I would like to thank Photoshop for my makeup

(Originally printed in Filipinas Magazine, January 2008)
Filipinos love contests and awards. In the Philippines, there are many award shows dedicated to film and television, such as the FAMAS, Star Awards, Film Academy Awards and the Urian Awards. In most towns in the Philippines or among Pinoy expat community organizations, a beauty contest is common.

Despite its relatively recent introduction to the World Wide Web, the Philippines already has three award-giving bodies for web designers and bloggers: the Philippine Web Awards, the Philippine Blog Awards and the Digital Filipino Web Awards.

Each award roster is well segregated, giving due recognition to web sites and blogs that affect every facet of our lifestyle (or just to make everybody happy or else someone will complain). The more obvious categories are best art, lifestyle, or business, then you get to the hair-splitting categories such as best LGU (local government unit) or best SME (small or medium enterprise). These awards celebrate the amazing diversity and creativity of our online Filipinos.

The Philippine Web Awards
www.philippinewebawards.com
For the past 10 years, Media G8way Corp., publisher of PC World Philippines and Computerworld Philippines, paved the way for Filipino websites through its Philippine Web Awards, a homegrown version of the American Webby Awards.

The 10th Philippine Web Awards, held November 23, 2007 in Greenhills, had 69 finalists in 15 categories. Here is a partial list of the winners:

• Arts and Portfolio: Kestrel DDM (www.kestrelddm.com)
• Blogs: Touched by An Angel (www.aboutmyrecovery.com)
• Celebrities and Personalities: Daniel Razon Official Site (www.danielrazon.com)
• Community and Portal: e-yellowpages (www.eyp.ph)
• Corporate: Ayala Land International Sales, Inc. (www.atayala.com)
• E-Commerce: PinoyDVD (www.pinoydvd.biz)
• E-LGUs - City: Marikina City Government (www.marikina.gov.ph)
• Lifestyle and Leisure: levelupgames (www.levelupgames.ph)
• News and Media: UNTV official website (www.untvweb.com)

The Philippine Blog Awards
www.philippineblogawards.com.ph
While the Philippine Web Awards honors the establishment, the Philippine Blog Awards honors the personal. The Filipino voice has grown quite loud in the blogosphere where everyone can publish their own content and opinion without having to sell anything.

The Blog Awards was created in 2006 and was spearheaded by online practitioners Abe Olandres of Yugatech.com, Gail de la Cruz-Villanueva of kutitots.com and Jayvee Fernandez of abuggedlife.com.

The first Blog Awards were held last March 31, 2007 at the RCBC Plaza Auditorium in Makati City, Philippines. Here is a partial list of the winners:

• Best Personal Blog: Misteryosa (www.misteryosa.com)
• Best Home & Living Blog: Wifely Steps (www.toni.marikit.net)
• Best Socio-Political Blog: Philippine Commentary (philippinecommentary. blogspot.com)
• Best News & Media Blog: Inside PCIJ (www.pcij.org/blog)
• Best Fashion & Lifestyle Blog: Bryanboy: Le Superstar Fabuleux (www.bryanboy.com)
• Podcast of the Year: HappySlip (www.happyslip.com)
• Best Entertainment Blog: Retzwerx (www.retzwerx.com)
• Best Sports & Recreation Blog: Who rides a Vespa? (myvespa.wordpress.com)
• Best Travel Blog: Ivan About Town (ivanhenares.blogspot.com)
• PhotoBlog of the Year: Señor Enrique: Wish You Were Here (senorenrique.blogspot.com)

DigitalFilipino.com Web Awards
www.digitalfilipino.com
The DigitalFilipino.com Web Awards, headed by web industry expert Janette Toral and done in collaboration with the APEC Digital Opportunity (ADOC) Award program, highlights and promotes the development of e-commerce in the Philippines.
Its first awards were given last April 27, 2007 in Makati City. Here is a partial list of the winners:

• Apparel / Fashion Category: Kamiseta (www.kamiseta.com)
• Art Category: Canvas (www.canvas.ph)
• Auction / Shopping Portal Category: MyAyala (www.myayala.com)
• Automotive Category: Ford Philippines (www.ford.com.ph)
• Beauty Category: FemaleNetwork (www.femalenetwork.com)
• Blog - Professional Category: Manuel Viloria (www.manuelviloria.com)
• Books Category: Booktopia (www.booktopia.com.ph)
• Education Category: De La Salle University - Manila (www.dlsu.edu.ph)
• Food Category: Bulacan Sweets and Delicacies Center (www.bulacansweets.com)
• Games Category: Philippine R.O.S.E. Online (www.roseonline.ph)
• Gifts Category: RegaloService (www.regaloservice.com)
• Government Category: Government Portal of the Republic of the Philippines (www.gov.ph)
• Home Furnishings Category: Cebu Rattan Company (www.ceburattan.com)
• Insurance Category: Sun Life Financial (www.sunlife.com.ph)
• Music / Movie/ Film Category: PhilMusic (www.philmusic.com)
• Politics Category: Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (www.nenepimentel.org)
• Services Category: Chikka (www.chikka.com)
• Social Networking Category: Itzamatch (www.itzamatch.com)
• Travel Category: Lakbay Pilipinas (www.lakbaypilipinas.com)

If you have a website that would interest Filipinos, please send the links to r.virata@filipinasmag.com.