Rice Terraces in fog
Rice Terraces of Banaue
The Rice Terraces of Banaue are perhaps the most well know attraction in the Philippines, and no list of the Seven Wonders of the Philippines would be complete without them.. Located in central Luzon, they have been carved by local Ifugao people over the last 3,000 thousand years. When you visit, you can see terraces still being built today. The locals often describe the terraces as the largest man made structure created without forced labor. If each terrace were laid end to end, they would stretch almost 14,000 miles. They were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 and placed on the endangered list in 2001.
Photo by Lexxmax
Tubbataha Reef
Located in the middle of the Sulu Sea, Tubbataha Reef is one of the largest and best preserved reef systems in the world. Actually composed to two atolls, Tubbataha is far removed from any human settlement, it is a 92 mile boat trip from the city of Puerto Princessa. The marine park covers over 968 km² and is home to over 300 coral species and 400 fish species, rivaling the diversity of the Great Barrier Reef. The few pieces of atoll which are above water are also home to a large number of seabirds. It was inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in 1993.
Public Domain Image from Wikipedia
Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills are located on the Island of Bohol. They are over 1,200 hills, covering over 50 km² and get their name because the grass which covers the hills turns brown during the dry season. The hills are almost all conical in shape and made of limestone. Many people have believed that they were human creations. Geologists are not entirely sure how they were created. Theories include erosion of limestone, volcanic uplift, and accretion of limestone around basalt fragments from a volcanic eruption. The government of the Philippines has declared it one of their flagship tourist destinations. The Chocolate Hills are so central to the people of Bohol, they appear on the flag of the province.
Taal Volcano: Image by Johs Bousel
Taal Volcano
Taal volcano has a unique distinction in the world. It contains the largest island, inside of a lake, which is on an island, which is inside a lake, which is on an island. (got that?) Taal is a very active volcano which has killed over 5,000 people in recorded history. It has been named one of 16 decade volcanoes in the world worthy of special study. Inside the Taal caldera is Lake Tall, which is a 25km across. The lake is know for its high sulfur content and is also home to many endemic species of freshwater fish. Taal is only 50km from the city of Manila.
Mayon Volcano: Image by Kool.Angot
Mayon Volcano
Mayon volcano is perhaps the most perfectly shaped conic volcano in the world. It has been called by some the “Filipino Mount Fuji”. Located in south east Luzon, it is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It has erupted close to 50 times since the year 1600, with the most recent eruption occurring in 2006. 77 people were killed in an eruption in 1993 and 75,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes during an eruption in 1984. It rises 2462 m over Legazpi City in the province of Albay.
Underground River of Puerto Princessa
Underground River of Puerto Princessa
The Underground River is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site, but was named as one of the Earth’s New7Wonders of Nature. The Underground River is the longest subterranean river in the world, extending 8.2km underground. Over 2km is accessible to the public. The surrounding National Park includes many species including monitor lizards, the blue-naped parrot and macaque monkeys. The park is located 50km north of the city of Puerto Princessa on the island of Palawan.
Public Domain image from Wikipedia
Boracay
Boracay is a small island approximately 200 miles south of Manila and is very close to the major island of Panay. Its white sand beaches and direct flights from all over Asia, have made it one of the Philippines most popular tourist destinations. White Beach is the longest beach on Boracay and extends 4 km on west side of the islands.
Honorable Mention
El Nido
Located on the northern tip of the island of Palawan, El Nido is known for its distinctive limestone islands and inlets. El Nido consistently scores high in surveys of top eco-tourist destinations in the world. Forbes magazine rated the wreck dives off the island of Coron as some one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Archeological evidence of human habitation dating back 22,000 years has also been found in El Nido.
Batanes
The Province of Batanes is the northern most, and smallest province in the Philippines. It is located almost halfway between is island of Luzon and Taiwan. The culture of the Ivatan people is unique in the Philippines. Crime in Batanes is almost unknown as many police officials have complained of nothing to do with zero crimes reported and no one in the jails.
Mall of Asia
It may be surprising to some, but one of the largest malls in the world is in Manila. The SM Mall of Asia is third largest mall in the world in terms of gross leaseable area, surpassed only by two malls in China (neither of which is anywhere near capacity). The Mall of Asia consists of four separate buildings connected by open air walkways. It is 50% larger than the Mall of America and 10% larger than the West Edmonton Mall. It addition to the standard mall fare, it also is host to an Olympic sized ice skating rink.
Other articles in Gary’s Wonders of the World series:
Seven Wonders of the Philippines | Seven Wonders of Australia | Seven Wonders of New Zealand | Seven Wonders of Japan | Seven Wonders of Egypt
El Nido
Located on the northern tip of the island of Palawan, El Nido is known for its distinctive limestone islands and inlets. El Nido consistantly scores high in surveys of top eco-tourist destinations in the world. Forbes magazine rated the wreck dives off the island of Coron as some one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Archeological evidence of human habitation dating back 22,000 years has also been found in El Nido.
maganda lahat ang seven wonders…………..wow tlaga ang pinoy dbest
Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills are located on the Island of Bohol. They are over 1,200 hills, covering over 50 km² and get their name because the grass which covers the hills turns brown during the dry season. The hills are almost all conical in shape and made of limestone. Many people have believed that they were human creations. Geologists are not entirely sure how they were created. Theories include erosion of limestone, volcanic uplift, and accretion of limestone around basalt fragments from a volcanic eruption. The government of the Philippines has declared it one of their flagship tourist destinations. The Chocolate Hills are so central to the people of Bohol, they appear on the flag of the province.
