The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) has been honored with the Award of Excellence by the PhilWiki Community, celebrating its leadership in advancing free knowledge and integrating Wikimedia projects into academic life. The recognition emphasizes CBSUA’s dedication to fostering digital literacy and empowering its students and faculty to actively contribute to open knowledge for the broader community and beyond.
CBSUA stands out as the first university in the Philippines to launch a Wiki Education program, seamlessly incorporating Wikimedia into instruction, research, extension, and production. The program began at CBSUA-Calabanga under then-Campus Administrator (now VP for Research and Innovation) Dr. Dariel Palmiano, and continued under the leadership of Dr. Ernesto Doloso, Jr.
Accepting the award on behalf of University President Dr. Albert Naperi were Mr. Jerome Hipolito and fellow Wikipedians Mr. Marvin Rojo Molin and Mrs. Leah Banastao Sumalinog.
The CBSUA Wiki Education initiative has significantly contributed to Wikipedia, with Wiki Statistics showing a surge in contributions during September–October 2023—timed with the program’s launch. Continued momentum was observed around those months, coinciding with CBSUA participation in campaigns such as the Wiki OJT program for AB English students, LitFest with Wiki-based activities, the Bikol Wikisource Training of Trainers in Naga, the GLAM Wiki Conference PH 2024 in Vigan, the Hablon-Usipon Children’s Book Translation Workshop in June 2025, and a partnership with Wikipedians at Waseda University, Tokyo.
The Award of Excellence was presented by Mr. Irvin Sto. Tomas (PhilWiki Community Founding Chair and Program Director), Mrs. Maffeth Sto. Tomas (PhilWiki Community President), Ms. Marife Altabano (Wiki Education Philippines Program Committee Chair and PhilWiki Community Board Member), and Mrs. Bernadette Roco (Conference Director and PH-WC Board Secretary) during the Cebu Wiki Conference held August 22–24, 2025.
CBSUA Wiki Education will assist beginning Education programs of colleges and universities in the Philippines through the university’ extension services, integrating Wikipedia and and other open educational platforms in their respective schools.
PhilWiki Community, a recognized affiliate of the Wikimedia Foundation, is dedicated to increasing the everyday use of Philippine languages and promoting Wikipedia as a tool for open knowledge and learning in languages such as Cebuano, Waray, Ilocano, Bikol, Kapampangan, Zamboanga Chavacano, Pangasinan, and Tagalog.
The achievements of CBSUA set a national standard for educational institutions committed to the global movement for free knowledge. | 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘪𝘳 𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘰, 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘪𝘳 𝘈𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘴
