Wiki Society of the Philippines/Projects/Wikimedia Tours the Philippines 2011

Asaf Bartov, Head of the Global South Relationships of the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF), came to the Philippines as part of Wikimedia Foundation's East Asia Tour. Wikimedia Philippines (WMPH) organized the tour that started on November 20, 2011 and ended on November 26, 2011. Bartov gave public outreach lecture at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) to teach on how to edit Wikipedia, which potentially encourage volunteers to the online encyclopedia project. He also met like-minded organizations and government agencies in the Philippines to explore possible mutual partnerships and collaborations. There were also a relaxed socializing activity and formal meeting with Filipino Wikipedians and Wikimedians.

Asaf Bartov giving his outreach talk at PLM

The goals of the tour are to further promote Wikimedia-related projects, such as Wikipedia and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums), and open the doors for WMPH to like-minded organizations and government agencies. The schools, organizations and agencies that were visited during the tour were National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, Creative Commons Philippines, National Library of the Philippines, St. Scholastica's College, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Computer Professionals' Union, and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. Mozilla Philippines was met at a coffee shop in a mall in Ermita, Manila while Defenders of the Indigenous Languages of the Archipelago (DILA) participated during the discussion of the 2012 Program Plan of WMPH at Cambridge Center Building in Makati City.

Initial plans edit

Archive: Initial plans


Public outreach talks

Possible venues:

Action plan:

  1. Wikimedia Philippines have contacts on all of those venues except for De La Salle University, St. Scholastica’s College and Holy Angel University. Relly Bautista, one of WMPH Trustees, will help on coordinating with Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. One of WMPH members, Juned Sonido can help in coordinating with Asian Institute of Management although Eugene Villar, WMPH Secretary, will have to ask Juned first if he is available to help.
  2. Initial letter will be sent to these universities, stating the purpose of activity and asking the availability of their university. Jojit Ballesteros, Wikimedia Philippines will seek help of Bartov on formulating the letter.
  3. After sending the initial letter to the universities, Wikimedia Philippines will wait for their reply. Once there is reply, we will try to plot their available schedule to the Tour Calendar, which is between November 21 and November 30. Preferably, talks to universities will be on weekdays.
  4. Target of finishing the letter is on October 12, 2011 and sending all of them on October 14, 2011.

Meeting with organizations and officials

Possible like-minded organizations:

Possible government organizations/officials:

Action plan:

  1. Initial letter will be sent to these organizations and officials, stating the purpose of activity and asking the availability. Ballesteros will seek help of Bartov on formulating the letter.
  2. After sending the initial letter to the organizations and officials, Wikimedia Philippines will wait for their reply. Once there is reply, we will try to plot their available schedule to the Tour Calendar, which is between November 21 and November 30.
  3. Target of finishing the letter is on October 12, 2011 and sending all of them on October 14, 2011.

Closed workshop

Action plan:

  1. The venue of the one-day closed workshop for Filipino Wikipedians and Wikimedians will be on the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). The workshop will either be on November 26, November 27 or November 30.
  2. Ballesteros will coordinate with Sonido regarding the availability of AIM.
  3. Initial letter will be sent out to AIM, stating the purpose of activity and asking the availability. Jojit Ballesteros, Wikimedia Philippines will seek help of Bartov on formulating the letter.
  4. After sending the initial letter to AIM, Wikimedia Philippines will wait for their reply.
  5. Target of finishing the letter is on October 18, 2011 and sending all of them by October 20, 2011.

Relaxed socializing activity

Action plan:

  1. Butch Bustria, WMPH Trustee, is willing to handle the general relaxed socializing activity with local Wikipedians. Some of the suggestions of the relaxed activity include going to a Videoke Bar and a tour at a nearby province.

Other plans

Wikimedia Philippines is planning to have a press release and a press invite. If possible also, there will be a press conference. Roel Balingit, WMPH Trustee and Treasurer, may schedule you an interview on Headstart, a news program on ABS-CBN news channel.

