PhilWiki Community/Reports/2023 Report

Report of activities: 2023

This page is the Annual Report of PhilWiki Community for the year 2023. It includes the activities of the organization from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

The Philippine Wikimedia Community User Group or PhilWiki Community was formed on 1 June 2015 to served as an organization of unaffiliated Wikipedians in the Philippines.

January

January 14 - First meet up of the year was held to discuss organizational matters and its annual plan for 2023. The 2022 report of activities and accomplishments was finalized.
January 20 - The Bikol Wikipedia Community was reestablished to support the Bikol Wikipedia project in the Philippines, the activities of PhilWiki Community on Bikol Wikipedia, and the mission and vision of Wikimedia Foundation in general.

February

February 1 - Wiki Loves Folklore in the Philippines was launched. Now on its 3rd year of organizing the campaign, PhilWiki Community has collaborated with Commons Photographers User Group.

February 1 to 28 - Wiki Loves Art was conducted as a month-long activity which focuses on visual artists on Bikol Wikipedia with the aim to enrich the content on subject around the arts.

March

March 1 - After months of consultations and discussions, the Annual Plan 2023 was finalized. This year, the Community's Annual Plan is consistent with the strategic direction of Movement Strategy, centering on the goals of knowledge equity and knowledge as a service. The strategy is simplified into 5Ps or Promotion - Participation - Partnership - Pursuit of Purpose.
March 4 - The Bikol Wikipedia Community, University of Nueva Caceres and PhilWiki Community organized a forum on Preservation of old publications through Bikol Wikisource attended by BS Library and Information Science, and BS History major students from Camarines Norte State College, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, and University of Nueva Caceres.^[1]

March 8 - WikiGap Philippines 2023 was launched at Pili Park Bistro in Naga City. Since 2019 during the international women's month celebration, the PhilWiki Community has been organizing WikiGap Campaign to add more content to Wikipedia about women figures, experts and role models in various fields.

March 18 - The annual meeting and election of new set of board members of Philippine Wikimedia Community User Group was held at Unica Cafe in Naga City. Fourteen (14) out of the total of 18 regular members were represented at the meeting.

Wiki Loves Philippines project lead Maffeth C. Opiana succeeded Juan Bautista H. Alegre (who now heads the Pilipinas Panorama Community formerly the PhilWiki Community-Manila, an active community of Manila-based Wikimedians) becoming the first female head of the organization. Architect Ian Kenneth L. Orasa was elected as the new board chair, who replaced Zyra B. Hila, the second female board chair elected since the formation of the community on June 1, 2015. The remaining members of the board are Marife G. Altabano (treasurer), Francis Charles D. Brioso, Maria Glenda P. Brioso (secretary). Bikol Wikipedia administrator Joseph V. Ciudadano is the new internal auditor.

April

April 1 - Philippine Wikimedia Community User Group supported the awarding event of Wiki Loves Philippines incidentally led by Maffeth Opiana. The newly-elected officers took an oath of office with the Naga City mayor Nelson Legacion as the officiating public official. Three new members were admitted to the organization.

April 1 to 30 - Wiki Loves Art was conducted as a month-long activity which focuses on literary arts on Bikol Wikipedia with the aim to enrich the content on subject around the arts.

Wiki Loves Art - April 2023
Mission and vision
Get to know the artists
How to participate

June

June 1 - PH-WC celebrated its 8th anniversary on June 1, 2023 at 6:00pm Tugawe Cafe, Naga City. During the event, Wiki Loves Art, a collaborative activity of Bikol Wikipedia Community and PhilWiki Community, was formally launched. Anne Tuy won the WikiQuiz trial game.

June 1 to July 31 - Wiki Loves Art was conducted as a month-long (later extended for another month) activity which focuses on performance arts on Bikol Wikipedia with the aim to enrich the content on subject around the arts.

Wiki Loves Art - June 2023
Mission and vision
How to participate
Get to know the artists

July

Beginning of activities in the approved 2023-2024 Annual Plan

July 1 to August 31 - The 2023 edition of Wiki Loves Earth in the Philippines was held to promote the natural heritage sites of the Philippines. Over 700 photographs from the Philippines were submitted as part of the world's largest nature photography contest.

Images are placed in random order. The winning photos will be announced after the award ceremony.

