The Philippines is one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the world. Connecting 7640 islands, it is a canvas where nature has painted some of its most magnificent wonders. With a history spanning hundreds of years, the country attracts tourists from all over the world for its phenomenal historical sites. In this article, we will explore five of the most exceptional UNESCO World Heritage Sites that make the Philippines so special.
What Is the Most Beautiful Natural Site in the Philippines?
The most beautiful natural site in the Philippines is the Puerto Princessa underground river. This spectacular pristine river runs through a dome cave and flows directly into the sea, its lower half brackish and subjected to oceanic tides, making it a natural phenomenon of global significance. The river extends 8.2 km across stunning limestone rock formations and a wealth of flora and fauna. Located on the Western coast of Palawan Island, the protectorate is managed by the local city government and is known as the Puerto Princessa Subterranean River National Park.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2012. Today, thousands of travelers journey on kayaks through the underground river to witness the breathtaking sights of this natural wonder.
What Is the Most Unique City in the Philippines?
The most unique city in the Philippines is Vigan, the capital of the province of Ilocos Sur. Vigan is akin to a protectorate of Filipino history, preserving the deep imprint Spanish colonialism left behind. The townscape houses a total of 223 historic buildings spread across 25 streets. Established in the 16th century, it is internationally acclaimed as the best-preserved Spanish colonial town in Asia, built on the blueprint specified for all new cities in the Spanish Empire.
Vigan, however, preserves more than the heritage of Spanish colonialism, displaying a unique mosaic of Chinese, Filipino, and European intracultural influences. The entire city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and was voted one of the New Seven Wonders Cities in 2015. Today, many tourists visit Vigan to take a walk through history.
What Are the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras?
The rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras are an enduring testimony of the harmony of Filipinos with nature. Built over 2000 years ago, the rice terraces adorn the northern island of Luzon. The maintenance of the agroecosystem was a skill passed from generation to generation among the inhabitants of the mountain range, blending a mastery of farming, irrigation, and engineering into a complex agricultural system. The capacity for ancient Filipino civilizations to harmoniously and expertly work with nature comes as no surprise, for the core tenant of their animist native religion honors and treasures the environment.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras deconstruct the ‘man versus nature’ schema of the modern world, paving the way for a reconciliation with mother nature.
What Are the Baroque Churches of the Philippines?
The Baroque Churches of the Philippines are four architectural masterpieces, displaying the European Baroque style from a Chinese-Filipino lens. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, these four Roman Catholic churches represent a cultural fusion of Spanish and Filipino design and craftsmanship. With two located in Luzon, one in Iloilo, and another in Manila, the Baroque Churches are pillars of the Christian faith that predominates the heart of the Philippines.
By incorporating limestone and local socioreligious motifs, they are monumental reinterpretations of European churches that laid the architectural groundwork for the majority of other churches in the Philippines. The Baroque Churches were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and remain an enduring attraction to pilgrims of faith and architectural beauty.
Why Is the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park An Exceptional Natural Gem?
The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is an exceptional natural gem in the Philippines due to its rich biodiversity. Located at the heart of the Sulu Sea, the park protects an area of around 100,000 hectares of marine habitats, containing 700 different species of fish and over 360 species of bewitching corals. Whales, sharks, dolphins, and turtles swim amidst the pristine reefs of three atolls and large deep-sea areas.
The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is nature’s gift to marine life enthusiasts and an organic laboratory unveiling the mysteries of sea dwellers in their undisturbed natural habitats. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, the seascape is a treasure for anyone seeking to immerse themselves in the beautiful wilderness of marine life.
