Vigan officially inaugurated as among ‘New7Wonders Cities’ of the world

Vigan’s most famous street, Calle Crisologo, at night. (Ching Dee / PCI)

MANILA — Nearly five months after being declared one of the cities among the New7Wonders Cities of the world, the heritage city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur was officially inaugurated in a colorful lights show Thursday night.

The ceremony, which was attended by top officials including Vice President Jejomar Binay and New7Wonders founder-president Bernard Weber, was held at the grounds of St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral.

Aside from the lights show, another highlight during the event was the unveiling of the bronze commemorative plaque presented to Vigan city’s officials.

The plaque was cast in the Kunstgießerei München, a famous foundry in the heart of Munich, Germany, where metal becomes memory using a combination of art and craft that dates back to ancient times.

To recall, Vigan city, famous for the preservation of its Spanish-era architecture was declared among the New7Wonders Cities of the world last December 7, 2014.

Results were announced on its website ending the year-long campaign of the New7Wonders Foundation, an organization looking to promote the beauty of the world as well as respect for cultural diversity.

The foundation cited Vigan for its architecture which “…Echoes the fusion of cultural elements from the Philippines, China and Europe, creating a city that is without equal in Asia.”

It also gave credit to Vigan being “the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.”

New7Wonders Foundation is the same institution that endorsed and promoted the underground river in Puerto Princesa City as one of the New7Wonders of Nature.

Aside from Vigan, the six other Wonders Cities include Beirut, Lebanon; Doha, Qatar, Durban, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and La Paz, Bolivia.

Vigan is the first of the New7Wonders Cities to be officially inaugurated.