Developed by Pineapple Lab and Urban Discovery, the iDiscover Poblacion app helps visitors in going around the metro’s newest hotspot for culture, history, and local charm. In the app, users and tourists are directed to Poblacion’s creative hubs and cultural spots through an interactive walking tour.
The cultural district is now identified by the cafes, art spaces, boutique hotels, and lifestyle stores that were established by creative entrepreneurs when the area was declared a heritage zone back in 2012.
Also found in the app are celebrated heritage sites such as Museo ng Makati—the city’s first ever municipal hall, and Saints Peter and Paul Parish—the oldest church in Makati.
“This acts as a beautiful snapshot of the magic here in Poblacion. At the rate things are moving, not only are we connecting the dots between our cultural sites, we’re charting a path of Poblacion’s history alongside its economic and artistic growth,” says Jodinand Aguillon, executive director of Pineapple Lab.
Aside from simply sharing about the places themselves, iDiscover Poblacion aims to highlight the people behind these establishments to unveil the unique stories of not just these people, but also Poblacion in general.
“It is important that we get to know our local creative hubs and cultural sites as they are key to building a city’s identity and sense of place,” said Malaya del Rosario, head of Arts and Creative Industries of the British Council. The British Council is currently empowering Southeast Asian creative hubs to become more sustainable and impact-led, having sourced its inspiration from UK’s efforts in developing creative ecosystems.
iDiscover is developed by Urban Discovery, a Hong Kong-based social enterprise. The app offers curated neighborhood walking tours in several Asian cities, showing locals and visitors the “spirit of the place” through colorful anecdotes, insider secrets, and community activities. The app provides easy-to-follow offline GPS-based maps to enthuse users to explore, discover and wander.
iDiscover Poblacion is available free for download starting April 25, 2018 for iOS and Android or download a free map at www.i-discoverasia.com. The app’s development is also supported by the British Council and Makati City.
