Palawan underground river featured in Singapore festival

The Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in Palawan, the Philippines' bet for the "New Seven Wonders of the World," was featured on World Parks Day in Singapore last week. According to the Philippine Embassy, the PPUR was showcased at the Philippine pavilion during Singapore's twin celebration of Global Community Day and World Parks' Day on September 24 and 25 . "Flyers about the PPUR were given away together with tourism brochures, and leaflets about other upcoming Philippine cultural activities in Singapore," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Puerto Princesa underground river According to the website of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), the Puerto Princesa Underground River is reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world. The Official Gazette of the Philippine government said in June, "The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Philippines is composed of a long mountain landscape and a beautiful, breathtaking subterranean river that winds through a cave that has been carved into shape by the giant hand of nature." "It comes as no surprise that the Puerto Princesa Underground River has made it as one of the 28 finalists in the global search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature," it added. Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said, Aside from its staggering length and shape, within it lie unique discoveries, which were, until recently, unknown even to those who had frequented the site." He mentioned that an Italian group called La Venta has been conducting studies in PPUR and discovered fossils of sea cows or Sirenia dating back to the Miocene period, about 20 million years ago. "Aside from being rare fossils previously found only in Java, Indonesia, these findings also emphasize further the sheer historic value of our Underground River and of the country we live in," Aquino said. He thus encouraged people to vote "online at www.new7wonders.com, or—simpler—by texting PPUR to 2861, we can help the Puerto Princesa Underground River, as well as the Philippines, garner a distinct spot on the international tourist map." WaterFire theme Meanwhile, in Singapore last week, with the theme "WaterFire," the Philippine pavilion exhibited photos of beautiful Philippine volcanoes and bodies of water taken by Pinoygraphers@SG, a group of Filipino photography enthusiasts in Singapore. In keeping with the water theme, beautifully decorated rain sticks provided by the Puerto Princesa government were displayed at the booth. Eleven embassies including the Philippines had put up pavilions at the event, which drew an estimated 8,000 visitors over the two days. The other countries represented were China, Finland, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Venezuela. A highlight of the event was the art installation "Fire on the Water" by U.S.-based artist Barnaby Evans, which involved lighting 60 floating braziers on the reservoir. - VVP, GMA News