I learned in Elementary school that the Banaue Rice Terraces is the eighth wonder of the world. What Filipino school child doesn’t know that? And therein lies the problem. Only we Filipinos know that. The Banaue Rice Terraces is not known outside the Philippines.

So just imagine my indignation when the New7Wonders Foundation came out with twenty-one nominees for the New Seven Wonders of the World (except for the Pyramids of Egypt, the ancient wonders don’t exist anymore), the Banaue Rice Terraces was not included. I guess one problem with us Filipinos is that while we’re so good with recognizing about what’s wrong with us, we don’t give ourselves credit where credit is due (see? I’m doing it too). Anyway, what I’m saying is that everyone could recognize the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal or the Statue of Liberty. But the Banaue Rice Terraces? We, Filipinos, don’t promote it enough. How many movies are set here? How many novels? How many commercials even? How many Filipinos have even been there?

Read more in Toe’s Kurokuroatbp.