When the Manila-based Philippine Star published an article recently about President Benigno Aquino III urging Filipinos to vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign, the Dubai-based Gulf Today picked up on the story and reporter Mariecar Jara-Puyod spoke to Filipinos in Dubai about their reactions.
“It is about time for Filipinos to realise that there is something good back home and that we should be proud that God has blessed us with many natural wonders,” Jennifer Gonzales, manager for community and development at United International Private School said. “We should be proud that one of our tourism destinations were chosen,” public relations specialist Angelo Tesorero added.
It is estimated that up to 11 million Filipinos, or about 11 percent of the total population of the Philippines, now live overseas. More than 500,000 Filipinos work in the United Arab Emirates and they can support the Puerto Princesa Underground River with their mobile phones.
As this webpage about mobile phone voting in the UAE makes clear, “To vote send the correct keyword for your chosen Finalist, in Arabic or English, by SMS to 3888. Each SMS costs AED 2, and you can vote on both the Etisalat and Du networks.” The keyword for Puerto Princesa Underground River is PPUR.