Two Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. A limestone rock formation in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Photograph: Jesse Alegre (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mangroves as guardians of the coast located at Baganga Protected Landscape in Baganga, Davao Oriental.
Photograph: Macraw777 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
A surfer gears up for the oncoming wave in the famous Cloud 9, Siargao Island.
Photograph: Michael Angelo Luna (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mangrove forest at Las Piñas–Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.
Photograph: FroyR (CC BY-SA 4.0)
A roll-on-roll-off vessel on her morning trip to Basilan Island where the Basilan Natural Biotic Area can be found.
Photograph: Aldous Mariano Cariño (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The picturesque Rapang Cliffs in Itbayat Island located north of Batan Island, Batanes province. The entire province is listed in the UNESCO tentative list for inscription in the World Heritage List.
Photograph: CharMel Creations (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Aerial panorama shot of Sta. Cruz Island Sand Bar in Zamboanga City. The island is unique for its shoreline adorned with rosy hued sand a result of tiny organisms called Foraminifera
Photograph: Aldous Mariano Cariño
Postcard-worthy views of El Nido, Palawan El Nido, Palawan where the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area can be found, the largest marine sanctuary in the Philippines.
Photograph: Nicko Melendres (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Whiskered Tern photographed in Misamis Oriental. Whiskered terns eat mainly small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, insects and their larvae.
Photograph: Kirkamon A. Cabello (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Blue banded bees found in lowland area of Northern Negros Natural Park. These Philippine native bees are one of the most colorful and beautiful bee species.
Photograph: Kramthenik27 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
This mimicking insect protects itself by covering as a leaf. Photographed in Misamis Oriental.
Photograph: Kirkamon A. Cabello (CC BY-SA 4.0)
A species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to the Philippines. Photographed in Misamis Oriental.
Photograph: Kirkamon A. Cabello (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Colorful milionia fulgida moth in the tree. Photographed at Dahilayan Adventure Park in Brgy. Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Photograph: Domzjuniorwildlife (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Parachute Gecko showing its superb characteristic of camouflaging. Photographed in Misamis Oriental.
Photograph: Kirkamon A. Cabello (CC BY-SA 4.0)
A python that freely enjoys his swing-time along the tree branches. Photographed in Misamis Oriental.
Photograph: Kirkamon A. Cabello (CC BY-SA 4.0)

August

August 4 - The Raul S. Roco Public Library of the City Government of Naga in Naga City, Philippines becomes the first GLAM partner institution of the organization. PH-WC and the city government signed a memorandum of understanding last August 4, 2023 to formalize the partnership of the two parties. The organization supported the Bikol WikiConference organized by Bikol Wikipedia Community and the City Government of Naga.

August 15-16 Four Wikimedians represented PhilWiki Community at Wikimania 2023 and Wikimedia ESEAP Strategy Summit 2023 held in Singapore. One of the highlights of its participation in the ESEAP Affiliates meeting with Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, the director and representative of UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Jakarta to Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor Leste.

September

September 16 - Organized by GLAM Committee chair Francis Charles D. Brioso, PH-WC launched its first-ever GLAM Philippines outreach activities at the National Museums of Anthropology, Natural History and Fine Arts last weekend attended by PhilWiki Community members and invited participants composed of teachers, and culture and Wiki Loves photo contests participants.

October

October 15 - Thru the Advocacy Program headed by Ian Kenneth L. Orasa, PH-WC collaborated with the Nueva Caceres Heritage Movement, Inc., the City Government of Naga, Centro Naga Business Club, Sumaro Bikolnon, UAP Camarines Chapter, Partido State University Center for Partido Studies, Partido State University Extension and Community Services Division, Bikol Historical Research Center, and ADNU Social Sciences Department, in the 437th Founding Anniversary Celebration of Ciudad de Nueva Caceres. Dr. Danilo M. Gerona delivered a comprehensive presentation on Revisiting La Ciudad de Nueva Caceres supported with documents from Archivo Franciscano Ibero Oriental, Museo Naval, Real Academia de la Historia and Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, and the Archivo General de Indias in Seville. He talked about the glorious past of the Nueva Caceres as one of the first four Spanish royal cities in Asia.

dinner-lecture on Revisiting la Ciudad de Nueva Caceres
Attendees
Partners of the event

October 20-22 - PH-WC president Maffeth Opiana attended the WikiWomenCamp 2023 in New Delhi, India. The conference with the theme "Map Up, Rise Up" brought together individuals who identify themselves as women from different countries of the Wikimedia movement. She was part of the communications team composed of Wikimedians of different backgrounds.

