Because members of the Lucenahin team are among those who caught the Pokemon bug, we thought it would be fun to go on a hunting spree around Lucena City to document the experience and share it with everyone.

Since there are already tons of tutorials about how to download and play the game on the internet, though, we will be directing you to helpful articles about general gameplay through the lists below first so we can focus on city-specific information later.

Pokemon Go Starter Guide

• Where to Download Pokemon Go for iPhone Users
• Where to Download Pokemon Go for Android Users
• Where to Download Pokemon Go for Those with Incompatible Devices
• How to Play Pokemon Go
• Pokemon Go Glossary: What do all those Pokemon terms mean?
• Pokemon Go: Common Issues and Basic Troubleshooting
• Pokemon Go: Battery Saving Tips
• No GPS Signal: Quick Troubleshooting Guide
• How to Play Pokemon Go for Free (Globe users)
• How to Play Pokemon Go for Free (Smart users)
• How to Buy Pokecoins Using Your Prepaid Load

Now that you already have a basic understanding of how the game works, let’s move on to two of the most important elements of the game: Pokestops and Poke Gyms. Pokestops and gyms are attached to important landmarks around a particular area, so the more landmarks there are in an area, the more stops and gyms there would be.

In Lucena, we singled out six areas where the majority of Pokestops and Poke Gyms are. A brief rundown can be found below.

Pokestops

City Proper

1. Concreting of Merchan Street (near Artz and Prints)
2. Lucena City Hall
3. Maryhill College Wall Paint
4. Diversion Concrete Marker (across McDonald’s Quezon Avenue, corner of Maryhill College)
5. St. Ferdinand Fountain
6. St. Ferdinand Cathedral
7. Bishop Alfredo Ma. Obviar Statue
8. Quezon CAP Statue
9. Cube Water Tank
10. Samuelito’s
11. Adopt a Barangay Marker
12. Giant Post Holder
13. Buddy’s Sunflower
14. Wall Glyphs
15. Christ the Living Stone Fellowship
16. United Evangelical Church of Lucena
17. Ad Perpetuam Rei Memoriam (plaque in Front of the MSEUF Law Department Building)
18. Ant Monster Graffiti
19. Garbage Monster Graffiti
20. JM Cuisine Geisha Statue

Iyam

1. Quezon National High School
2. Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (Near Quezon National High School)
3. Victory Fellowship (3rd Floor, Pacific Mall, Lucena)

Provincial Capitol

1. Pantoc Gardiner Marker
2. Church of God World Missions Lucena
3. Magill Memorial School Lucena
4. Poso ng Perez Park
5. Library Statue
6. Pile of Rock Markers
7. Large Fountain
8. Quezon Convention Center
9. Facade Statues (Near Quezon Convention Center)
10. Old Rescue Boat (Near Quezon Convention Center)
11. Bulwagang Kalilayan
12. Kiddie Slide
13. Philippine Tong Ho Institute

Gulang-gulang

1. Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
2. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church)
3. Quezon Memorial Center Statue
4. Giuseppe Bar y Restaurante
5. Rotary Wall Drawings
6. Living Word Christian Community Church
7. Lucban-Lucena Terminal
8. San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel
9. World of Hope Baptist Church
10. Iglesia ni Cristo
11. St. Anne College Lucena, Inc. Entrance
12. Central Park Cafe
13. Old Train Decor (Inside Central Park Cafe Compound)
14. Grand Terminal Water Station (near LTO Building)
15. Giant Bowl Tower (Near the main entrance of Lucena Grand Terminal)

Site

1. International School for Better Beginnings
2. Bethel Bible Community Entrance Sign
3. Nelson Gymnasium
4. Old Church of Christ
5. University Map
6. MSEUF Gymnasium
7. MSEUF Centennial Statue
8. MSEUF Seal
9. MSEUF Fountain
10. CAFA Ladder Art
11. Bronze Fountain (near Cleade Heights Subdivision)
12. Young Learner’s Wall Painting