WOW Philippines!!!!i'm proud to be a citizen of this country.and proud to be pinoy for life!!
I love my mother country but the people in the government is corrupt and they
abusing our mother land and especially our mother nature……….
Im only a student but I'm strongly stand to my view that
I'm a fighter
fuck you philippines
Yeah, go f??k all the way, Philippines.
not all government corrupt you know it boy fuck you to said that
Mall of asia is that joke right but how about the surfing capital of the philippines in surigao and the pruerto galera in Mindoro
grabe!!!
WOW Philippines!!!
BIYAHE NA! PHILIPPINES THE BEST…
PrOUd 2 b PiNoY!!!
philippines have beautiful scenery to the tourist
grabe IM VERY PROUD tlaga sana gumanda pa ang Philippines…..WOW!!!!
sana nga palaging peaceful ang philippines eh
NANANANA..
PROUD TO BE HERE!
let’s take care of them, please?
Those places mentioned above, only the MALL of ASIA i havent visited, come august 20, ill go MOA while spending a night in manila. Thanks for the advise ISSA, u gave me idea for exploring MOA though i hate manila traffic!!!
Issa, dalawa, tatlo
Very proud of being a filipino??? to hell? if u r proud being a filipino be PROUD of MALL OF ASIA too. I salute your intellect! Sorry i cant afford to go back to school to have “education”, id rather go to MOA
I am very proud to be FILIPINO!
#@$%^&*!?>+%$#@!^&*…… just for you SOLRAC RAK
to SOLRAC RAK
dude, you need to go back to school and get educated……. you know there is such a thing called EDUCATION and that is what you need!!!
to Solrac RAK
your IGNORANCE is pityful!
I wonder maybe u can check this mall to be the largest in the world to open on 28 August 2008 in Dubai called DUBAI MALL situated in the BURJ DUBAI foot “the tallest building in the world in the making” that will complete next year.
Never been to mall of asia, but it is indeed talk of the town whenever u arrive in manila for the first time or absent for years. AS what he said, surprising to some1, i am surprised, and surprised again with your reactions. Maybe be bcoz u did not absorb the writing, blinded with the topic of 7 wonders, dont worry maybe for the next year MOA will be deleted in the world history as the 3rd biggest mall, it will be last, or never be mentioned anymore. now ur happy?
., wOw . . proud to be pinoy. .
there all beautiful perhaps some of them are known to be man made.
its so great 2 see we have a lot of place that are so wonderful..
tang ina nio ang panget
puke ng ina naman yan!!!
buko ng ari ko yan\!!!!
titi ng nanay mo kung pangit huwag mo na lang titignan
parang ikaw ang gumawa
the mall of asia???
Oh my gosh!!!
it is an ugly mall noh!!!
eeewww!!!
I am approving to the others but in MOA I did not approve because it is only a mall!!!
pls vote the 7 wonders of the philippines
hkjehfhjekhfjhjshjfshdiujiouw
i like your blog….but i thick…mall of asia is not included in the list….there are many beautiful….
because mall of Asia is man made.that’s why its not included.
like other posters, “mall of asia” should not be included. There are lots more better malls. It would be nice to include the true wonders of nature. Currently, we have 4 nominees in the top 10. Make sure to make your vote count for the n7w. Head to http://new7wonders.com or you may also check my blog at http://new-7-wondersoftheworld.blogspot.com
i love this place coz there so many sexy girls and lovely ladies…
Wow its really amazing the scene of Chocolate Hills in Bohol, specially when you in top of it.there’s a lot of beautiful tourist destination in Bohol, try to look on it….. its really great try to visit there its really so amazing.
thank you for appreciating my country! but sorry for me I`ve never been, even one of them….. but I`m looking forward to see one of them..
I wish they would tear down all those other stupid six wonders and build Malls everywhere!
Chocolate hill malls, underwater reef malls, underground river malls, rice terrace malls.
phillipines is really great country lot of tourist spot is here come and visit my country you will love it…..but sorry to myself never been that seven wonders….anybody wants me a tiurist gude hahahaha….thank….i really love to see that wonderful places…plsssssssss.
I’m pondering such a man made mall of Asia is included. Is it worth?
sex 2 me
Let Sex 24/7 you Want
uLol
ilove philipines
wow..im proud to be pinoy… everything is in our country.. i want to vote , but dont know where to vote …
wow, amazing…. mall of asia is the best!
i like this place…
Wow, thanks for posting this featuring the Philippines. I also feature the 7 wonders but dedicated only to Philippines’ entries. See it 7 Wonders of the World
Thanks, Gary, for the mention and making the Philippines first on your list!
Fantastic list. But I agree, how can there be a Mall included when there’s so much natural wonder in Manila. I mean, if it was Singapore, yah, your top 6 wonders would be malls, but not the Philippines.
I don’t have a problem with the list except I would put El Nido or Pamilican Island ahead of Boracay. The Verde Island Passage also deserves at least an honorable mention. It is the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world.
Mall of Asia? It was a joke, right?
oppps remove the “the” please lol thanks :P
lol your such a loser
hai
thanks for the mention Gary, the everyone on the list deserves to be there because it was voted.
But how did the voting take place? Who’s the idiot who put the Mall of Asia up for voting?
this post deserved a stumble and that is what it got! :)
I didn’t create the list. It was voted on by other bloggers.
Great list. Are you Filipino? I wouldn’t include the Mall of Asia – there are so many more beautiful places. The Mall is not all that great compared to say, Vigan, Sagada, Dumaguete …
oh wow! Thanks for featuring my photo :) more power! This blog is one of the best travel blogs I’ve seen! :)