Twenty Million Views

It's been several months since I last reported on the number of views my photos uploaded to Google Maps have received. In December of 2020, the total views had surpassed sixteen million. Yesterday, I received an email notice from the folks at Google Maps, letting me know that the number of views my photos have received are now over 20 million.

They wanted to let me know that I'm a "top photographer" and I had accomplished something very few have done. Of course, I receive nothing from this, other than bragging rights.

Be that as it may, I want to list my top five photos on Google Maps (with links provided for each of the five).

In reverse order of views, the top five are:

#5 - Holy Child Hospital in Dumaguete.
#4- Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital
#3-St. Paul University Dumaguete
#2-Negros Oriental State University
and #1- the building formerly known as Silliman University Anthropology Museum.

I'll be publishing this post on two of my blogs - the one which is banned from Facebook, and my Dumaguete blog.

Sixteen Million Views

 

This past October, I mentioned on two of my blogs [robertsimms.blogspot.com/2020/10/fifteen-million and sorryalltheclevernamesaretaken.blogspot.com/2020/10/15-million-views] that the photos I've uploaded to Google Maps had received in excess of 15 million views. Now, in late December, I've learned that these photos have received more than 16 million views.

Naturally, I'm proud of this accomplishment.

I hadn't been checking the stats of late, so I don't know when the number had passed the 16 million mark. Of course, I have uploaded a few photos since October, though not enough to warrant this additional number of views.

I did notice that my photo of what was then known as Silliman University Anthropology Museum was the number one viewed photo in October and December. This photo has been my most viewed photo since, at least 2018.

In October, the number two spot was held by Negros Oriental State University - Main Campus with St. Paul University Dumaguete in third. Now, the two schools have switched places.

15 Million Views

Two days after posting, on another blog how the photos I've uploaded to Google Maps have received 15 million views, I got an email from Google Maps acknowledging my accomplishment.

Of course, I would have preferred to receive some of the elusive spondulicks, but it is what it is.

Eleven Million - Plus

In January of this year, I made note of the fact that the photos I've uploaded to Google Maps had received more than 10 million views. Today, I am pleased to say that my photos have now received in excess of eleven million views.

As I've mentioned before, I don't receive any financial benefit from these photos - this is strictly a hobby for me. Never the less, I'm proud that my photos have been viewed so many times by folks looking for information about the locations I've photographed.

Two Toned Beetle

After dropping my son off at school this morning, I thought I'd take an alternate route home in order to take a few photos for Google Maps.
Mission accomplished. I was able to add photos of Hayahay Treehouse Bar - Lantaw Native Restaurant - and - Cafe Racer.

Just as I passed Cafe Racer, I spotted a VW Beetle parked on the opposite side of the street. I parked my car and took these photos. This VW is # 68 in my collection.

Another Milestone With Google Maps

In a blog post from this past Tuesday, I wrote that the photos that I've uploaded to Google Maps have been viewed more than 10 million times. Of course, I'm very proud of that.

Not only do I add photos, but I also review businesses located on the website.

From time to time, I will suggest edits - adding locations to Google Maps, such as my recent addition of J.D.'s Delight bakeshop and the Church of Christ located in Magatas, Sibulan or W. Matio Credit Services located on Hibbard Ave., in Dumaguete, to name just three.

I recently received an email from Google telling me that the places I've added to Google Maps have been viewed one million times. Another milestone.

Open For Business - J.D.'s Delight Bakeshop

Saturday, while on my morning walk, I took photos of a new bakeshop recently built within walking distance of our house - J.D.'s Delight.

I was able to add the location to Google Maps , but as I mentioned in my blog post, the bakeshop did not appear to have opened for business.

I walked in that direction this morning and found the business open. Of course, I took additional photos. Before returning home, I stopped and bought pan de sal, which was very tasty.

I'm sure I'll be back.

Ten Million Views

Five months ago, in August, 2019 , I reported in this blog that the photos I had uploaded to Google Maps had received slightly over 8,000,000 views. Three months later, in November, 2019 , the number of views had passed 9,000,000.

Now, in January, 2020 I can announce that my Google Maps' photos have been viewed in excess of 10 million times.

As I've mentioned before, uploading photos to Google Maps is strictly a hobby, but it would be nice to receive some small payment per view. At 10,000,000 even 25 Philippine centavos per view would be a nice little income. Sadly, it's not to be.

J.D's Delight Bakeshop

I brought my camera along this morning on my morning walk. As I entered the Diversion Road, I thought I'd take a few photos of a new bakeshop built along the road and see if I could possibly add the location to Google Maps. Although J.D.'s Delight Bakeshop doesn't appear to be open for business yet, I was successful in my attempt to add it. At least it'll be on Google Maps when it's up and running.

There are a good many bakeshops in Sibulan and Dumaguete, but this will be the first one located within walking distance of our house. I'm hoping they'll have good pan de sal and pastries.

Magatas Elementary School

As usual, I left the house early today for my morning walk. I normally walk along the Diversion road - I started out that way this morning, but soon decided to take a number of detours.

One of those detours took me to the front of Magatas Elementary School - a good opportunity, I thought, to have a few photos to upload to Google Maps. I had added three photos of the school onto the website in 2016, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to add a few more.

I'll post those eight photos here as well.

A Tale of Two Barangay

In Philippines, cities and municipalities are subdivided into areas called barangays. For example, our house is located in the town of Sibulan - in Brgy. Magatas.

According to Wikipedia, there are 42,045 barangays in the country. As far as I know, each Barangay has a barangay Hall.

I would have thought that the barangay hall would actually be located within the particular barangay it represents. I know of at least one case where that isn't so.

As can be seen in these photos, the barangay halls for Brgy. Taclobo and Brgy.Poblacion 7 in Dumaguete are next door to one another. According to Google Maps, both are located within Brgy.Poblacion 7.

Random Photos Taken While on My Morning Walk

I mentioned in an earlier post this morning  that I have been neglecting my morning walk and had decided to get back into that today. So, after watching The Five - which, thanks to the time difference between Philippines and New York City comes on at six AM here - I took off, with my camera, to walk along the Diversion Road.

I took quite a few photos today. Thirteen of those photos were of the Nuestra Senora de la Salvacion chapel, which I first uploaded to Google Maps before putting in the earlier post.

The rest of the photos taken this morning will be included in this post.

While on the walk, I took a little dirt road to the Okoy river where I spotted a blue building with the name "Church of Christ" clearly painted on the front. I was able to add the church's location to Google Maps. After Google Maps had published my addition, I realized that I had used the name "Church of God" instead of the correct name - "Church of Christ". I immediately attempted to correct my mistake, but at the time of this writing, Google Maps has not accepted my edit.