Action plan:

  1. Target to send press invite will be on November 7, 2011.

Status of action plans edit

Archive: Status of action plans

As of October 31, 2011

  • Emails have been sent to the following institutions and organizations pending their confirmation:
    • De La Salle University
    • University of Santo Tomas
    • Saint Scholastica’s College
    • Creative Commons Philippines
    • Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
    • Intellectual Property Office
    • Congressman Teodoro Casiño
    • National Commission for Culture and the Arts
    • UP Network for Educational Technology
    • Adamson University (not included on the original plan)
  • Letters for Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and University of Santo Tomas were sent to Relly Bautista. Relly will hand it over personally to our contact persons there after November 1, 2011.
  • Juned Sonido will still have to follow-up on November 2, 2011 the contacts for Mozilla Philippines and Asian Institute Management. The Asian Institute of Management will no longer be used as venue for the outreach talks but it will be the venue for the closed workshop for Wikimedians and Wikipedians (or possibly meet-up with like-minded organizations).
  • Jojit Ballesteros emailed Emman Ramirez regarding contacts for National Library of the Philippines, National Museum of the Philippines and National Archives of the Philippines. He is still waiting for his reply. Aside from those government institutions, Jojit will still have to email Asian Institute of Management, Computer Professionals’ Union, Mozilla Philippines, Openstreetmap Philippines (not on the original plan) and Phil IT Org.
  • Jojit decided not to pursue with the following institutions and organizations: University of the Philippines, Holy Angel University, Linguistic Society of the Philippines, Librarians, Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education. One of the reasons for scrapping these institutions and organizations is logistical problems.
  • No update yet for the relaxed socializing activity.
  • Finalization of schedule must be done before coordinating with the press.

As of November 3, 2011

  • Emails have been sent to:
    • Computer Professionals' Union
    • Mozilla Philippines
    • National Library of the Philippines
  • Juned Sonido already contacted Asian Institute of Management about being the venue of the closed workshop for Wikimedians and Wikipedians. Juned is still waiting for their reply.
  • Emman Ramirez gave contacts for National Library of the Philippines, National Museum of the Philippines and National Archives of the Philippines. Roel Balingit will follow them up.
  • Only Computer Professionals' Union replied and confirmed a date. Asaf can visit them on November 24. All other organizations and institutions will be followed up by Jojit.
  • There are a group of Librarians that can be contacted as recommended by Computer Professionals' Union.
  • A proposed meeting will be called by Jojit to discuss the plans for Asaf's visit. It will be tentatively on November 12.

As of November 7, 2011

  • A Board Meeting on November 8 and a Special Meeting on November 12 were set to discuss the updates regarding this project.
  • National Library of the Philippines confirmed their schedule.
  • The Ilocos Region Librarians Association (IRLA), the group of librarians recommended by Computer Professionals' Union, confirmed their availability. WMPH and IRLA both agreed to have the meeting within Metro Manila. Date of the meeting was set on November 24. Time and venue are still to be determined.
  • St. Scholastica's College confirmed their availability. Jojit will contact them on November 8 to finalize the schedule and activities.
  • Asaf will send stickers, pins etc. to the WMPH office that will be given away for the outreach talks.


Expenses edit

WMF paid some of the expenses related to Asaf's visit, including flights, accommodation, local transportation, etc. He had also some funds available for supporting local volunteers' expenses related to Asaf's visit. Wikimedia Philippines released also a budget for this project.

Accommodation and flight details of Asaf edit

Arrival
November 20, 2011, 11:25 am on Asiana 701 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Departure
November 27, 2011, 12:30 am (i.e. late on the 26th) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Accommodation
Eurotel Makati (Chino Roces corner Arnaiz Ave., Makati City) but later transferred to The E Hotel (along Arnaiz Ave., Makati City) on November 21

The Wikimedia Tour edit

View tour map

November 20, Sunday

  • 11:25am - Arrival of Asaf in the Philippines from South Korea
  • 4:00pm - WMPH members welcome and orient Asaf at Starbucks, Walter Mart, Makati
  • 6:00pm - Dinner and socials at Bel-Air, Makati (Aristocrat resto, then at Centerstage ktv)

November 21, Monday

  • 10:00am - Meeting with officials of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
  • 4:00pm - Mozilla Philippines at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Robinsons Place, Ermita, Manila

November 22, Tuesday

  • 10:00am - Meeting with Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino at San Miguel, Manila
  • 1:00pm - Meeting with Creative Commons Philippines at ITC Department, Arellano University School of Law, Pasay City
  • 4:00pm - Meeting with Mr. Antonio Santos, Director of the National Library of the Philippines, Ermita, Manila

November 23, Wednesday

November 24, Thursday

  • 8:00am - Meeting with Computer Professionals' Union at their office in Quezon City
  • 2:00pm - Meeting with officials of Intellectual Property Office at Taguig City

