CHOCOLATE HILLS for NEW7WONDERS OF NATURE
by Sylvia Fortich
August 30, 2008
The New7Wonders Foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, launched the current campaign for the New7Wonders of Nature in July of 2007, with the aim of undertaking documentation and conservation works of monuments worldwide under the motto "Our Heritage is our Future".
Our very own Chocolate Hills of Bohol, became an officially nominated site effective April 28, 2008, through the efforts of Chocolatehills.US , the Official Supporting Committee (OSC) behind the nomination of Chocolate Hills.
Only nominees with Official Supporting Committees can become a finalist, according to the rules of the N7W Foundation. (Please visit our website at www.chocolatehills.us )
Boholanos and Filipinos around the world have responded to the campaign for internet votes bringing Chocolate Hills to its present No.11 rank of the Top 77 nominees, from among 200 contenders. (We were on the No.5 ranking for some time.)
The selection for the New7Wonders of Nature is by popular votes. Online voting will continue until December 31, 2008, after which the top 21 finalists will be considered by the N7W Panel of Experts for short listing. The selected 21 candidates will be announced in January 2009 and popular voting online will again continue throughout 2009 and into 2010. The New 7 Wonders of Nature will be officially declared in the summer of 2010.
The OSC is asking all Boholanos and Filipinos all over the world, to participate in the internet voting to secure Chocolate Hills' spot in the Top 21. Let's all do this for the benefit of the province of Bohol and the Philippines, as a
whole! Winning this campaign would mean progress for Bohol and the whole country, and the distinction and pride of being declared one of the New7Wonders of Nature!
Be a part of the campaign! Please VOTE for CHOCOLATE HILLS
Thank you.
"Sylvia D. Fortich is assisting CHOCOLATEHILLS.US, the Official Supporting Committee (OSC) of the Chocolate Hills as nominee to the New7Wonders of Nature, taking charge of its official communications and publicity. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of "Ang Tagbilaranon", a quarterly publication of the Tagbilaran Association of Southern California, Inc. (TASCI). " Writing has been Sylvia's passion which started early on in grade school, which led to an editorship of her high school publication, and then through college as contributor. She graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, "cum laude" with a degree in business. While still working with the Philippine National Bank, she won the essay writing contest during one of the bank's anniversary event. For this writer, "what flows through her pen, comes straight from the heart!"
