing everything from urban planning to metropolitan governance, from tourism to architecture amid mass urbanization worldwide."

It added: "Ilonggo netizens, friends, fans and followers can know more about Iloilo City on its official website www.iloilocity.gov.ph, Facebook pages Iloilo City Government and Iloilo City for New7Wonders Cities, mayor's official fan page, and Twitter account iloilocitygov."

"The shortlist of 28 official finalist candidates will be known Sept. 7 – Sept. 21. The finalist phases of Top 21, then Top 14 and down to final Top 7 are set Sept. 21– July 7, 2014.

"The official New7Wonders Cities voted by hundreds of millions of people from around the world will be announced July 7, 2014.

"The New7Wonders Cities is the third campaign organized by N7W, following the man-made new wonders of the world and the new wonders of nature where the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) won."