Nature sites in Asia - including four from the Philippines - continue to dominate the top 10 list in the ongoing search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Rankings as of June 10 showed that nine of the 10 nature sites were from Asia led by Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay which currently occupies the top rank.

The Amazon River in South America was the only nature site from other continent that was included in the top 10. Amazon River is on the 8th slot.

The Philippines’ Tubbataha Reef located in Palawan is still on the second slot followed by Chocolate Hills in Bohol which ranks third.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, also in Palawan, rose from its previous 6th rank to the 5th while Mayon Volcano in Bicol region similarly improved its ranking and is now on the 9th slot after previously occupying the 10th position.

Other Asia nature sites in the top 10 list were Bangladesh’ Cox’s Bazar Beach at the 4th position; Ganges River, 6th; Nepal’s Mount Everest, 7th; and Japan’s Mount Fuji, 10th.

In April, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged Filipinos to push for the inclusion of the Philippine nature sites in the search.

President Arroyo said Filipinos can contribute in efforts for the recognition of the country’s nature sites - including the Tubbataha Reef and Underground River , the Chocolate Hills and Mayon Volcano - by voting for these attractions online.

“We really need all the Filipinos who are working and listening here and abroad to vote for them,” the President said.

The “Seven Wonders of Nature” search is organized by the non-profit New Seven Wonders Foundation, which also undertook the “New Seven Wonders of the World” search which was rounded up last year.

The aim of the search is to create public awareness and contribute to the protection of the world’s natural heritage and foster respect for cultural diversity.

The list of nominees and the mechanics for voting are posted on the poll’s website.

Filipinos can vote for the Philippine candidates until December 31, 2008, after which the top 77 nominees will be submitted to a panel of experts that will put together a shortlist of 21 finalists by January 2009.

A second round of popular voting for the 21 finalists will then follow until the end of 2009 with the top 7 nominees being officially declared the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” by the year 2010.