I just happened to get a dose over the net of the which’s and why’s in the world’s new 7 wonders. The ancient world wonders had vanished long time past with the exception of the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The ancient wonders stood highly as a symbol of man’s great ingenuity created for the purpose of beauty and power. Today, we see wonders which count among older remains dating back the BC period which still stand amidst crises – man-made or natural. But who’s going to judge and who’s to account the existence of these wondrous wonders? Needless to answer. The judgment was done. Lisbon, Portugal proudly hosted the celebration of the 070707 moment – the unveiling of the new 7 wonders of the world.

The Idea

It was the ambitious idea of Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber to come up with a new group of 7 wonders. The campaign was launched in 1999 with Weber's Switzerland-based foundation which aims to promote cultural diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments.

Within UNESCO’s list of 851 world heritage sites, LA Times reported that nearly 200 candidate sites from among those listed were chosen by Internet balloting. Further, it said that the number was scaled down by a panel of experts to 21 finalists. However, yahoo.com stated that the 21 finalists were chosen according to votes earned within the campaign period which started in 2006.

The Criterion

Choosing something fairly and squarely is one thing to be dealt with in this kind of world affair. A competition with criteria which are set justifiably reap good rave. But in this kind of competition the only criterion is popular voting.

Quoting latimes.com, “In developing countries where the Internet is taking off, such as China, millions of people enthusiastically cast votes for their favorite monuments. Since the Great Wall was one of the candidates (and a winner), it was an easy guess just where most of those votes went.

In the fabled Incan capital of Cuzco, Peru, Internet cafes reportedly had been full for weeks with supporters clicking their votes for the nearby majestic ruins of Machu Picchu.

In Jordan, Queen Rania lobbied (successfully) on behalf of the ancient red-stoned desert city of Petra.

The Spanish royals, along with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, did their bit (unsuccessfully) to promote the candidacy of the Alhambra, the 13th century Moorish citadel in Granada.

Elsewhere, there was indifference, and even indignation.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, referring to the enormous volcanic-rock carvings on Chile's remote Easter Island, said: "None of us need a vote to know that Easter Island is a marvel."

Apathy and disdain apparently doomed Stonehenge, Britain's prehistoric collection of circularly arranged megaliths. "The polling arrangements" in the contest "are so flawed that they make even Eurovision Song Contest judges look objective," sniffed London's Independent newspaper.

And in Rome, the campaign never caught fire. Calls last week to both the city government and the Culture Ministry could find no one who had even heard of the competition.

Fortunately for the 2,000-year-old Colosseum near downtown Rome, there is enough popular sentiment among Italians and, especially, among legions of foreign visitors to catapult the onetime amphitheater of the gladiators into the winner's circle.

Speaking of Rome, the Roman Catholic Church complained that none of the finalists was a Christian church, noting instead the inclusion of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, a 6th century Byzantine church converted to a mosque by the Ottoman Turks nine centuries later. Christian prayer there today is prohibited.”

It’s the same old story we used to know from international singing competitions or beauty pageants. Here is another case lining up of what we knew from AI’s Sanjaya with the call center theory, Jasmine Trias with the heroine theory, Miss Universe’s Photogenic Award for our Filipinas with the I-love-my-own theory, etc. The winnings end up a bit half-baked because of nonstandard criteria.

The competition is not all about the greatness of the wonders but a competition of the wondrous count of a population. It is a competition which is looking beyond the site’s value or importance.

Our ill-fated Eighth Wonder

It had been dubbed as the eighth wonder of the world but our very own Banaue Rice Terraces has ended its glory that even Filipinos have lost that sense of pride or maybe because we were not informed of that world competition. These two sides of our coin simply make us Filipinos powerless in world affairs that our synergy is put in vain to claim that eighth wonder back.

Our eighth wonder is more than what the new 7 wonders boasted. It’s more than worship and knowledge, welcoming and openness, perseverance and persistence, community and dedication, engineering and protection, joy and suffering, love and passion. After all, what our eighth wonder offers is LIFE.

But, it is sad to note that although locals today still tend to the rice and vegetables on the terraces, more and more younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing. The lucrative work in hospitality industry generated by the Rice Terraces make them dependent losing the value and the ingenuity brought by their forefathers 2000 years back. One day the site will just be another forgotten piece in our own history.

The New 7 Wonders
(http://www.new7wonders.com/)

"The 7 Wonders will all be equal – there will be no ranking," cites the web.

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.), Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples. It symbolizes Worship & Knowledge

Christ Redeemer (1931), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms. It stands for Welcoming & Openness.

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.), China

The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction. It is incredible proof of Perseverance & Persistence.

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. It is a symbol of Community & Dedication.

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture. It is a great symbol of Engineering & Protection.

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.), Rome, Italy

This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators. It is now a symbol of Joy & Suffering.

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.), Agra, India

This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window. It is the greatest symbol of Love & Passion.

Pyramid of Giza (2600 B.C. – 2500 B.C.), Egypt

It is an Honorary Candidate as pushed by the Egyptian officials with the premise that it is the only living wonder of the ancient world.

What’s Next

Come 08.08.08 will be another milestone to unveil the new 7 wonders of nature. I did my nomination of the seven wonders of nature we have – Mt. Mayon, Taal Volcano, Boracay Island, Surigao’s Sohoton Cave, Sulu Sea’s Tubbataha Reef, Palawan’s St. Paul’s Underground River, Palawan’s El Nido Cliffs. After the nomination follows the scaling to 21 then the final unveiling. Hope we will make it, fairly and squarely!#