Ibabang Dupay

1. Calmar Homes Entrance
2. Calayan Educational Foundation Institute (CEFI)
3. Popeye and Friend (near Southern Luzon State University Lucena)
4. Birds Park (inside Village of St. Jude East at the back of SM City Lucena)
5. Sariaya Station (van terminal, SM City Lucena compound)
6. Buddy’s SM City Lucena (2nd Floor)
7. Carousel (2nd Floor, SM City Lucena)
8. Jollibee SM City Lucena (Ground Floor)
9. Pan de Manila SM City Lucena (Ground Floor)
10. The White Christ (Jesus Christ statue near St. Ferdinand Memorial Park)
11. Mary (Virgin Mary statue near St. Ferdinand Memorial Park)
12. Cemetery Water Tank (water tank near St. Ferdinand Memorial Park)
13. Easter (water tank near St. Ferdinand Memorial Park)
14. Blue Pyramid (pyramid-shaped building near St. Ferdinand Memorial Park)
15. Cemetery Gate (St. Ferdinand Memorial Park)
16. Dome of Saints (St. Ferdinand Memorial Park)
17. St. Isidore Statue (in front of St. Isidore Parish)
18. Old Church of Christ
19. Lucena Baptist Church (Near Dumacaa Bridge)
20. Peter Chapels (Near Dumacaa Bridge)

Lucenahin team choosing a Pokemon for battle

Gyms

1. Ibabang Dupay Marker
2. QMWD Wall Drawings
3. St. Ferdinand Memorial Park
4. Papa Juan Pablo II Statue
5. St. Isidore Parish
6. MSEUF Library Complex
7. MSEUF Library Complex Marker
8. Three Cross (near St. Veronica Chapel, University Site)
9. Chariots of Fire Living Word Church
10. Grand Central Mary Statue
11. Station Statue
12. San Miguel Water Tank
13. Giant Ball
14. Iglesia Filipina Independiente Local (near Andoks Bayan)
15. The Glorious Memory of Manuel Luis Quezon
16. Calayan Cube Water Tower

Tips and Tricks

GPS Signal

One of the most common issues encountered by players that, unfortunately, cannot be avoided altogether, is inconsistent GPS signal. GPS signal is important because it is used by the game to track your location (and by extension, your movement) so you can neither catch Pokemon nor hatch Pokemon eggs if you don’t have one.

The strength of GPS signals can vary depending on the mobile device, particular location, and telco provider. Our team of three players tried each of the three local providers (Sun, Smart, and Globe), and while there are spots where one user has one signal while the others have not and vice versa, in the end, we came to the conclusion that, generally speaking, Globe has comparatively strong signal than the other two.

Location wise, we found the stretch of road along Quezon Avenue to have the strongest GPS signal as we rarely got disconnected during our two-hour walk along the area. The signal at SM City Lucena tends to be a bit weak; however, the availability of Wi-fi access makes up for it, while the stretches of road along Red V and Barangay Gulang-gulang tend to be fairly inconsistent, with us being constantly disconnected and reconnected to the game.

Wi-fi Access

If you are like us and would prefer to use Wi-fi over mobile data as much as possible, SM City Lucena offers three public Wi-fi hotspots that don’t require any passwords. Do note that you will be competing with dozens or hundreds of people trying to connect at the same time, especially if there is a lure party, so the connection may become very unstable during certain times.

Pokemon Sightings

The company that developed the game purposely scattered Pokemon around cities to encourage people to explore, but that being said, there are locations that have more reported sightings of Pokemon as well as areas where less common appear more frequently compared to other locations.

For example, during our eight-hour hunt, we had the highest success catching Pokemon other than pidgeys, rattatas, weedles, and catterpies near the Pokestops inside the St. Ferdinand Cathedral compound and near the water tank at Grand Terminal.

Below are short lists of less common pokemon we caught or almost caught at the said locations as well as a few from other places.

