Thirty-One Filipino Websites to be Honored

The DigitalFilipino.com Web Awards in collaboration with the APEC Digital Opportunity (ADOC) Award program aims to advocate the use of Internet and e-Commerce for business development, through the identification, promotion, and highlighting of best e-Commerce practices from various websites in the Philippines.

Websites in thirty-one (31) categories will be reviewed and judged for their ability to create a noticeable presence on the Internet—their ability to be seen and heard among all the noise and clutter of the Net. Commercial websites will also be reviewed for their ability to conduct e-commerce, in simple yet professional manner. The list of finalists can be found at http://digitalfilipinowebawards.blogspot.com.

All entries were nominated by the public as well as from industry, and will be judged openly by members of the DigitalFilipino.com Club. "We want to make this like a consumer choice type of award where your traditional Internet users will judge the usefulness of a site and see things from a customer point of view" said Janette Toral, organizer of the awards.

The nominations started last December and the final judging will be on Friday, April 20. It is hoped that through the promotion of outstanding websites and peer review process while judging that other businesses, as well as the public, get a better understanding of the benefits of the Internet, as well as the various ways in which e-commerce can play a vital part in business development.

Winners will be formally recognized this April 27, Friday, 9 am at the Penthouse of Board of Investments, Makati city. 31 winners will be given a trophy, Google AdWords voucher, special prizes, and a slot in the three-day advanced e-commerce training at the ADOC Center in Quezon city

From the 31 winners, there will be three ADOC Award winners too where the first placer will be able to represent the Philippines in the ADOC Week on July 24 to 27 in Taiwan.

The ADOC project aims to facilitate the bridging of the digital divide within the APEC community through training and trading. It is an independent, not-for-profit program funded by Chinese Taipei. The project was initiated in 2004, and to date, seven APEC economies are actively participating in the project. These are Chile, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The ADOC project in the Philippines works with various local non-government organizations in their efforts to provide education and training to underserved sectors of society. ADOC has established three community computer training centers in Manila to support its efforts.

It is hoped that through the promotion of outstanding websites and peer review process while judging that other businesses as well as the public get a better understanding of the benefits of the Internet as well as the various ways in which e-Commerce can pay a vital part in business development.