13th Philippine Web Awards launched

Nominations open on Nov. 1. New categories added in recognition of emerging technologies.

Media G8way Corp. has officially opened the 13th Philippine Web Awards, the latest staging of the longest-runningy awards program in the country that honors excellence on the Internet, including Websites and blogsites.

Starting with the program’s 13th edition, outstanding Filipino-made online videos and innovative initiatives that showcase responsible use of social networking will likewise be honored.

The nomination period which will officially start on Nov. 1, will run until Feb. 15, 2012, with the list of finalists to be released on April 3. Winners will be honored at the 13th Philippine Web Awards Night that will be held on May 4 next year.

“The Web Awards continues to separate the excellent Filipino-created Web sites from the mediocre ones, ensuring that proper recognition is given to those who provide quality content to the approximately 30 million Filipinos who use the Internet,” says Leo Querubin, Media G8way CEO who announced the launch of the 13th PWA during the monthly membership meeting for October of the Philippine Computer Society.

For the 12th PWA, the best and most popular Websites were honored in 17 categories that included schools and e-learning; small and medium enterprises; news and e-zines; lifestyle and leisure; e-LGU; e-business and e-services; community; celebrities and personalities; and arts.

For the PWA’s 13th incarnation, a video division will be added where two-minute video clips on such topics as bayanihan, nation-building and good governance will vie for trophies and cash prizes. Also to be added is a division on responsible social networking which aims to recognize Facebook accounts that provide meaningful inputs to society. The mechanics and categories for these two new divisions will be announced soon, according to Querubin.

“Newer technologies provide possibilities to significantly raise public awareness on relevant issues. It is time the people behind these are similarly given recognition, since they set the standards for these emerging fields,” Querubin adds.

The competition mechanics can be found at

http://philippinewebawards.com.ph/guidelines-categories.

The Philippine Web Awards was first held in 1997. Over the years, it annually receives from all over the country over 300 entries in every category. Past PWA winners include GMA News, Ayala Land, Mapua Institute of Technology, the local governments of Bulacan, Manila and Agusan, danielrazon.com, workabroad.com.ph, STI, and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts.

13th Philippine Web Awards Schedule:
Nomination Period - November 1, 2011 - February 15, 2012
Elimination Round - February 16, 2012 - February 29, 2012
Semi-Final Round - March 1, 2012 - April 3, 2012
SMS/Online Voting - March 1, 2012 - May 3, 2012
Finals Round - April 4, 2012 - May 3, 2012
Award's Night - May 4, 2012