Bikol Wikipedia Community/Bikol Wiki Weekend on 97.5 OK FM

Bikol WikiConference 2023

Bikol Wiki Weekend: Oras nin Talingkas na Kaaraman is a one-hour weekly radio program on Bicol culture, history and Wikipedia every Saturday 10:00-11:00am over 97.5 OK FM. Veteran radio personality Bert Delos Martirez serves as the mainstay host while Ramon Olaño Jr. and Irvin Parco Sto. Tomas are the co-hosts. Guests from different fields of interest are invited. Its pilot episode was aired over 97.5 OK FM which was shared live on Facebook on July 15, 2023.

The radio talk show is an advocacy program of Bikol Wikipedia Community. It uses a soft approach in the promotion of Wikimedia projects. Radio listeners composed of mothers, home-based employees, public utility vehicle drivers and commuters, etc. are the target audience in the program using a talk show format. Wikipedia and related projects are incorporated in the discussion, encouraging the listeners to check out Wikipedia particularly the local editions.

Episodes

Program hosts Irvin and Bert with Wikimedia Commons contributor Marvin Molin, Data Management Officer at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) Extension Services

Ramon Olaño during the August 26, 2023 episode with guest Dr. Danilo M. Gerona, Director at Center of Partido Studies - Partido State University on copyright, and history of the old Spanish city called Nueva Caceres

