ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025/Philippines joint statement

The following is a statement by a few Philippine-based Wikimedia communities and one individual to jointly organize the ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025 in Manila.

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It is hereby resolved by the Wikimedia communities in the Philippines that Wiki Advocates Philippines User Group, a recognized affiliate of the Wikimedia Foundation, will host the ESEAP Summit 2025 in Metro Manila, Philippines, along with the support of other communities in the Philippines, recognized and otherwise, and independent Filipino Wikimedians.

Wiki Advocates Philippines We, from the Wiki Advocates Philippines User Group, gladly take on the responsibility of being the legal entity to partner with the Wikimedia Movement in hosting the ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025 in Manila, Philippines. Provided that financial matters will be handled through fiscal sponsorship, by Shared Knowledge Asia Pacific, Inc., and participatory groundwork specifically in Manila to be collaborated with and by the Pilipinas Panorama Community, along with the composite of other user groups/communities, and supported by Filipino Wikimedians. This opportunity is both an honor (to share our Filipino hospitality) and a challenge (to show that we are unified in pushing forward the Movement's purpose) to the different Filipino Wikimedia communities; and Wiki Advocates Philippines User Group’s volunteers are willing to take part in making this event a success.	Shared Knowledge Asia Pacific Shared Knowledge Asia Pacific (SKAP) will always choose cooperation and collaboration with other communities and strategic partners in whatever legitimate activity we will be needed. We signify our intention to support the hosting of the ESEAP Summit in 2025 to showcase the Filipino warmth and hospitality. It is also a way to let participants experience the unique Filipino culture in a short span of time. Since we are sought to be the fiscal sponsor for the summit; if qualified, we will try our very best to be of service to contribute to a successful summit.
Pilipinas Panorama Community The thematic organization, Pilipinas Panorama Community, pledges its wholehearted support in this notable and historic endeavor. We await with optimism the groundwork and specific tasks that our own community shall be so necessitated to provide.	Wiki Society of the Philippines The Wiki Society of the Philippines (WikiSocPH) would like to extend its support to any event that serves to forward the best interest of the Wikimedia community in the Philippines as a whole. As much as possible, these should be led by groups which are motivated to serve both our local community and the Wikimedia movement at large. The people and affiliates – both official and unofficial – behind the push for the ESEAP Summit in 2025 are deeply committed to the movement and advancing this ideal, and as such we are glad to lend our support accordingly. We strongly believe that it is in the best interest of the movement in the Philippines to get together and collaborate on issues of common concern and of projects which advance our shared vision and values. Getting together to organize and host the ESEAP Summit is in our common interest. The existing divisions within the community in the Philippines may persist, but these should not hinder us from working together where we can and must. The movement is bigger than us, and should always be. WikiSocPH looks forward to collaborating, supporting and growing together with all the groups involved in this endeavor, not only to showcase our warmth and hospitality, but also our continuing collective commitment to the Wikimedia movement in the Philippines and beyond.
Butch Bustria (individual Wikimedian) As an ardent advocate for the growth and development of the Wikimedia movement within the East, Southeast Asia, and Pacific (ESEAP) region, I express my support for the proposal to host the Wikimedia ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025 in Manila, Philippines. My journey with the Wikimedia movement has been a transformative one, marked by my active involvement in program and event management across all ESEAP Strategy Summits and ESEAP conferences. My experience has been further enriched by my role in the successful participation in organizing the Wikimania 2023 conference in Singapore, which stands as a testament to our collective commitment to fostering knowledge and collaboration. I am confident that my experience in managing programs and events for the Wikimedia community will contribute in advising or contributing in the planning and execution of a regional summit that is both impactful and memorable. By bringing the summit to Manila, we have the opportunity to spotlight the ESEAP region’s unique contributions and to catalyze our strategic efforts towards a more inclusive and diverse global community. Together, with various like minded individuals, groups, we aspire the Wikimedia ESEAP Strategy Summit 2025 a milestone event that propels our mission forward.