The Philippine Web Awards (PWA) is an award-giving body that annually recognizes the best Filipino-created Web sites and honors the individuals and teams behind them. The PWA continues to attract participants here and abroad and gain support from major industry players.

Over the years, the PWA remains true to its mission of honoring outstanding Filipino talent in the field of Web design and development. The finalists and winners not only garner appreciation from their peers, but also career growth and bigger business opportunities.

AWARD HISTORY

With the launch of PC Digest 18 years ago, Media G8way Corp. continues to play a key role in Information Technology (IT) journalism. The company is the exclusive licensee of the US-based International Data Group and is behind the top IT publications, PC World Philippines and Computerworld Philippines.

In 1997, the editorial team of The Web Philippines (now known as Enterprise magazine) came up with the idea of having a local version of the American Webby Awards. After careful deliberation, their initiative culminated in September 1998 when the Philippine Webby Awards kicked off with 18 categories up for grabs.

Held at the Hard Rock Café in Makati City, the Webbies attracted more than 700 entries. It was one of the plush events in the Internet community, with some of the best and aspiring Filipino Web designers and media personalities in attendance.

In 1999, the event was renamed The Philippine Web Awards. It was also the first time that Joaquin Cunanan & Co./PricewaterhouseCoopers served as the official auditors. The number of entrants nearly doubled with more than 1,000 Web sites entered for competition. Tech junkies, Web design enthusiasts, and business personalities packed the grand ballroom of the New World Renaissance Hotel in Makati City. Like the first Web Awards, the second installment benefited from TV, print, radio, and Internet coverage.

The height of the dot-com fever was emphasized in the 2000 PWA edition. E-commerce sites and Internet IPO buyouts were then the fads and were aptly highlighted by the event. The third PWA was held at the grand ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La.

Alongside with sponsors Ericsson Mobile and Yehey!, the PWA created a new twist in 2001 by adopting a Japanese animé theme. Clad like their favorite Japanese animé characters, the guests filled the Meralco Theater in Pasig City. Out of the 1,500 nominees, 97 figured to vie for the top prize. The event was capped off with impressive performances from Wolfgang, Parokya Ni Edgar, and Moonstar 88.

The PWA went back to roots by incorporating Philippine mythology with IT through the artistic ability of Arnold Arre and the cunning of graphic virtuosos 25by8. Aswangs, kapres, and other Philippine folklore creatures were brought to life and mingled with the guests inside the posh confines of the Dusit Hotel Nikko in Makati City. The 2002 PWA marked the first year when the SMS voting for the People’s Choice Award started.

The sixth PWA saw the Greenbelt Onstage Theater in Makati transformed into a dark and dreary futuristic realm. The Matrix-inspired theme caught the fancy of the guests. Sultry singer Sheree infused a sensual aura to the electronica mood while comedienne Cai Brosas brightened the night with her humorous antics.

To ensure the quality of entries, several adjustments were made in 2004. An entry fee of P2,500 for all categories was required, except for the Organizations and Personal divisions which had an entry fee of P250. The number of categories was scaled down to 16 from the previous 21, after some divisions were either merged or scrapped due to the low number of entries. The changes resulted to a smaller number of competitors, but it ensured the participation of only the best in the local Internet community. With the urban jungle theme, the guests of the seventh PWA were entertained by the techno sounds of DJ Kimozave and by the peppy songs of MYMP.

The eight PWA was held again at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City. Festive drumbeats and colors filled the hall, with the mix of blaring brass and guitar riffs from Radioactive Sago Project providing the climax. The event saw ClickTheCity.com, PhilMusic.com, and www.upmountaineers.org.ph being the first to be elevated to the PWA Hall of Fame.

Held at the Carlos P. Romulo auditorium of the RCBC Plaza last December 2006, the ninth PWA began with a short but meaningful tribute to the late MGC publisher Delia Gutierrez. Television personality JM Rodriguez and Magic 89.9 radio jock Sheryll Crystal served as the event's hosts. The addition of the blog category came about with the current surge in online journal-keeping. Meanwhile, the Best Local Government Unit (LGU) Web Site category was made possible with MGC’s tie-up with the National Computer Center (NCC) and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT). Performances from Fil-Australian heavy metal band DNA Rock, female-fronted Helen, and peppy Join The Club served as the entertainment of the night.