St. Ferdinand Cathedral compound

• Beedril
• Vulpix
• Ponyta
• Venemoth
• Golbat
• Raticate
• Eevee

Samuelito’s

• Pikachu
• Eevee
• Golbat

Lucena Grand Terminal

• Scyther
• Pinsir
• Rapidash
• Meowth
• Abra
• Fearow
• Goldeen
• Staryu
• Horsea
• Paras
• Ivysaur
• Nidorino
• Oddish
• Eevee

SM City Lucena

• Fearow
• Ekans
• Eevee
• Jigglypuff
• Exeggcute
• Koffing
• Staryu
• Paras
• Oddish
• Bellsprout

Village of St. Jude East (Back of SM City Lucena)

• Staryu
• Goldeen
• Bellsprout
• Weepinbell
• Doduo
• Dodrio
• Eevee
• Vulpix
• Fearow
• Psyduck
• Ekans
• Oddish

Quezon Medical Center

• Wartortle
• Nidoran
• Krabby
• Eevee
• Bulbasaur
• Polliwag
• Tangela
• Abra
• Meowth
• Ekans
• Oddish
• Staryu

Green Meadows Subdivision

• Snorlax
• Nidorino
• Golduck
• Psyduck
• Magikarp
• Squirtle
• Kakuna
• Ekans
• Arbok
• Kabuto
• Scyther
• Slowbro
• Gloom

Provincial Capitol

• Tentacool
• Fearow
• Pidgeotto
• Raticate

Safety Precautions

Group Hunt.
An uncle we spotted teaching his nephew and niece the best way to catch elusive Pokemon near Grand Central Terminal

Pokemon Go is a very fun and addicting to play, not to mention a good way to lose some pounds (all that walking’s bound to burn off some calories); however, make sure you always exercise proper caution while playing to make the most of the game. Here are a couple of reminders that you would want to keep in mind.

• Look where you’re walking

Some people have gotten into trouble because they were too focused on keeping an eye on pokemon spawns that they failed to see where they were heading, which doesn’t have to be the case if you’ll turn on the “vibrate” function of the game to alert you if a pokemon popped up near you. Admittedly, there are occasional pokemon that would spawn without alerting the gamer, but they are definitely not worth risking your safety for (especially since they’re usually common pokemon that you’ll encounter practically everywhere).

• Do not trespass

There are pokemon that appear in private areas, mostly because they are near real-world locations which are known to be natural habitats of certain types of pokemon.  While we do understand other people’s desire to try their luck there, we strongly discourage people from trespassing private properties. If you really, absolutely, want to hunt at places where there are private properties, make sure you seek the permission of the owners of the properties or you stay well within areas open to the public such as common roads.

• Stay away from dangerous places

Areas where there are dangers of being hit by falling objects, falling into pits or excavations, exposed to live electrical wiring and industrial hazards, and areas that see heavy vehicular traffic are no place to hunt pokemon as so are places where stray bullets can come flying by such as firing ranges or areas where there are military detachments. The danger they pose is very real as have been seen in some recent cases so you’d do well to stay clear of them.

• Do not obstruct busy places

There is nothing wrong with hunting at public places, the game was designed to encourage people to do just that, but do make sure that you don’t keep other members of the public from doing their business, especially in situations that can mean the difference between life and death.

Areas where there are hospitals, police stations, fire stations, military barracks, and disaster response centers should be free from obstructions at all times so they can send aid efficiently so watch out if you find yourself playing in an area near them.

• Beware of snatchers / robbers

Distracted gamers with their smartphones out are prime targets for snatchers or robbers, so as much as possible, avoid playing in areas that would make you vulnerable to snatching or robbing such as roadsides or near vehicle windows. Also, avoid chasing pokemon late at night. Robbers have been known to use lures at Pokestops to lure potential victims, so it pays to be cautious. If you must hunt at night or high-traffic spots, try to hunt in groups so at least one of you can stay on the lookout while the others try to catch the randomly spawning pokemon. Not only is it safer to hunt that way, it’s also a good way to bond together.

There you go, fellas!

Do you know of any Pokestops or gyms that we missed? How about known spawn grounds for certain types of Pokemon? Let us know in the comments section below so we can add them to the list and share them with other Pokemon players.

Happy hunting, fellow trainer!

School’s back and busy days for students will soon be up ahead. With all the homework and projects that the students will be required to work on throughout the year, fun extra-curricular activities that they can take part in while earning some school credits there and learning some valuable lessons for the future here will bring a much-needed breath of fresh air.

