Vote for your favorite hometown story

MANILA, Philippines - In the streets of Pasil in Cebu, there’s an exotic local dip that’s becoming popular to both locals and tourists. Cebuanos call this dip tuslob buwa, which literally means “to dip in bubbles”. It contains liver, pig’s brain, meats, and other spices. The dish is best eaten as it boils and bubbles up, and is usually paired with puso, or cooked rice wrapped in coconut leaves.   

A group of Cebuanos showed how the dish is cooked and enjoyed through a music video as their entry to the Doon Po Sa Amin (DPSA) community mapping competition, an annual search for unique Pinoy hometown stories that has been conducted by Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) since 2008. As the biggest and longest-running crowd-sourced community mapping activity in the country, DPSA has generated more than 1,500 Pinoy stories, which are pinned on an online Philippine map on the DPSA website.

“With DPSA, we can learn more about our diverse culture. And because the stories are contributed by Pinoys who live in different localities of the Philippines, they are more authentic,” said Smart public affairs group head Ramon Isberto.

Apart from music videos, Pinoys from all over the country created documentaries, short films, and animations to showcase the Pinoy culture – covering history, traditions, festivals, activities, interesting destinations, notable people, unique plants and animals, special delicacies, and local products in their respective home towns.

Winners of DPSA will be awarded on February 13, 2015, to coincide with SWEEP Awards, also an annual event of Smart that recognizes Electronics and Communications Engineering student groups who have developed the best technology solutions.

DPSA is part of Smart’s advocacy to help boost tourism and preserve Pinoy culture through the use of Internet and digital technologies.  In line with thrust, the telco also supports the Digital Tourism project of the Cebu-based startup InnoPub Media. The project is being implemented in cities and municipalities in Cebu, Baguio and Ilolio.

Check out other interesting stories via DPSA’s website on www.doonposaamin.ph and rally support for your favorite story by participating in the online poll for DPSA’s People’s Choice Award. Voting is open until Feb. 12, 3 p.m.