The 1st South Cotabato Google Map Maker Summit held in STI College- Koronadal City last Saturday, June 9, 2012 was a success. It was attended by a total of 46 individuals coming from different towns in the province including the speakers and facilitators, all with a common vision to share and learn how to put a clearer and updated view of their localities and of South Cotabato on Google Map and become volunteer online cartographers.
The event started with an opening prayer by Rolly Visaya, PIO of the South Cotabato Committee on Web Media Promotions, was then followed by the singing of the national anthem, provincial hymn and the Martsa ng Lungsod ng Koronadal. Cesar Sulit, Senior Tourism Operations Officer of the province of South Cotabato gave a short opening remarks then followed by Simber Joy Dela Cruz who welcomed all the participants and guests to STI College-Koronadal City, the workshop's venue.
I then introduced our first invited speaker, Avel Manansala, the City Media Affairs Officer of General Santos and one of the founding member of the SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers. Sir Avel gave a backgrounder of what is Google Map Maker and the workshop/seminar is all about, how it can help in tourism promotions and disaster preparedness. The blogger's group headed by Sir Avel in which South Cotabato News is a member has conducted a series of mapUp events which started 3 years ago in General Santos City.
Another speaker at the South Cotabato Google Map Maker Summit is Berniemack Arellano, travel blogger and a Google Geo Advocate. Bernie gave a tutorial on how to get a Google account, necessary in mapping using Google Map Maker. He also gave extensive tutorial on the basics of Google Map Maker, how to add, edit and review places. Doc Remo Aguilar's topic was one of the most anticipated - the use of GPS-enabled android phone in mapping, given that there are still towns in the province with blurry or no imagery in Google Map (Find out here). Doc Remo, the organizer of the successful "Let's Map Tacurong!" cited how Tacurong City Google Mappers was able to have a clearer view of the city in Google Map.
In behalf of all those who have attended the 1st South Cotabato Google Map Maker Summit, I and SouthCotabato.Org would like to thank the speakers Sir Avel, Bernie and Doc Remo for coming, spending the whole day sharing their knowledge (for FREE) about Google Map Maker with South Cotabateños. I really admire and appreciate you guys, looking forward to working with you again- for South Cotabato and the region.
Of course, thank you to all those who took part in a way or another making this first mapup in the province a great success, take a bow:
- Sir Cesar Sulit, Jr., Eleizer Garcia, Grey Doctolero and staffs of the South Cotabato Arts, Culture, Tourism and Sports Promotions Unit (ACTS)
- The officers and members of the newly-formed ACTS- Committee on Web Media Promotions headed by Arnel Robles (my never-ending congratulations guys!)
- The South Cotabato Google Map Makers (formed after attending the Mindanao Google Map Maker Summit in General santos City)
- STI College - Koronadal (for the sounds system, lcd projector, the wi-fi internet connection and the airconditioned venue)
- The provincial government of South Cotabato for the all-out support headed by Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr., ('til next event like this sir..)
- And of course, GOOGLE for giving us the very useful Google Map Maker and Google Maps.
For those who have attended the 1st South Cotabato Google Map Maker Summit, join the Map Your Town Competition - Philippines who knows you might be one the lucky winners of 10 netbooks and P100,000 click this link on how to join.
There are still lots of places in South Cotabato that needs to be put in Google Maps. Our mapping effort has just begun,
Congratulations South Cotabato successful MapUp event!
ReplyDeleteMalapit na ang Bukidnon Map-up. Parang party lang ito. Then next is the summit na.....Bukidnon Map-up Summit. :-).
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