Smart powers cultural heritage mapping project

CEBU, Philippines - Smart Communications, Inc. recently supported Wikimedia’s first Philippine cultural heritage mapping activity, which was held to help document and preserve the cultural sites in the country.

Conducted in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the event was organized by Wikimedia Philippines, one of the 40 local chapters of the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates some of the largest collaboratively edited reference projects in the world, including Wikipedia.

Around 50 volunteers from all over the country were selected to undergo the three-day workshop. Each volunteer was expected to document and map at least 50 heritage sites in his/her respective location for 355 days following the workshop. The mapping activity was also done in light of the country’s vulnerability to destructive disasters like super typhoon Yolanda that can damage invaluable heritage structures.

Smart provided connectivity and gave away prizes for the teams with best outputs during the workshop.

Articles on the heritage sites may be viewed at Wikipedia, Wikimedia's online crowd-sourced encyclopedia.

Mobile users may access these articles for free via Smart’s PowerApp, a mobile application offering the most affordable unlimited Internet packages to Smart and talk 'N Text subscribers. PowerApp may be downloaded at Google Play Store for free. Aside from Wikipedia, popular apps such as Tumblr, Snapchat, WeChat, Line and Waze are also available on the App Deals section of the PowerApp. Alternatively, non-Android Power App users may also enjoy free access to Wikipedia by sending FREE WIKI to 5555 (for Prepaid, Talk ‘N Text, Postpaid and Infinity subscribers), 7577 (for All-In Postpaid users) or 9990 (for Freedom Plan subscribers). Free and unlimited data access to Wikipedia via PowerApp is extended until May 31.

Smart’s support to Wikimedia Philippines is in line with its advocacy for digital tourism and the use of Internet and digital technologies for the social good of communities.

For the past years, the wireless services provider has supported Cebu-based new media start-up InnoPub Media for its electronic guide books, mobile apps, and use of interactive Quick Response code markers in heritage sites for the promotion of localized tourism. Smart and InnoPub have successfully launched digital tourism projects in Cebu, Iloilo and Baguio. (FREEMAN)