This Week’s Milestones: Nov. 11-17, 2018
The Puerto Princesa Underground River was named among the world’s new seven wonders of nature in a global poll organized by Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation.
The 8.2-kilometer river winds through a complex cave system before flowing directly into the sea.
It features cathedral-like caverns, stalactites and stalagmites.
In July 2014, then President Benigno Aquino III signed a proclamation declaring Nov. 11 of every year Puerto Princesa Underground River Day.
The other six named as the world’s natural wonders were Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo Island, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, South America’s Amazon rain forest and South Africa’s Table Mountain.
Nov. 17, 1898
A provisional revolutionary government of the Visayas was organized in Santa Barbara town after Ilonggo rebel forces liberated the province of Iloilo, except Iloilo City and the towns of Jaro, La Paz and Molo.
Roque Lopez was elected president. After hearing a thanksgiving Mass, the revolutionaries raised the Philippine flag and cried, “Viva Filipinas! Fuera España! Viva independencia! (Long live the Philippines! Down with Spain! Long live independence!), which became known as the Cry of Santa Barbara, the proclamation that sparked the fire of revolution in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research.
