Smart phone apps and sites perfect for the Holy Week

AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Going on a vacation this Holy week? Worry not, because Google Maps is not the only option to guide you in your sojourn.  A hassle-free Holy Week break is now at hand with the emergence of various travel or navigational applications (apps).

Here are some helpful applications for a worry-free and realaxing travel vacation.

Waze (Traffic and GPS Navigation)              

Waze is a navigational application that is starting to get a huge following among smart phone users. Compatible with iOS, android and Windows phone users, the app gives you exact map locations for directions.  Waze has a live routing and turn-by-turn features to give motorists the easiest and fastest routes to their destination.

PasaHero (Location App)

PasaHero is a mobile application that safeguards commuters by broadcadsting their certain trip details through social media and sending notifications and location to the user’s families and trusted friends as well as concerned government agencies. This is useful in times of emergency. This application is comaptible with Apple and Android products.

Pinoy Travel (Local Bus Booking)

PinoyTravel is the country’s local bus and mobile bus booking application that will allow passengers to book their trip in minutes without having to endure long lines. It offers bus bookings to Baguio, Pangasinan, Baler, Tuguegarao, Palawan, and Bicol, among others. Download the application through your Android phone and book a bus seat right from your smart phone.

Easy Taxi (Taxi App)

Easy taxi is a mobile application that offers passengers convenient ways to virtually hail cabs.  This application is available in iOS and Android smartphones.

NLEX Assist (Motorist Assistance App)

For motorists going north, the NLEx (North Luzon Expressway) Assist application will guide your trip, giving you latest updates on traffic on all exit points and reports on vehicular accidents. This application is available on both Android and Apple products.

RaincheckPH (Weather App)

Aside from traffic, the weather condition is another concern of motorists. RaincheckPH is a mobile application that informs users if it’s going to rain or shine in your destination.

It uses up-to-the-minute weather data provided by the Department  of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Project Noah.  Motorists will be informed whether to take an alternative route, bring an umbrella or other weather protection gears.

Religious Sites and Applications

While most netizens play Candy Crush, Flappy Bird and other online games, there are those that do not forget the reason for the season. Fortunately, there are various religious applications available on smart phones for people who want to have a solemn Lenten reflection.

Screengrab from visitaiglesia.net

Stations of the Cross

Devotees who could not physically attend the Lenten rituals may download the applications of stations of the Cross through App Store and Google Play.

In iOS’ App Store, a Catholic app for John Paul II’s Bible-based interpretation of the Stations of the Cross is availble through StationsOfTheCross, while Google has the version called Stations of the Cross.

Meanwhile, a good reading for daily bible scriptures is also available online through the Bible applications available in both the App Store and in Google Play.

Visita Iglesia

Filipinos who are abroad and people who could not physically visit churches this Holy Week now have a virtual alternative.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has updated its website to offer an online Visita Iglesia for its devotees through visitaiglesia.net/2014.

Available in the website are the Lenten messages of Pope Francis and the CBCP.

RELATED STORIES
Do’s and Don’ts during the Holy Week break

Heightened alert up for Holy Week

Road trip guide for Holy Week

Smart Travel Tips from your Smartphone