October 25 - CBSUA Wiki Education was launched in partnership with PH-WC and Bikol Wikipedia Community. The roots of the partnership can be traced back to 2012, with conferences and training sessions involving CBSUA faculty and students beginning in 2017. An Activity Agreement will be signed between CBSUA and the PhilWiki Community to outline the responsibilities of both parties. CBSUA Wiki Education, a joint program of the International Relations Office of CBSUA-Calabanga and the PhilWiki Community and Bikol Wikipedia Community, marks a significant milestone as the first university-based Wiki community in the Philippines.^[2]

October 25-26 - PhilWiki Community promoted its language preservation and cultural heritage advocacies at the SIRANG Perspectives and Prospect: International Conference on Understanding the Contemporary Landscape Through the Lens of History and Heritage held at Ateneo de Naga University. PH-WC served as one of the partners in the international conference.^[3]

November

November 25 - Diversity program committee chair Glenda Perico-Brioso, a senior high school teacher at Camarines Sur National High School, organized the Wiki Women Meet-up event in support of Wikimedia movement’s advocacy to promote inclusivity and improve the representation of women across Wikimedia projects. The meet-and-greet event attended by youth and women sectoral leaders, young professionals, and mothers including 2 grandmothers, was held during the nationwide kickoff of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).^[4]

PhilWiki Community president Maffeth Opiana-Sto. Tomas shared her recent participation at WikiWomenCamp held in New Delhi, India where over 100 women from diverse backgrounds and expertise discussed experiences and planned on how they can reduce the gender gap on the internet and in the Wikimedia movement. The attendees shared their insights about possible activities they can conduct in the future and the strategies on how more women participate.

Sheena Aiza Bagachina, a senior high teacher from CSNHS, articulated that Wiki Wowen can provide a supportive community for personal and professional growth and that she sees a great future for the advocacy. Amparo Vergara, a participant from the women sector of the Naga City People’s Council, expressed her appreciation to the group. Ellen Nicole Vergara, the current Naga City Youth Mayor, suggested possible activities in the future.

December

December 13 - Education Committee chair Marife Altabano organized a seminar-workshop on writing a research paper entitled Wikipedia Unlocked: Navigating, Validating, and Citing Information for Practical Research 2 as part of the requirements of senior high school in Practical Research 2. The activity aimed at helping students who are writing research papers to use Wikipedia as a research tool and to validate and cite sources using APA format. Also covered in the seminar-workshop was independent verification and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and reliability. During the event, Wiki Education Philippines logo was officially launched, and established the Cararayan National High School Wiki Club (CNHS Wiki Club) was launched. The officers and pioneering members of the extra-curricular club for junior and senior high school students included the attendees. The Wiki Club's goal is to educate the learners and raise awareness about contributing media content to Wikipedia and its sister projects. The organizer believes that the activities was a positive step in achieving the Education Program's mission.

Citing Information for Practical Research
Exploring Wikipedia
Navigating and validating information
Citing Information for Practical Research

December 17 - 19 - The 3-day WikiCommons PH Conference 2023, a national conference of contributors on Wikimedia Commons, was held at Avenue Plaza Hotel, Magsaysay Avenue in Naga City, Bicol. This conference brought together participants from different Wiki Loves photography contests, photography enthusiasts and heritage advocates with the aim to strengthen collaboration and better understand the issues faced among the contributors, and to look for solutions.

The conference was organized by the Philippine Wikimedia Community User Group, in collaboration with Commons Photographers User Group, the City Government of Naga, University of Nueva Caceres Museum, Ateneo de Naga University - Social Sciences Department, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges - Center for Rinconada Culture, and the Arts. The conference's theme was "Preserving Our Heritage: Safeguarding Digital Assets Through Wikimedia".

Opening
Swags
Program proper
Wiki Loves Earth awarding ceremony
Wiki Loves Earth awarding ceremony

The event commenced with a talk on Youth Engagement in Heritage Conservation by Juan Paolo Suzara, University Museum of the University of Nueva Caceres. Other insightful presentations covered topics such as Wikimedia Commons and Relicensing by Marvin Molin, Data Management Officer of CBSUA Extension Services, Contributing Images and Media Files on Wikimedia Commons by Maffeth Sto. Tomas, PH-WC president and a junior high school teacher, and talks on Bird Photography and Landscape Photo by Wiki Loves Fashion and Wiki Loves Food Philippines winners Jose Raniel Castaneda and Jesse Alegre, respectively.

The conference also featured an Awarding Ceremony honoring winners of the Wiki Loves Earth and Wiki Loves Monuments Philippines and included visits to local museums. On the last day of the conference, participants visited GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) institutions namely Museo ni Jesse M. Robredo, Universidad de Santa Isabel Museum, Museo del Seminario Conciliar de Nueva Caceres (Holy Rosary Minor Seminary Museum) and finally, the University of Nueva Caceres Museum which is the second oldest university museum in the Philippines.

Culminating the activities was the gastronomic journey at La Herencia Comida for the launching of Wiki Loves Food Philippines and a food photography session. The competition aims to promote the Filipino cuisine, and the rich cooking traditions and practices in the Philippines.