| With its magnificent and captivating symmetric | | | | focuses its campaign more on the Department of |
| cone-shaped perfectly molded by nature, Bicolano's | | | | Education and Comission on Higher Education for |
| very own and famous landmark Mayon Volcano | | | | these to serve as intruments of promoting Mayon |
| competes with the world's best, along with the other | | | | better to the students. Since the DOT likewise |
| three chosen scenic sots from the Philipines for | | | | wanted the Overseas Filipino Workers especially the |
| Nature's New Seven Wonders. The vocano's natural | | | | Bicolanos to be aware of Mayon's fight and earn their |
| and eco-tourism features were the factors | | | | support, it found a way to campaign to the OFW's |
| considered by the organizers of this prestigious | | | | around the world through the internet. "There's no |
| worldwide competition in picking it as an official | | | | way they couldn't vote since voting is done on-line," |
| nominee. | | | | Ravanilla said. Her department was able to campaign |
| Possible Effects | | | | through the net in Canada, USA, and Australia whre |
| Department of Tourism- Bicol and the Provincial | | | | great number of Filipinos are working and living for |
| Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office- Albay envision | | | | good. Ravanilla even did campaign Mayon personally |
| coniderable income that will be generated of the | | | | to some tourists who visited the region like the |
| region's wll-known landmaek will be hailed as one of | | | | Koreans and Americans. She said she'll do the same |
| the New Seven Wonder of Nature. "This will surely | | | | everytime foreigners come to the place. However, |
| push Bicol particularly Albay forward in the tourism | | | | the director admitted that there is no sufficient |
| industry and will be promoted more to the world if | | | | budget to advertise Mayon in local and national |
| luckily included in this newet search for Nature's | | | | television which she thinks will promote mayon more |
| Wonders," Maria "Nini" Ravanilla, Regional Director of | | | | to a greater ublic. Luckily through KBP's help, some |
| DOT Bicol said. According to Ravanilla, since 2006 the | | | | sort of endorserments are being done in radio |
| tourism in Albay has declined because of the | | | | stations, both AM and FM regionwide. She just hopes |
| typhoons that devastated and almost left the place | | | | that prominent politicians who are Bicolano by blood |
| lifeless particularly Milenyo and Reming. The top spot | | | | like Senator Chiz Escudero and Joker Arroyo will be |
| where it used to occupy has suddenly been grabbed | | | | kind to do a little favor to campaign Mayon Volcano |
| by Camarines Sur and now only ranks second in | | | | in their interviews. "It would only take a matter of |
| terms of tourism revenues. Through the advent of | | | | seconds to fo that," she said smilingly. |
| this rare chance where Mayon can possibly acquire a | | | | Fight of the Youth |
| marvelous spot in the world's map, Ravanilla is | | | | Ravanilla furthermore emphasized that Mayon's |
| positive that Albay will be again at par in promoting | | | | present significant struggle means more to the youth |
| tourism in the region and will open its door wider for | | | | or the present generation whose shoulders lie the |
| tourist from different parts of the world. Moreover, | | | | responsibility of taking care their culture's heritage. |
| more tourists will likely mean more jobs for Bicolanos | | | | This is more of their fight which they must triumph. |
| and more earnings for some entrepreneurs in the | | | | It's a fact that today's youth have easier access to |
| locality who sold items and products which are | | | | the internet and mostly have e-mails so casting one's |
| proudly Bicol-made. Pat Noveno of Camalig, Albay | | | | vote is way too easy. It would'nt take much of |
| who is into selling products out of Pili for years said | | | | somebody's time and effort and would'nt even hurt |
| that his income is not consistently good especially | | | | someone's pocket. It's jut a click away. Why not |
| nowadays where affecting factors like price increase | | | | engage into something worthwhile like doing a small |
| of basic commodities and the tremendous oil-price | | | | yet great favor to the region's heritage that will |
| hike are prevalent. Though not that directly, he | | | | surely develop someone's sense of nationalism and |
| admitted that busine like his,is likewise affected since | | | | regionalism. At the end of the day, it is really the |
| most people would normally opt to buy only the | | | | reent generation who will benefit more than this. |
| basic things they truly need. Small time businessman | | | | According to Ravanilla, that is the reason why |
| like Pat is just one of the many who can get | | | | they've demanded more help and cooperation from |
| benefited if more tourists will come and visit the | | | | DepEd and CHED. They want the youth to take part |
