PCIJ’s Malou Mangahas
is WikiPinoy for 2010

For her untiring campaign for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Executive Director Malou Mangahas was named WikiPinoy of the Year by the editors of WikiPilipinas, the online collaborative encyclopedia based in the Philippines.

Mangahas was honored with the title for her “very significant contribution to knowledge sharing in the Philippines by steadfastly advocating the passage of the Freedom of Information Act,” according to Merck Aguilar Maguddayao, project editor of WikiPilipinas.

The editors said the award is usually given to people who have “empowered the public by providing open information and in-depth insights on the more significant issues affecting the country and its citizens.”

“A WikiPinoy does more than information and knowledge sharing. A WikiPinoy’s output is research-driven, meaning, he or she does not plainly present the facts as it is, but probes beneath the surface of each story and inspires people to be knowledge sharers as well,” the WikiPilipinas editors said in a statement posted on the website here.

For her part, Mangahas said she was honored to be chosen as WikiPinoy of the Year. “I am most humbled and delighted,” Mangahas said. “On behalf of the editors and staff of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and our colleagues in the Right to Know, Right now! Coalition, my heartfelt thanks. I hope to deserve and affirm your trust even more.”