Discover Quiapo’s history and culture with this community created App & Map

San Sebastian Basilica, only steel church In Asm (Image: Chester Ong)

Sometimes we forget how beautiful Quiapo is, this is the home to the San Sebastian Basilica, Quiapo Church, Golden Mosque, and Ocampo Pagoda, all important landmarks that represent a significant part of history of the neighbourhood, and even the whole of Metro Manila. The newly launched [Discover Quiapo App & Map helps locals and tourists navigate the neighbourhood and learn all about these untold stories of the past and present.

A true community effort, the iDiscover Quiapo project is developed by San Sebastian Basilica Conservation and Development Foundation, Inc., Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautlsta (KKB), Tralulu, and iDiscover. With the help of residents and heritage sites owners, 36 sites are selected to showcase the spirit of the Quiapo.

”We are proud to be part of this community initiative. For the first time we map out the historic landmarks and cultural highlights of this beautiful neighbourhood. With rapid urban development going on in Manila, it is important to document these stories, they form the foundation of all the preservation work we all do here," says Tina Paterno, Technical director, San Sebastién basilica conservation and development foundation, lnc.


Boix House is an 2016 World Monuments Fund Watch List

iDiscover Quiapo highlights key heritage sites like the row of surviving heritage houses along F. R. Hidalgo St., once home to the business elite and high society intellectuals, and Boix House, an architectural gem under 2016 World Monuments Fund Watch List and the headquarter of KKB.

But its more than just buildings. It’s also about festivals, like the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene, largest religious procession in the world where millions of devotees make a 15-hour journey through Quiapo, and popular locals food spots and family stores that have passed down through generations, like hopia from Master Hopia and Kim Chong Tin, or Christmas’ must-have Excelente Ham, and the neighbourhood coffee shop that doesn't even bear a name. iDiscover Quiapo highlights the stories of the places and the people behind them.

”Is it Gothic? Japanese? Maranao? Mexican? Filipino pop? Quiapo is all of these and more. It attracts Filipinos from differing persuasions yet offers them space for their creativity,” says Dr. Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita.


Cane San Sebastian in 1.969 (Image: wikimedia)

iDiscover presents the neighbourhood stories in the form of a free app [Discover Manila, available for download on both E and Android. and a printed map designed by local artist Patricia Ferriol,  available for pick-up in the neighbourhood or online on iDiscover’s website.


Quiapo map designed by local artist Patricia Ferriol

Quiapo is the heart of Manila. The heritage site owners and stakeholders of Quiapo are meeting regularly and working together towards the betterment of the area.

”We come across the same story repeatedly in Asia, that historic neighbourhoods are at risk, but there are locals who care. We are glad to be part of the Quiapo project working with young and committed groups, and we hope that this will be an important step to the path of revitalizing and rejuvenating this overlooked neighbourhood,” says Stephanie Cheung of iDiscover.


Screenshot the iDiscover Manila app

For any enquiries, please contact Stephanie Cheung of iDiscover at i-discover@urbandiscovery.asia.


About collaborators

San Sebastian Basilica Conservation and Development Foundation, Inc. is a SEC-registered nonprofit, composed of professionals and members of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (building owners), managing the scientific and sustainable 10-year restoration project of San Sebastian Basilica, Manila. The restoration is headed by a full-time local team that is aided by a wide network of consultants in the fields of historic preservation, architecture, engineering, fine arts, and community development.

https://www.facebook.com/savessbasilica/

Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista (KKB) is a volunteer organization based in Quiapo, Manila that advocates sustainable cultural heritage conservatlon through restoration programs and sociocultural development of the community. KKB organizes activities such as documentation and research on Quiapo‘s heritage houses, and conduct tours called Lakbay Lakaran to raise awareness on the cultural heritage of Quiapo.

https://www.facebook.com/KapitbahayansaKalyeBautista/

Tralulu is a social enterprise and booking platform for local guides and travel experiences across the Philippines. It aims to humanise tourism by sustainably providing an avenue for travellers to book experiences offered by the locals.

https://www.tralulu.com/

iDiscover is about the spirit of a place. We work with locals who show us their favourite places and tell us their stories. We put them in a handy map and sawy app to create honest and authentic walking routes in Asia’s most captivating neighbourhoods. Quiapo is the third route we created in Manila, other routes are Binodo & Escolta, and Poblacion.

iDiscover is a non-profit based in Hong Kong.

https:/' i-discoverasia.com