Kalanggaman Island, a mid-sea getaway on the calm waters of Visayas

Midway between Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas is a paradise described as a lone island that provides as a breather from the busy urban suburbs of Leyte and Cebu. Characterized as one of the country's best summer getaway with an ultimate photo opportunity with its picturesque sandbar and island escape. Kalanggaman Island houses one of the best sandbars in the country.

Part 4 of East Philippines Seaboard Mapping Expedition 2015

February 27 - March 5, 2015
As we conclude our 7-day mapping expedition to the eastern regions of the Philippines, we bring with us memories and experiences of the places we have been to. Bringing home with us photos of the beautiful country Filipinos call as their home and sending out a map that would hopefully help in promoting responsible tourism and awareness for the Filipino people to scientifically and systematically face incoming disasters that may befall ourselves.

Part 3 of East Philippines Seaboard Mapping Expedition 2015

February 27 - March 5, 2015
After leaving Eastern Mindanao via Surigao Strait for the first four days of our mapping expedition, we have begun to set foot for the first time in this part of Eastern Visayas on San Ricardo, and scoured through the municipalities at the western side of Southern Leyte. It is our fifth day in the expedition and we woke up being embraced by the sun as it rises from the east while slumped on the white sands and turquoise waters around Canigao Island.

Part 2 of East Philippines Seaboard Mapping Expedition 2015

February 27 - March 5, 2015
As we continue on our narrative to the East Philippines Mapping Expedition of 2015, we have temporarily left the main island of Mindanao towards the easternmost island of the Philippines. We have already covered 4 of the 13 provinces of the country in our 7-day mapping mission. Primarily covering towns of Philippines where it meets the waves of the Pacific and the wrath of typhoons during typhoon season. This is with a goal in ensuring vulnerable provinces are properly mapped for navigation accuracy in times of disasters while at the same time discovering the beauty of the Philippines.

Part 1 of East Philippines Seaboard Mapping Expedition 2015

February 27 - March 5, 2015
The East Philippines Seaboard Mapping Expedition for 2015 is Schadow1 Expeditions' widest coverage and non-stop single mapping expedition to date. Covering 13 provinces on its mapping expeditions and passing through about 18 provinces of the country in a 7-day mapping mission. This is with a goal to cover the country's easternmost regions facing the Pacific Ocean; to where most tropical storms are hitting in full force during its initial landfall. This mapping mission is to ensure these vulnerable provinces are mapped for navigation accuracy during times of humanitarian missions and to promote tourism.

What is with this small paradise called Canigao Island

March 2-3, 2015

White sand, turquoise seas, uninhabited island, pristine, and clean. These are the qualities of a beach getaway you have always wanted. Add the word cheap, and there's nothing more you can ask for. Located at about five kilometers off the shores of  Matalom, Leyte's town center, there is no doubt this is one of the best beach getaway of Eastern Visayas.

Maps at work - Typhoon Haiyan and the Worldwide Mapping Effort

Because of the strongest typhoon in history that hit the Philippines, Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda has brought about a worldwide collective effort in assisting the battered areas of the country. A worldwide crowd-sourced initiative has been activated to map the extremely devastated areas of the country due to the storm; to which relief efforts and rescue missions have been dependent immensely while at ground zero. It all started as a single call which escalated to a series of exponential response of mapping advocates around the globe to create a highly detailed and accurate map of the storm-stricken areas in the Philippines. A map to which many of the rescue and relief operatives have been using to mobilize their mission and strike right at the heart to where the community needs it.

Super Typhoon Yolanda, the Philippines and the Mapping Advocates

MTSAT Image of Haiyan pre-landfall

Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda is the strongest typhoon recorded in modern history. Packing up winds of 320km/h with maximum wind gusts of up to 380km/h and having a forward velocity of 29km/h. That is the maximum state of the typhoon before it had its first ever landfall at Guiuan, Samar at exactly 5:00 AM local time (21:00 UTC) at dawn of November 8, 2013, Friday. From then, it has directed a straight swath of havoc from Eastern to Central and Western Visayas of the Philippines. The tragedy then has called for a collective effort of people with various expertise to assist on the post-disaster missions. This includes the need for an accurate map so as to distinguish areas of concern so that rescuers, and field workers may be able to do their job in clearing and rescue operations over the distraught islands that were a direct hit of the record-breaking typhoon.