For those who are still trying to decide what kinds of activities they can enroll their kids in, scouting is one of the things that you might want to look into.

This week, join us for an interview with Lorena E. Potestades, Council Executive of the Lucena City Girl Scout Council and our Featured Lucenahin, as she tells us about the organization, their activities, and the things that she learned and experienced from the job.

What do Girl Scout members usually do?

Plenty of fun and educational activities are open to Girl Scouts of the Philippines members. For example, we regularly organize outdoor activities where we take the kids camping to teach them basic survival techniques and other relevant skills. We also offer leadership training for those who are interested and willing to be a part of the movement and live up to its advocacies.

Aside from those, we also take them on educational tours for them to deeply appreciate the culture of other regions in the country as well as that of other countries in the world. We also instill awareness of social issues such as violence against women in our young girls.

What can Girl Scout members expect to learn from these activities?

We try to teach our girl scouts as much as we can, but we mostly focus on things that will always stick with them such as teaching them to become more sociable and self-reliant so that they can stand on their own but can also work with other people towards a common goal whenever necessary.

We also help them discover their strengths and weaknesses so that they’ll know which skills to enhance, which skills to work on, and how they can use them to tackle a given task. We basically exist to help young girls develop into responsible citizens and future leaders of our country.

Where do Girl Scout members usually hold their activities?

It depends on what type of event, but council-wide encampments where all girls from different schools/parts of the city can partake in are normally held in Candelaria. The GSP Southern Luzon Region have a camp site there.

Can you share your story on how you became a part of the Lucena Girl Scout Council?

I have always been a fan of Girl Scout activities. Way back then, I used to join day camps where I got the chance to meet new people and discover my talents and skills. I guess my curiosity and desire to discover what the world could offer led me to this career.

Incidentally, my sister-in-law was the former executive of the council and she offered me the position. My interest in the Girl Scout of the Philippines and its activities grew even more after I got employed in the Council.

As a Council Executive, what are some of your main duties?

Basically, as Council Executive, I manage the council, its staff, and programs. I work hand in hand with the Council President in overseeing all GSP Activities and ensuring that standards of the movement are met.

What would you consider to be the most challenging part of your job? What about the most rewarding?

The most challenging part of the job, like in any other organization, is, of course, accomplishing goals — both the council’s and my own. Amazingly, no matter how great my goals are as the Executive set by the National Headquarters, work at the GSP never feels like work — simply because love for work is part of the culture in our organization.

I always feel the support of my staff, my superiors, the officers, other Executives, and most of all, our volunteers. That is why I always welcome each day with so much excitement and happiness so that I can give back all the positive experiences that the organization is providing me to as many people as I can.

Were you also a girl scout when you were younger? If so, could you tell us some of your fondest memories as a GSP member?

Yes. I joined the GSP as a Junior Girl Scout back in ’95. My fondest moment with the GSP back then was learning how to cook rice without using a rice cooker. Also, joining drawing contests during day camps and receiving my badges after completing certain challenges. These experiences, I believe, led me to the discovery of my love for the arts.

Were there any particular lessons that you learned either from being a girl scout or from being a GSP council executive that you are particularly thankful for?

Out of the many lessons I learned from being a part of the organization, it is loving my country deeply that I value the most. I get emotional when I talk about my country because I love the Philippines so much. It’s so beautiful with so many wonderful people and a very rich culture which is oftentimes left unadmired. This gives me the passion to instill in our young girls the same love that I have for the country because I believe that if they have this in their hearts, the Philippines will shine even brighter in the future because we have citizens/leaders who live not only for themselves but for the good of this nation and its people.

What would you tell parents who might be wary of sending their kids to camp tours?

I can only advise the parents who are anxious to send their beloved girls camping to trust the troop leaders and camp staff who will be with their children for 3-5 days because they are in good hands. We will not let anything bad happen to their children. Rather, we’ll provide them with a different experience that they can be proud of.

