Phone scanning to help Cebu visitors during Sinulog and even APMC convention

Thanks to Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and Cebu-based website MyCebu.ph, tourists and other visitors to heritage sites will not find difficulty finding information regarding a certain tourist spot or heritage site as they are visiting it. That is because information on tourism and heritage sites will be delivered to mobile phones and tablets through quick response or QR code scanning.

QR codes by the way, turns text or URLs for example into a mix of pixels within a square that can be scanned by a smartphone. In this manner, all the tourist needs to do is to scan the QR code placed prominently in a heritage site like the one below and voila! information regarding the site will be projected into his smartphone or gadget.

We went to the San Juan Bautista Chapel and there is also a QR code there.

After scanning the code, a picture as well as information regarding the church that used to stand there was seen in the gadget.

This project in partnership with the Department of Tourism Central Visayas was launched last December 20, 2011 at the historic Barangay Pari-an in Cebu City.

I am sure this will be very useful for visitors both from within and outside Cebu during the Sinulog festivities.

It can also be recalled that the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges will have the annual convention held here in Cebu this early February hosted by the Cebu Institute of Medicine.

If the planned mini-heritage tour resembling the Gabii sa Kabilin will push through to accomodate APMC delegates, these QR codes will come in handy. The medical students and teachers who have smartphones will just have to scan these codes and no more looking for somebody else to ask about a heritage site.

Going back to Sinulog,  Smart and MyCebu.ph also launched "A Guide to Cebu 2012", an electronic guidebook on Cebu as well as announced the immediate availability of a free electronic guidebook to the Sinulog for the iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Android tablets and phones and other smartphones and ereader brands. The guidebooks will be offered for free download at the airport, Ayala Cennter, hotels and other locations frequented by tourists.

Marlen Limpag, MyCebu.ph editor showing the Sinulog Guidebook

While the Sinulog guidebook is available for download already, "A Guide to Cebu 2012" will be made available for download in January.

Again these guidebooks particularly the Cebu electronic guidebook will be useful for APMC delegates once they are made available.

It was stressed however by MyCebu.ph editor, Marlen Limpag that the project isn't purely historical. "Tourists can also get tips on how to get the most of their stay right at the tourist spot they are visiting.

The articles loaded in the system are also linked to Facebook, Google+, Twitter and even FourSquare so one can be a "mayor" of a certain heritage site.

Cebu is lucky as this is the country's first as the project will be later expanded nationwide.

Congrats to SMART, the Department of Tourism and MyCebu.ph!

The Long Wait is Over: HTC Concept Kiosk Now in Cebu

Ahem! This post is not about the beautiful ladies in the above photo but about the smartphones they are holding.

If you search for the best smartphones list, chances are the list includes an HTC product.

Finally, the HTC products are now available in Cebu. They can be viewed at the 1st HTC Concept Store (which is actually more of an open kiosk) found in SM City Cebu Cyberzone. Below is how the kiosk looks like which also acts as a Support Center.

Take your pick...

How I wish I have one because of the good reviews I read about HTC Sensation for exmple. Anyway, if you want to buy one, you can avail of a zero percent interest in 6 months  payment scheme using your credit card....and you need not go far.

HTC Concept Kiosk is found near the Aerophone store in SM City Cebu Cyberzone.

Below are the men behind bringing HTC in Cebu....

 Don't expect though to still have these ladies below when you visit the store next time.

12 Days of SurPRIZES when you buy a Sony Ericsson Xperia in Cebu

If I could change the lyrics of the "12 Days of Christmas" song and make them a reality, I would certainly ask either one type of Sony Ericsson Xperia smartphone each day or realistically speaking, one Cebuano brand product to enjoy each of these days.

You cannot blame me once you see this yourself...

Imagine a smartphone that is still ok even when wet? This the Xperia Active which is dust-proof and water-resistant. Perfect for those sporty adventurous people.

For businessman, doctors or even bloggers who are always on the go and who write or read emails often, the Xperia Pro should be perfect.

Then there's the Xperia Play which is like a Playstation phone. Heck any Xperia phone will do because it's believed to have good graphics, can be connected to a HD TV and it has the nice features and technology of the different Sony products in a smart phone.

Actually there will be an upcoming promo for those buying a Sony Ericsson Xperia unit in Cebu from December 12 to December 23, 2011.

Dubbed as Sony Ericsson's 12 Days of Christmas, a customer who buysa Xperia handset from Sony Ericsson Experience Shops and participating dealer shops in Cebu is entitled to win 12 months worth of products or services from the following awesome Cebuano brands:

• CnT Lechon
• Body and Sole Spa (wow, feeling like a celebrity!)
• Chika-an Restaurant (Family eat out, yupee!)
• Coffee Dream Cafe
• Dimsum Break Restaurant
• ForMo Resto-bar (Chill each month)
• Home Bakers Bakeshop
• Island Souveneir Shop
• JCA Pizza
• La Marea Pastry Shop
• Salon de Rose
• Thirsty Juices and Shakes

Yes, one can experience either one of these brands from January until December 2012. One can enjoy P1,000 worth of Gift Certificates of a brand every month for the next 12 months! 

Inquire from the participating shop about this promo when you buy your Xperia Unit.