The weekend inauguration of PPUR as one of the New7Wonders of Nature in Manila and on Palawan Island was the subject of widespread coverage in the Philippines media. “PNoy stresses responsible stewardship of PPUR” declared GMA News, which noted: “Now that the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) is officially one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, Filipinos should take the next step from being its promoters to being its responsible stewards. President Benigno Aquino III made this appeal Saturday night at the inauguration of the PPUR in Pasay City, saying Filipinos should not take such a blessing for granted.”
ABS-CBN News featured a large photo of two happy presidents, with the caption: ” President Aquino receives the plaque from New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN) President and Founder Dr. Bernard Weber (right) during the citiation of the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the world’s N7WN in Pasay City on Saturday. Witnessing the ceremony are Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn (left) and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje (2nd from left).
The Official Gazette, which is “Edited at the Office of the President of the Philippines” carried the headline, “PPUR inauguration as one of the New7Wonders of Nature, April 22, 2012” and accompanied it with a five-photo spread of the celebrations.
With the headline, “Underground River inaugurated as among New 7 Wonders of Nature“, Philstar carried excerpts from President Aquino’s speech: “The Puerto Princesa Underground River is the pride of Palawan, and now, it is the pride of the world, because it has officially been named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature,” he said. “In the face of tremendous competition — 27 other finalists and millions of other voters from all over the world — we pulled together, and once again put the Philippines on the map.
I thank everyone who participated in this effort — from those who led the campaign, to those who sent in their text and Internet votes,” he said.