November 25, Friday

  • Free day

November 26, Saturday

  • 10:00am to 4:00pm - Discussion of Commitees Resolution and 2012 Program Plan with the participation of the Defenders of the Indigenous Languages of the Archipelago, discussion of the November 21-24 tour, and closed workshop for Wikimedians and Wikipedians at Cambridge Center Building, Salcedo Village, Makati

November 27, Sunday

  • 12:30am - Departure of Asaf to the United States

Opportunities and tasks after the tour edit

National Commission for the Culture and the Arts edit

Possible collaborations
  • Talk to museums about future exhibits
  • Wikipedians can learn on how museum works
  • Compromise with the museum to release their images of their works on low-resolution
  • Museum staff and Wikipedian collaboration
  • Backstage pass tour at museums similar to Wikimedia UK's event
  • Content monitoring
Action plan
  • Submit letter to NCCA Board (Chairperson: Prof. Felipe de Leon) re: (1) GLAM (concept paper); (2) possible collaborations with the different cultural agencies specifically National Library, National Archives, National Museum, which are represented in the Board; and (3) possible collaboration with the NCCA through its subcommissions and committees
    • WMPH will deliver another talk about GLAM before the Chairperson and the NCCA Board.
  • Get permission on the content of NCCA's website (usually pictures)
Persons responsible
  • Jocelyn Alegre and Roel Balingit will draft the letter.
  • Roel Balingit and Emman Ramirez will deliver the talk about GLAM.
  • Jojit Ballesteros will provide the presentation materials to Roel and Emman.
Deadline
  • Formal letter and GLAM concept paper will be available by January 31, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 17, 2012, presentation materials were sent to Roel and Emman. Jojit will follow-up Roel and Emman if they have sent the letter and GLAM concept paper to NCCA.
Final outcome
  • This plan didn't push through because the GLAM team has other plans.

Mozilla Philippines edit

Possible collaborations
  • Mutual partnerships
  • Joint events for newbies
  • Monthly or bi-monthly editing workshops
Action plan
  • Ask a Netopia branch to have their place rented as venue for the monthly or bi-monthly workshops called OPEN WEB DAY. This is a joint workshop where Mozilla talks about programming/web design/etc and Wikimedia talks about editing Wikipedia. We share the cost and audience.
  • Train trainers for succeeding workshops
Persons responsible
  • Jojit Ballesteros will be coordinating with Mozilla and Netopia.
  • Jojit will initially conduct the workshop.
  • Jojit will train fellow Wikimedians as future trainers. Vin Ello and Aries Nacam already volunteered to be trainers.
Deadline
  • Close deal with Mozilla and Netopia by January 12, 2012
  • File a grant by January 18, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 17, 2012, Mozilla HQ approved the budget. The budget includes the rental expense as stipulated by Netopia on their proposal. On Mozilla part, they have to request the budget for the workshop every month. On the WMPH part, Jojit will file a grant, requesting for a budget for 12 months. Target to start the monthly workshop: February 25, 2012.
Final outcome
  • The end result of this is the Open Web Day project that ended last December 31, 2013. Collaboration with Mozilla Philippines was a success.

Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino edit

Possible collaborations
  • KWF will help on the projects. "Disyunaryong Sentiniyal ng Wikang Filipino" electronic file will be given to Wikimedia.
  • Trainings to various department and teach on how to edit Wikipedia.
Action plan
  • Submit letter to KWF to get the dictionary
  • Training about Wikipedia with staff and officials
  • Comm. Concepcion Luis’ father’s account about WWII – put it in Wikipedia
  • Have Comm. Luis as WMPH member
Person responsible
  • Jojit Ballesteros and Belinda Ballesteros will be drafting the letters.
  • Jojit Ballesteros will be coordinating with KWF.
  • Jojit will initially conduct the workshop.
  • Jojit will train fellow Wikimedians as future trainers. Vin Ello and Aries Nacam already volunteered to be trainers.
Deadline
  • Send letter by January 23, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 3, 2012, no action was taken.
Final outcome
  • The organization was not able to pursue this endeavor but WMPH is not closing its doors to possible collaborations with KWF.

