Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom have expressed happiness over the inclusion of Vigan City in the Philippines in the list of top 14 global cities in the online “New 7 Wonders” competition.

In the Saudi capital, Eric P. Asi, a senior engineer at Nardeen Lighting, said that OFWs who voted for Vigan City are proud of this achievement.

“OFWs who took time to vote online must be very happy about the news. It’s a fillip to their Filipino identity as a people and as a nation,” he said.

Vigan City, located north of Manila in the province of Ilocos Sur, has been able to preserve house architectural designs during the Spanish regime in the 16th century in the Philippines.

In Alkhobar, Analiza M. Catanus, a teacher at Al-Jazeera International School, said that it projects the Philippines in a positive light.

“It will project the country as a tourist destination and help ram up tourism and bring in dollars needed by the country to prop up its economy,” she said.

Resurreccion O. Ramos, a doctor at the Dammam Medical Dispensary, added that the news should encourage other OFWs to vote for Vigan’s inclusion in the “Top 7.”

“There’s no money consideration for us, but it’s a way of giving back to what the country has given us to become who are we now,” she said.

She added that she always passes by Vigan whenever she takes her vacation in the neighboring province of Ilocos Norte.

In Jeddah, Charles Tabbu, IT manager at a local outfit, likewise expressed happiness, saying that “it makes me think of passing by Vigan City on my way to my province next time I go home on vacation.”

“I urge fellow OFWs to vote for the next round so that Vigan City could be included in the Top 7 round,” he added. Winners will be announced on Dec. 7, 2014.

Other finalists in the top 14 include Barcelona (Spain), Beirut (Lebanon), Chicago (United States), Doha (Qatar), Durban (South Africa), Havana (Cuba), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), La Paz (Bolivia), London (United Kingdom), Mexico City (Mexico), Perth (Australia), Quito (Ecuador) and Reykjavik (Iceland).

The Top 14 were announced by Bernard Weber, “New 7 Wonders” founder and president.