9th Philippine Web Awards to Honor Blogs

With a few months to go before it unveils the 9th edition of its annual Philippine Web Awards (Philippine Webbies), event organizer Media G8way Corporation (MGC) has already bared that one of the many changes it is implementing in this nearly a decade-old event is the inclusion of a “Blogs” category.

The “Blogs” category has been added to honor the best Weblog or online journal made by a Filipino/Filipina or a group where the majority of the members are Filipinos by birth, descent, or citizenship. Content can be anything under the sun – as long as it corresponds with the guidelines implemented by the Philippine Webbies organizing committee.

Participants should keep in mind though that their entries must be a separate Blog site and not just an online journal section of their Web site. Otherwise, the entry will be classified under the category for which the Webbies screeners will deem it best suited.

“Blogs are are testament to the Internet’s nonstop evolution, while the widespread trend of blogging is proof of the continuing growth of the Web community. By coming up with this category, we believe the Webbies will be able to further its objective of highlighting and honoring the best of the best in the local Web realm – only, under this category, it will be the myriad of imaginative Pinoy bloggers out there that will take center stage,” said Malou Babia-Macatangay, MGC events and promotions director. She also added that they expect numerous bloggers to join the competition.

The 9th Webbies will feature a total of 16 categories this year, including the Blogs category. Other changes made this year include the merging of “E-Services” with the “E-Learning” category (to be called “E-Services”), “Home and Living” with “Recreation” (now “Lifestyle and Leisure”), and “News” with “Magazines and Zines” (now “Media”). The “E-Travel” category has been removed from this year’s list. – Ronald James P. Panis