Creative Commons Philippines edit

Possible collaborations
  • Mutual partnerships
  • Invite Atty. Berne to speak on WMPH events
Action plan
  • Atty. Berne Guerrero is willing to be WMPH legal adviser in his personal capacity. We will consult him about the FOSS Bill and IP code.
  • Public speaking for Atty. Guerrero (At least 3 days notice)
  • Collaborate with Museums (GLAM approach)
  • Social media campaign for public documents
Persons responsible
  • Jojit Ballesteros will email Atty. Berne about the drafting the position papers for the FOSS Bill and the IP Code.
  • Jojit Ballesteros will be coordinating with CC-PH.
Deadline
  • Send letter by January 25, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 3, 2012, no action was taken.
Final outcome

National Library of the Philippines edit

Possible collaborations
  • Mutual benefits
  • Give documentation materials by default for free
  • One-on-one collaboration
  • Backstage pass
  • Writing competition
  • Scanning of documents
  • Edit-a-thon
  • Digitized newspapers and other digitized works
Action plan
  • Submit a letter to NCCA to partner with them
Persons responsible
  • Jocelyn Alegre and Roel Balingit will draft the letter.
  • Roel Balingit and Emman Ramirez will deliver the talk about GLAM.
  • Jojit Ballesteros will provide the presentation materials to Roel and Emman.
Deadline
  • Formal letter and GLAM concept paper will be available by January 31, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 17, 2012, presentation materials were sent to Roel and Emman. Jojit will follow-up Roel and Emman if they have sent the letter and GLAM concept paper to NCCA.
Final outcome
  • The organization was not able to pursue this endeavor but WMPH is not closing its doors to possible collaborations with NLP.

Saint Scholastica’s College edit

Possible collaborations
  • Mutual benefits
  • Ambassador program
  • Trainings on how to edit Wikipedia
Action plan
  • Have an appointment with Deans through the Vice President of Academic Affairs
Persons responsible
  • Jojit Ballesteros and Belinda Ballesteros will draft formal letter to the Vice President of Academic Affairs
  • Jojit Ballesteros will be coordinating with SSC.
Deadline
  • Send letter by January 31, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 17, 2012, the Vice President of Academic Affairs of St. Scholastica's College emailed Jojit. Jojit will answer their email.
Final outcome
  • Jojit was able to follow up St. Scholastica's College thrice but it seems that the school has availability problems. WMPH is not closing its doors to possible collaborations with St. Scholastica's College.

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila edit

Possible collaborations
  • Mutual benefits
  • Ambassador program
  • Trainings on how to edit Wikipedia
Action plan
  • Trainings to teach on how to edit Wikipedia
Persons responsible
  • Jojit Ballesteros and Belinda Ballesteros will draft formal letter for the conducting the training.
  • Jojit Ballesteros will be coordinating with PLM.
Deadline
  • Send letter by January 31, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 3, 2012, no action was taken.
Final outcome
  • The organization was not able to pursue this endeavor but WMPH is not closing its doors to possible collaborations with PLM.

Computer Professionals' Union edit

Possible collaboration
  • Work on a Offline Wikipedia based on the Philippine education curriculum
  • Support FOSS bill
  • Include Wikipedia to CPU's IT curriculum for training materials
  • GLAM based cooperation
Action Plan
  • Post a notice at WP:TAMBAY about the Offline Wikipedia project.
  • Board of Trustees will issue a resolution supporting the FOSS bill. This is dependent on the consultation of with Atty. Berne Guerrero.
  • Write formal letter to CPU regarding the curriculum and GLAM based cooperation.
Persons responsible
  • Jojit Ballesteros will write formal letter to CPU regarding the curriculum and GLAM based cooperation.
  • Jojit will follow up Atty. Berne regarding the FOSS Bill.
Deadline
  • Send letter by February 10, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 17, 2012, there were an informal meeting with the National Coordinator of CPU last January 13, 2012 regarding this matter.
Final outcome
  • WMPH was not able to create a resolution supporting the FOSS bill and fulfill the other action plans.
  • Although, the organization has fruitful collaboration with CPU. CPU provided the audience for the Open Web Day at AIM and WMPH participated on their events such as Software Freedom Day and Pandayan sa Daluyan.

Intellectual Property Office edit

Possible collaborations
  • Outreach talks
  • Education campaign of copyright
  • Help on getting rid of copyright notice on the government sector
Action plan
  • Write formal letter for the opinion regarding freedom of panorama and government copyright
  • Give examples of Government Copyright
  • Issues regarding statistics/data
  • Submit amendments to the IP code
  • Provide outreach talks with the help of Atty. Berne Guerrero
Persons responsible
  • Jojit and Belinda will write the formal letters to IPO.
  • Jojit will ask Atty. Berne about the outreach talk to IPO.
Deadline
  • Send letter by February 15, 2012
Status of action plan
  • As of January 3, 2012, no action was taken.
Final outcome
  • The organization was not able to pursue this endeavor but WMPH is not closing its doors to possible collaborations with IPO.