As I said earlier, love for work is part of the culture in our organization, and it is a fact that we take good care of the ones we love. All we want for them is to learn and have fun. Surely, they will see the difference in their girls upon their return from the camp, even more, if they exposed their girls to scouting activities and programs more often.

How do girls interested in becoming scouts join the group?

If you are interested in joining the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, you may want to approach your GSP school coordinator or troop leaders and express your desire to join the organization. You can also visit us at the City Hall Annex in Barangay Isabang, Lucena City for inquiries and other concerns.

On a side note, although the GSP is an organization organized by and for women, we also accept people of the opposite gender who want to support the movement. We make them our associate or honorary members if they are in public service.

Can you provide a brief description of your collection for us?

Good day, I’m Philip Joshua Lagdameo, 19 years old , currently on my Junior level on Bachelor of Fine Arts in Manuel S. Enverga University and I am fond of collecting Pokemon Figures.

How long have had you an interest in collecting Pokemon Figures?

Since I was a child I had an interest in collecting Pokemon Figures because I love watching the TV Anime Show “Pokemon.” During my childhood days, I always play Pokemon Figures and even copied the lines of the characters that’s why when I enter school I started collecting them.

How large is your current collection?

Unfortunately, today my collections are limited because others are gone. Some are misplaced while most of them are given away to my friends who have the same interest.

Do you have any favorites among your collection?

None. It’s hard to choose a favorite one! I don’t wanna be bias besides I love every single one of them!

Are there many clubs related with your collection? Where can you find people with similar interests?

I think so, but I really don’t know where I could find them? All I know are my cousins and friends whom I can relate to.

How do you take care of your collection?

Actually, I do not have any special cleaning treatment with my collections because as a collector I wanted to preserve their color, and texture. I just arrange them properly after playing them.

What is your biggest regret when it comes to collecting?

I have no regrets in collecting Pokemon Figures because just seeing them in my bedroom is a fulfillment already!

Where would you advise people to start in, if they want to collect the same?

Start visiting online shops where you can buy anime figures like Pokemon. You can also check out Comic Alley at Manila or simply drop by at SM Toy Kingdom. Enjoy collecting! ^_^

Stick around for more featured Lucenahin Collections next week, guys! If you have your own collections, feel free to share them with us. Send us a mail at lucenahinph@gmail.com or send us a private message through our Facebook account.

Lucenahin Collections is a compilation
of collector profiles featuring their
stories and their collections from
books, magazines, and clothes to
action figures, trading cards, and
stuffed toys.

Hi! I’m Marael Pepaño and I’m a book collector.

How long have you had an interest in collecting books? How did that come about?

I have always loved reading books. Every time I have money, I buy books. I had no intention of collecting them actually, it just happened. I just bought and bought books until I woke up one day and realized that, “Hey, I already have many of them.” Most of my books, though, were acquired when I was in college. Many of my books have been borrowed but never returned.

How large is your current collection?

My books are in the hundreds by now, including both physical and e-books.

Do you have any favorites among your collection?

I really love all of my books. They’re like my friends. I’m obsessed with them like they’re superstars, but my personal favorites are Bob Ong books, the Harry Potter books, the Hunger Games books, and the Gifted series books.

Are there many clubs related to collecting books out there? Where can you find people with similar interests?

I have never encountered even a single book club. Maybe because I live in the Philippines and book clubs are mostly based in the Western countries. Some of my friends back in college are as much into books as I am, though. They’re the only people who can relate to me when it comes to books. There aren’t so many people in my circle who are fond of books, sad to say.

How do you take care of your collection?

I keep them all in one big box. In case a person would like to borrow a book, I remind him/her to never ever fold a single page and return it to me just as it was.

What is your biggest regret when it comes to collecting?

I regret lending my books. LOL. Most of them hadn’t been returned until now.

Where would you advise people to start in, if they want to collect the same?

If you love books, start collecting them now. Do not just borrow from your friends; buy your own to read and keep. I recommend not just borrowing books because buying is the only way you could repay the authors who have shared with you not just their ideas, but their stories as well. Sure, several great books are quite expensive, but their value is timeless.

