Mindanao Tourism Map
One of the (many?) things that I find frustrating about the Philippines, and Samal Island in particular, is the lack of good detailed maps. I’ve always found maps to be a very useful tool. I much prefer them to getting directions, as I like to get a visual in my head.
Davao has more available in this area than Samal. But that’s not saying much, as Samal Island has almost nothing detailed other than the one I feature in my sidebar. I have a copy of every map of Samal Island that I could find on my hard drive. It’s not many. I guess one could make the argument that there isn’t much to map on Samal at this time.
I recently ran across an article from Roger Montano Balanza from his Durianburgdavao news blog, that gives an encouraging account of a upcoming map of Mindanao for tourists. Even though the article about this proposed tourist map doesn’t directly state that it includes Samal Island, I’m hopeful that it will. At the very least it would be very nice to have something of the general Mindanao region.
A product of years of collaboration between the private sector tourism players and the Department of Tourism (DOT), the tourism highway map contains details on top Mindanao tourist spots, destinations, transportation and other information that a tourist needs from Western Mindanao to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The map is due to come out in August at the Mindanao Tourism and Travel Expo in Davao City.
Mindanao tourist map to be launched « durianburgdavao.
Map credit: www.georgeandramilyn.com (not sure where they got it)
Hi Randy,
I don’t know if you know this already, but there is a grassroots movement to map Davao via GPS. I first read it on sunstar.com.ph, but it’s now taken a life of it’s own. Even the Dept of Tourism is joining in.
Hi Macky – thanks for that link. I may have heard something about this awhile back, but I wasn’t aware of the site you referenced.
I’ve never really used GPS myself, but it certainly is great to see the support of this. I can see the advantage of doing so, especially in a place like Davao. I have no real sense of direction there.
I guess hard copy maps are pretty much on their way out. I know when I need to go to a location I’ve never been for work I always check Google Maps, or one the others.
I have the EZ Map Davao. On the back is has a map of Samal, almost as detailed as the map you have here. That’s the map I took with me when I went on my little Samal adventure. It’ok, but I think it’s missing a few roads.
I wish there were a better map as that’s the first thing I pack when I go on a trip.
a thought occurred to me. samal’s small enough to drive around for fun.
i could see myself just making a hobby out of finding roads & mapping the island. a big giant jigsaw puzzle to play with. an excellent way to discover hidden beaches too.
Hi Kevin – I don’t think I’ve seen the Samal part of the EZ Map of Davao. At least if I have, it wasn’t presented as such. If you have time to grab a scan of that, I’d like to see it. You can email it to me, again if you have the time.
I should probably get a copy of the EZ Map Davao anyway.
Macky – I’d really like to see what your version of a map of Samal would look like. Sounds like a great project for you. Now there’s something I know would sell a little better than the print I have up
sad to say, but even though i grew up on a beach house directly across samal, i don’t really know much of the interior. the island was just a swim away from our backyard!
family frequented the coastlines on weekends since we owned our own boat. save for one hike with friends to explore a creek, inland samal’s still a mystery to me. which is pretty much like every local dabawenyo (which may be a good thing).
it would be great to explore the interior & map it. maybe something you might enjoy doing once you settle there.
Hi Macky – I’m sure I will spend a lot of time exploring Samal once I live there. I hope to do a little each time I visit up until that time.
I wouldn’t know how to go about mapping an area. I could do something like the Open Street Map project, though I expect that will be done long before I get there. At least I would hope so.