| region. This will not only mean inviting the tourists to | | | | and take the lead in winning Mayon's fight to be one |
| see the region's landmark but also producing potencial | | | | of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. |
| buyers for the products of Bicol. | | | | It isn't too late |
| Cultural Significance | | | | There is still an ample time of making the Bicolano's |
| Ravanilla also pointed out that beyond the seemingly | | | | dream for Mayon possible. As of this writing, the |
| overwhelming graces that will pour into Bicol region if | | | | volcano is on the 9th spot, its peak since it became a |
| Mayon will make it, is the cultural heritage awakening | | | | nominee. Voting will be until the end of this year for |
| and sense of regionalism in the hearts of the | | | | the top 21 so the region's contender has higher |
| Bicolanos. As she puts it, there is more to the | | | | chance of even climbing up. By then, only the |
| revenues that will be yielded, and that is the cultural | | | | remaining 21 will have the chance to compete in the |
| awareness that will be revived to those who are | | | | next stage of voting which will happen throughout |
| oblivious of Mayon's importance to their lives. The | | | | 2009 and 2010. Finally, in the autumn of 2010, the 7 |
| Mayon Volcano which has stood the test of time and | | | | finalit that grnered the most votes will be officially |
| older than any man who had lived or presently living | | | | declared as the New Seven Wonders of Nature. |
| around its foot, has been continuously a deaf and | | | | Ravanilla is confident that with the relentless efforts |
| mute witness of the significant events unfolding | | | | they're executing and the continuous cooperation and |
| within it premises. Thus, its an indispensable landmark | | | | support of not just the Bicolanos but all the Filipinos, |
| in Bicol's culture and history and the root of its past | | | | Mayon Volcano and other 3 contnders from the |
| and future. The remarkable prestige that Mayon has | | | | Philippines namely: the Chocolate Hills, Tubatahha Reef |
| reached for being a contender somehow reminds its | | | | and the Subterranean River, will be altogether drawn |
| forgetful people of its genuine function to their | | | | in the renowned map of the world. |
| culture. Much more if the Bicolanos' icon will be part | | | | Paradox of the Event |
| of Natures' seven Wonders, it will restore the | | | | Despite the vigorous drive being shown by the |
| apparent loss of value for cultural legacy of the | | | | Provincial Government of Albay to win Mayon's battle |
| region's dwellers. Also, the whole world will be able to | | | | for prestige, ot is funny yet worthy to note that it |
| take a glimpse of the rich culture of Bicolanos | | | | somehow fails to notice some simple flaws that lie |
| through Mayon. | | | | beneath the volcano's foot, that in turn might cause |
| Campaign Moves | | | | adverse effects. The Mayon Resthouse, which is |
| In the great pursuit of placing Mayon Volcano on the | | | | supposed to be a perfect place for tourist who |
| world's map, DOT-Bicol, the Provincial Government of | | | | would want to have closer and better view od the |
| Albay and the City Government of Legazpi | | | | volcano is not really that suitable for resting. Reports |
| exhausted efforts they believe are necessary to | | | | showed that the comfort rooms of the place will |
| better campaign the region's pride. The posters and | | | | avail no use for someone's peronal needs. Nobody |
| the tarpaulins posted in the streets of Legazpi and | | | | wouldn't want to experience this inconvenience |
| Albay, in public and private offices, in different | | | | especially the tourists. Another, the Plantarium located |
| schools and campuses around the region and | | | | near Mayon which prior to typhoon Reming's |
| anywhere else were DOT's way to get into the | | | | devastation is still unrepaired and unavailable. It should |
| public's consciousness the good news and at the | | | | have been a perfect haven for families and lovers. |
| same time to ask their full support. Mayor Noel Rosal | | | | So, some would ak, how come the provincial |
| has his own version of this kind of posters with his | | | | Government has great courage promoting and |
| face placed beside the image of the volcano, trying | | | | campaigning Mayon if it appears disregarding this |
| to persuade the people like a political candidate to | | | | simple problems that might be discovered by some |
| cast their votes for Mayon. The DOT, through its | | | | tourists and change their good impression on the |
| director has coordinated with the different | | | | place? The good news is that it isn't too late for |
| departments in the region to request for their | | | | them to fix these thing which they might have just |
| cooperation and complete support in their drive of | | | | overlooked. Will they still wait until a bunch of |
| bringing Mayon Volcano on top. In particular, it | | | | foreigners discover it before doing the right action? |