Stick around for more featured Lucenahin Collections next week, guys! If you have your own collections, feel free to share them with us. Send us a mail at lucenahinph@gmail.com or send us a private message through our Facebook account.

Hi! I’m Sebastian Reynoso, a certified anime lover and collector of trading cards. ^_^

When did you start collecting trading cards?

Nag-start iyong hilig ko sa trading cards simula noong ipinalabas onscreen iyong series na Pokemon, lalo na iyong Yu-gi-oh. Sobrang nagustuhan ko iyong bidang character na si Yu-gi.

In all seriousness, there were even some instances na ginagaya ko siya noong bata pa ako gaya noong scenes na medyo OA iyong pag-summon ng card. Nakakatawa pag naaalala ko siya ngayon. Medyo nadala ko na nga rin iyong value of never giving up sa isang card battle. Hehe.

How long have you had an interest in trading cards? How did that come about?

Nag-start akong mangolekta ng cards noong ibinili ako ng pinsan ko ng isang deck ng cards. That time kasi, wala pa akong pambili. Hindi kasi kasya iyong baon ko noon para sa isang deck. Mahal na ang 35 PHP sa isang elementary student at that time. LOL.

Parang nakita kasi ako dati ng pinsan ko na nakatunganga doon sa mga card na naka-display, kaya nag-decide siya na ibili ako ng isang deck. Medyo nawili ako kaya dinire-diretso ko na. Then I found out na meron palang fake version ng mga Yu-gi-oh at Pokemon card na hindi naman halata kaya suwabe na! I motivated myself to save money to buy those trading cards, and eventually, hindi ko na napansin na dumami na pala sila.

At present, how many trading cards do you have?

Currently, I have 515+ Pokemon cards, 1235+ Yu-gi-oh cards, 200+ Battle Spirits trading cards, and 70+ Duel Masters cards.

Do you have any favorites among your collection?

Of course! Sa Pokemon trading cards, si Magikarp ang pinaka-favorite ko. For some reason kasi, ang cool niya. LOL. Sa Duel Masters’ trading cards naman, si Mini Titan Gett kasi isa ito sa mga card na laging ginagamit noong main character na si Shobu. Sa battle spirits naman, si Demo-bone.

Sa Yu-gi-oh, si Great Moth ang pinakapaborito ko kasi kasama siya doon sa unang deck na binili ng pinsan ko para sa akin, tapos ito rin iyong pinaka-favorite niya.

Are there many clubs related to collecting trading cards out there? Where can you find people with similar interests?

Noong pumasyal kami sa Trinoma, merong mga group of duelist na naglalaro ng Yu-gi-oh. Parang ang cool lang makipag-battle, pero di pa ako nakakapag-attempt na sumali sa mga ganoon. Hindi kasi original iyong mga card ko eh, pero sa takdang panahon makakabili rin ako ng original at makakasali sa mga battle. Naks! That’s the fighting spirit!

How do you take care of your collection?

Dati sa kahon lang ng juice ko sila inilalagay, then ngayon medyo nag-level up na,  kaya sa lalagyan na ng cookies sila nakalagay. Naka-arrange siya depende sa kung anong klaseng cards sila, naka-rubber band lang, then iniingatan ko lang siyang hindi mabasa or maalikabukan. Suwabe na iyon!

What is your biggest regret when it comes to collecting?

For me, biggest regret ko iyong hindi agad ako nakapag-collect at an early age like noong nasa elementary pa ako. Kahit iyong mga Yu-gi-oh card lang na hindi halatang fake, unlike ngayon na iba na iyong pagkaka-layout ng cards. Siguro if I could turn back time, I’ll make sure to collect them all.

Where would you advice people to start in, if they want to collect the same?

If you are passionate in collecting trading cards, fake or not, go lang. Masaya mag-collect ng trading cards! Meron sa palengke for only 15 PHP. Medyo naging mas mura, unlike before. Iyon lang. Rakenrol! xD

Stick around for more featured Lucenahin Collections next week, guys! If you have your own collections, feel free to share them with us. Send us a mail at lucenahinph@gmail.com or send us a private message through our Facebook account.