![Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, meets the media at the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan Province, the Philippines. Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, meets the media at the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan Province, the Philippines.](http://www.new7wonders.com/app/uploads/sites/2/2012/04/bwppur1.jpg)
The Official Inauguration ceremonies for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as one of the New7Wonders of Nature continued today with the unveiling of a specially-cast, commemorative bronze plaque at the site itself in Palawan Province in the Philippines. “I wish everyone a joyful celebration, as I hereby officially inaugurate Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the world’s New7Wonders of Nature! Mabuhay!” said Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders.
Afterwards, members of the public and dignitaries attended a gala reception hosted by Mayor Edward Hagedorn in Puerto Princesa city, 50 kilometres south of the newly-inaugurated Wonder of Nature.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremonies in Manila on Saturday night, President Benigno Aquino III said, “Not long ago, I had the chance to explore the Puerto Princesa Underground River myself. It was an amazing experience. Journeying down a river that winds through a subterranean cave system is like traveling back in time.”
“Words alone cannot do justice to the underground river—one must experience it firsthand to be able to understand exactly why it is one of the New7 Wonders of Nature. So consider this as an open invitation to everyone to visit the PPUR,” he said.