iDiscover app zeroes in on Makati’s best kept secret
Last April 25, 2018, iDiscover in partnership with the British Council, Pineapple Lab, and the City of Manila launched the iDiscover Poblacion 2mobile application that intends to help those who would like to discover and explore the busy streets of Poblacion.
According to iDiscover’s community manager Stephanie Cheung, their mission is to keep the heritage alive for a vibrant and viable urban future, “we wanted to create a community based tool to document the spirit of place before it disappears from Asia’s cityscape. Not just the buildings, but the people, stories and collective memory.
Over the past four years, iDiscover has mapped more than 30 neighborhoods throughout Asia together with more than 60 partners.”
In the Manila, the first neighborhood they mapped out was old Manila. This is where one of the oldest
Chinatowns in the world is located. Binondo has become popular because of its delicious food and shopping therefore in 2017 the iDiscover Binondo application was launched.
Aside from old Manila, another neighborhood has been gaining popularity is Poblacion, considered to be the oldest Barangay in Makati. In recent years, it has transformed tremendously and is now known as Metro Manila’s “hipster ‘hood.”
Cheung shared, “Poblacion is the oldest part of Makati City but also the newest hotspot for culture, history and
local charm. In 2012 the city officials declared this old red-light district a heritage zone, prompting a wave of young entrepreneurs to open new cafes, boutique hotels and lifestyle stores. Now home to the city’s leading galleries, creative spaces and art festivals, the area’s unique heritage has become a source of inspiration. The Poblacion revival has given rise to street food, community markets and formed charming creative enclave in between the shopping malls and high-rise buildings. We believe that this is a neighborhood with a rich history and culture and a strong community, we want to put it on the map.”
According to Pineapple Hub’s creative director, Andrei Pamintuan, Poblacion has been growing significantly over the years, “in terms of the number of creative hubs and creative enterprises here in Poblacion, it has grown tremendously since 2015.”
“Now there’s Kapwa, Dulo, Z-hostel as the ruins—and a bunch of smaller spaces. They make sure they allot space for performance, for artistic expression, and promotion of culture through merchandise, products, and things that naturally attract many people.”
iDiscover Poblacion is an honest and authentic neighborhood guide created by locals, designed by locals and powered by locals. Cheung elaborated, “it is a combination of an offline GPS-based app and printed designer map, introducing 34 sites that show the heart and soul of Poblacion, showing locals and visitors the ‘spirit of the place’ through colorful anecdotes, insider secrets, and photos.”
This is just iDiscover’s second neighborhood in Manila and they are planning to map out more in the future.
“We are always expanding to different Asian historic cities. By the end of this year, we will be present in more than 40 neighborhoods. Here in Manila, our next neighborhood is Quiapo, where we work closely with San Sebastian Basilica Conservation Foundation and Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista (KKB). We are planning to launch it in September this year,” Cheung concluded. Marga Bellosillo
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