The hosts after the September 8, 2023 episode

• July 15, 2023 - Alkalde sa Kusina host Bert introduces the two Wikipedians to the listeners on the pilot episode of Bikol Wiki Weekend. Irvin and Ramon talk about the main objective of the radio program by sharing what they have been doing as content editors. From time to time, Bert throws curious questions about Bikol Wikipedia, the people and organization behind the project. Questions on how to contribute from the listeners are answered using a simple and not so technical language. They also encourage the listeners to participate in the project by sharing some benefits including the opportunity of attending conferences abroad, getting recognized for the contributions made, among others. Irvin explains that editing articles is a voluntary work. Ramon clarifies that anyone can contribute using the language he or she is familiar with, and not only in Bikol. Towards the end of the pilot episode, the two Wikipedians invite the listeners to tune in to the weekly program.
• July 22, 2023 - The second episode of radio program features visual artist Harold Gomez, co-founder and chair of Kintab Artists Group. Harold recalls how he became a visual artist and what they are doing as an artists group in the last 10 years. Irvin recalls the collaborations of the group and PhilWiki Community during the pandemic when they had Wiki Loves Art mural painting in schools. Bert asks the connection of Wikipedia and the arts. Irvin then relates its past collaborations with the visual arts group, how Wikipedia can promote and recognize local artists, and later announces that the number of articles on Bikol has reached 14,000 with the creation of Engracio Perfecto's article, who is also a visual artist and sculptor. The three talked about the works of Engray and Harold's recollection about him. A local music with lyrics by Gualberto Manlangit entitled Sa Baybayon nin Sisiran is played to give a variety to the radio program. During the second half of the episode, the guest announces the upcoming activities of the artist group while Irvin promotes the on going Wiki Loves Earth Philippines and briefly introduces Wikimedia Commons.
• July 29, 2023 - Bikol Wiki Weekend has invited Paulo Suzara, Naga City Museum Association president and curator of University of Nueva Caceres Museum. He introduces himself as a placement officer and the designate at the UNC Museum and then shares the importance of museums to the students and the community and its relevance to Wikipedia. Ramon explains the GLAM program of Wikimedia Foundation and why it is interested with galleries, libraries, archives and museums. Further, he emphasizes that these institutions have important resources as well as the facilities while the foundation also has the technology and resources to offer therefore museums and art galleries should have collaborations through this GLAM program. Paulo identifies digitization as one way of preserving valuable documents found in the museum.
• August 12, 2023 - Irvin announces his participation at Wikimania 2023 happening next week in Singapore to be participated by different contributions around the globe. He introduces Wikimedia Commons contributor Marvin Molin, a Data Management Officer at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) Extension Services who was among the resource speaker at the Bikol WikiConference held last week. Marvin briefly explains the relation of Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. He recalls how he started as a contributor on Wikimedia Commons during the Wiki Takes Rinconada photography contest in 2015. He explains that one needs not be a professional photographer to become a contributor on Commons. The host asks the guest the basics on contributing to the website to which Marvin elaborated by giving examples and reminds the contributors to respect the rights to privacy on individuals. After the two local music songs, the discussion continues. Irvin touches the local knowledge then Marvin relates the importance of Wikimedia Commons in educating the community on the different species of flora and fauna. Bert asks how can people search the photographs they contributed to which Irvin explains that one can simply search on Google to find them as the main results on the engine are mainly related to Wikipedia being a top website. Marvin narrates how his contributions are now being utilized in researches and other websites. He then invites the audience on the ongoing Wiki Loves Earth photography contest and the outreach activity they will be conducting in Sorsogon province. Irvin explains the guidelines and mechanics, and them gives examples of possible entries to the contest. The two also share the importance of Wikipedia in documenting the local knowledge and history through photographs.
• August 19, 2023 - Local music is played during the opening part of the new episode which sets the mood of the radio program which also invites the listeners to stay tuned. Ramon follows up with the previous week's topic on Wikimedia Commons and promotes to use the free media. He reflects on the basic requirements needed in order to contribute or read Wikipedia, and the current status of editing activity on Bikol Wikipedia. Using his own language, he explains the nature of editing and how one can start contributing thru hitting the edit button. He mentions Peñafrancia Festival as an example of article where one can start. He then encourages the listeners to attend edit-a-thons in order to gain technical know-hows and continues reminding them to have their own username preferably an alias. He also touches on uploading and adding images on articles before another local is played as an intermission. Ramon reiterates that editing is best explained thru an edit-a-thon which Bikol Wikipedia Community conducts. He explains what can be written on Wikipedia and tells the listeners that contributors on Wikipedia have guidelines to follow. He also informs the listeners that one can also contribute thru translation and reflects about the low percentage of local content on Philippine language based Wikipedia editions. He cites Tecla Ziga, a Philippine senator from the region, as an example of article he created which is a local content. Towards the end of the program, he clarifies and explains how Wikipedia helps make information and knowledge accessible thru local languages. Lastly, he reminds everyone that writing on Wikipedia should be neutral, that one should not be political, and no original research is allowed based on its guidelines.
• August 26, 2023 - The sixth episode of the radio program talks about copyright, and the history of Nueva Caceres featuring Dr. Danilo M. Gerona, Director at Center of Partido Studies - Partido State University. Ramon introduces Dr. Gerona as a world renowned author of a book on Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the world, and about 30 local history books. Dr. Gerona explains how one should properly cite sources and gives a few examples. Ramon relates how Wikipedia respects copyright. He then mentions the lack of Freedom of Panorama law in the country which has been one of the main issues among Wikipedians. He reiterates the importance of local content as most articles in many editions of Wikipedia are translations from English Wikipedia, and relates how the books of Dr. Gerona can enrich the articles on local history. The two then discuss about Naga Cathedral which is the focus of one of Dr. Gerona's book. The latter tells the rich history of the old cathedral and the Spanish settlement in the present-day Naga. A local music is played during the break. Bert introduces his co-host Irvin who recently attended Wikimania 2022 in Singapore. The discussion moves to the role of Chinese community during the Spanish period in Naga. Ramon puts emphasis on the importance of local content in Wikipedia and the translation of local content to the English edition.
• September 2, 2023 - The new episode opens with main host Bert asking Irvin on the latest activities on Bikol Wikipedia and PhilWiki Community to whom the co-host updates that Wiki Loves Earth Philippines 2023 has just concluded and there is another photography contest happening which is the Wiki Loves Monuments Philippines 2023. After a local music is played, Bert recalls about his journey to Maangas village in Presentacion, Camarines Sur and talks about his friend who invited him to his picturesque place. The story-telling on the local color sets the mood of the radio program to raise interest of the listeners. Irvin then relates the photo walk conducted by Wiki Loves Earth team in Sorsogon. The two then move on to talk about Irvin's latest experience abroad, his attendance in Wikimania 2023 in Singapore, and the people he met at the conference. Bert also asks him his personal views and insights he gained from the experience. He highlights the experience wherein he met the UNESCO director in Jakarta to whom he shared the activities being conducted in the Philippines that are relevant to the preservation of culture and languages. He connects Bert's experience and his experience in Singapore, that culture is important. Towards the end of the program, Irvin runs down the activities he is doing including the on going 1,000 core topics on Bikol Wikipedia project, the Wikimedia Commons Conference happening in December, and the upcoming lecture-dinner of Dr. Danilo M. Gerona which is organized by the Nueva Caceres Heritage Movement, the Philippine Wikimedia Community, and others.
• September 23, 2023 - Irvin shares the recent activity of PhilWiki Community conducted at the National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, and National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila. He then introduces the guest Pilar De Guzman, the founder of Nueva Caceres Heritage Movement, which is organizing a lecture on Nueva Caceres in response to a group of Filipino-Americans based abroad requesting an online lecture. De Guzman recalled that they consulted Dr. Danilo Gerona about their plan to hold a lecture who then suggested Nueva Caceres as the focus because September is foundation of the old Spanish city. Irvin asked De Guzman to give the listener a background about the organization, its allies and activities. Sometime in 2012, De Guzman was the Centro Naga Business Club chair and Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industries director. They felt the economic impact of SM City Naga to the local business owners and lost 30% of the customers. They had a discussion on how to address the problem and thought of marketing the old district as the core of the history of Bicol. They identified the heritage district within the city proper which led to the 3-day seminar on Heritage Law which Centro Naga Business Club organized. Some of the attendees including individuals from different local government units and architects thought of forming a group which is now the Nueva Caceres Heritage Movement. She emphasizes that heritage and pilgrimage tourism is the key to promote the old business district. Ramon shares his insights on how strategic location of the area was during the Spanish time. He then asks the guest why we focus more on the history rather than looking forward. She underscores their main objective, which is education that people do not have the pride of place. We want to revitalize the economy through tourism. The group does not only focus on built heritage and intangible heritage. Irvin introduces the GLAM project and explains how these institutions can help educate the people about their history and heritage.
• September 30, 2023 - Bert and Ramon welcome the listeners and guest Sonny Sales, a veteran journalist, news photographer and former national correspondent of several newspapers including the Philippine Times Journal and People's Journal. The latter appreciates the contributions of journalists and connects journalism and writing in Wikipedia, and clarifies whether Sonny would like to donate his file images he has taken during his long career. Sonny narrates about his career as a photojournalist and his stint at The Bicol Images, a local organization of news photographers in the 90s, as well as the news photography exhibition they conducted in Naga City. He then shares his plans of publishing a book on the historical events backed with photographs which had been published in national newspapers. Towards the end of the program, Ramon encourages everyone and Sonny to contribute significant narratives highlighting the events, people and lessons gained from these experiences in the local Wikipedia projects.