Wikathon first started on 2020 which was created by Kate of yourtitakate.com along with other booktubers (Gerald, Julienne, Trish, and Kat). It is a way for Filipino readers around the world to celebrate August or Buwan Ng Mga Wika.
While the main objective is for Filipino bookish creators to read as much books by Filipino authors, the Wikathon team has also prepared prompts and other activities where we can have fun and challenge ourselves:
As for me, I’m a mood reader so I’ll do my best to tick off some books from the checklist. Though my initial plan is to read 2 or 3 books written by Filipino authors to support this month-long readathon, I will still lay out some of my TBR or reading hopefuls for each prompt:
Gaya Sa Pelikula – A book by a Filipino author that has been adapted into a movie
For this prompt, I still haven’t decided which of the two books should I read, so I included both of them in this blogpost. I’ve been wanting to read Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan as well as The Summer Solstice and Other Stories by Nick Joaquin, but I still don’t have a copy of both of them. I guess I’ll read which is more accessible in my local bookstore.
Diary Ng Panget – A Wattpad book
I don’t read on Wattpad as I used to anymore, but there have been quite a number of titles circulating around the community which caught my interest and one of them is The Untold Story of Ara by Jamille Fumah. So I have decided it to be my book of choice for this prompt.
Enteng Kabisote – A fantasy book written by a Filipino author
Another prompt where I can’t decide which title to read. These books have been on my TBR for a long time and I’m hoping that this readathon will help me read at least one of these two and tick them off my TBR.
Bukas Nalang Kita Mamahalin – A book from a Filipino author that you’ve been putting off
This book has been mentioned in a lot of my previous “planned reads” post, so I’ve been really meaning to get to this in 2022. I was about to read it a few months earlier, but I put it off again to read more about the Philippines’ history given of what has been happening in our country recently.
Billie and Emma – A book with a queer main character
This book has captured my attention since I saw it on Goodreads because of the gorgeous cover art, but the synopsis also sounds really interesting so I’m really excited to get to it. Hopefully I find a copy somewhere.
Saving Sally – A graphic novel or webtoon
Since these are graphic novels, they are very quick to read, so I will probably read both of them once I get copies. Sixty Six‘s synopsis sounds really promising so I’m really looking forward to it. Tabi Po on the other hand has been, again, been sitting on my TBR for the longest time, so I should get to it this year.
Shake, Rattle, and Roll – A horror, mystery, or thriller
These are all books that I recently discovered while browsing though local publishing shops on Instagram which have already been added to my Shopee cart, but haven’t checked them out yet because I can only buy one to two books per month and I’ve been over my quota by buying Martial Law-related books. Hopefully, I can get a copy of at least one of these so that I’d have something to read for this prompt.
One More Chance – Romance
I already have these two books on my physical TBR! I am so excited to read these, but since I moved in February, some of my books are still back home. I just couldn’t get all of my books yet because we have very little space for them. Hehe Hoping to get one of these from my parents’ house!
Oro – A book by non-Tagalog author
I’m still kind of hesitant to start the Pandava Quintet series simply because I have a lot of unfinished ones, but I really want to jump into the bandwagon because I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, so we’ll see. Another book is, again, Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay, since I’ve included it in two prompts, hopefully I find the urge to finally read it.
Aside from books, the Wikathon admins also prepared a movie list to watch during Buwan Ng Mga Wika. My husband and I decided to watch two films from the list: Dekada ’70 and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral. Though I’ve watched Dekada ’70 numerous times for school before and have read the book recently, I would still like to refresh myself of the movie and the lessons that it conveys. Goyo, on the other hand, I haven’t watched yet, so it’s about time, right? Others on the list I’ve watched already, like The Kingmaker, Heneral Luna, That Thing Called Tadhana, and She’s Dating the Gangster. If you want to participate and watch at least one of the movies, here’s the checklist:
For more information, you may check out Kate’s post:
Are you going to join this year’s Wikathon? What are you planning to read for the prompts? Let me know in the comments!