On winning in the 12th Philippine Web Awards

By now, some of my students and other colleagues have already congratulated me via Facebook even though I actually wanted to blog about my Otaku Fridge winning in the 12th Philippine Web Awards (PWA) first. I do appreciate all the congratulatory notes, of course. As in, super! All the finalists were asked (beforehand) to prepare a 12-word acceptance speech, in commemoration of the number of times the PWA have awarded various website owners for their creativity and ingenuity. I was not expecting to win. Truth be told, the fact that my students (Project Skyrocket) also made it into the finals felt like I had already won twice. So when I did my acceptance speech, I could only muster the 12+1 words: “Thanks to my professors for their guidance and my students for their support.”
But let me just expound on that. It has been 9 years since I entered The Otaku Fridge into a competition of this magnitude. (It placed into the PWA semi-finals in 2002. While one of my other websites, Disc13, placed into the finals in 2000.) It is only now, however, that I had gotten local support — mostly from my colleagues (fellow educators), my mentors and my students. They all inspired me to always keep honing my craft and aspire towards excellence.
I actually saw the former APC Director of Information Management, Leo Querubin, during the event. The last time I saw him was probably more than a decade ago. He said he was so proud that I got into the finals and he repeated this again when I won. Thank you so much, Sir. You are actually my role model when it comes to business integrity and ethics. (Haha, I remember your anecdotes. Mygosh, I still laugh about them from time to time.) At this point, I would also like to thank my other mentors, Director Rhea Valbuena, former Director Gerard Cadlum and APC President Paulino Y. Tan for believing in me and encouraging me to spread my wings. My heartfelt gratitude also go to the students (you know who you are) that kept egging me to never forget my dreams while I helped them pursue theirs, as well as the colleagues/classmates that always stood by me no matter what. Yoohoo: Elvert, Luna, Cris and my high school (Cha, Tin, Rebie) and UP-CMC (Chitchat, Jenny, Rod, Nath) classmates! Again, you are all much appreciated. This victory is OURS. I could never thank you enough.
12th PWA Image Gallery As for the Philippine Web Awards, here are the photos, as well as my observations. It is a lot different from the Philippine Blog Awards, which actually felt like a fabulous red carpet event. PWA, by contrast, is very business-like and methodical. The criteria for judging alone already felt like you were being evaluated for Quality Assurance: Content, Design, Functionality, Technologies Used, Originality. (I’m guessing rubrics have been used. Haha!) Despite the serious tone of the event, the hosts were quite fun and entertaining.
At first, I wasn’t sure if I landed in the correct location. The theme was Techno-Fiesta, so many of the organizers were in barong and terno.
The hallway was lined with sponsors, many of them giving away lots of gadgets via raffle draws.
These were the hosts that handed out certificates to the finalists. I also received a certificate for making it into the semi-finals. What did I say about being business-conscious? You can actually add those certificates to your portfolio. This wasn’t the case in the late 90s to the early 2000s.
Uh. I thought I was going to be able to grab a quick dinner from one of the fast food chains at the RCBC Tower, but I didn’t anticipate the traffic. By the time I got to the Carlos P. Romulo Hall, they were about to award the finalists’ certificate. These San Marino Tuna Paella spoonfuls had been repeatedly offered to me by the sponsoring booths. (They’re actually pretty tasty pala!)
Me and my sister’s colleague/roommate Eky.
With my former student Hsiang of Project Skyrocket. She made it into the finals. She looks so cute in this photo.
The PWA stage. It doesn’t look festive enough, but I was to find out later why.
Behold Michelle O-Bomb-A! The reason why we needed a minimalist stage. She (he?) was so amazing, she upstaged everything…including theΒ  backdrops.
Michelle changed into this figure-hugging red gown. Bongga!
Then later, she changed into this elegant black formal wear.
Yep! He is one of my favorite performers, Noel Cabangon. I had recorded a short clip of him performing the classic Kanlungan, but perhaps I’ll just update this blog entry once I’m done editing it.
I just took a snapshot of my students’ website, Project Skyrocket, being announced as one of the finalists. Though the site didn’t win, I was so happy to hear her say she will try again. That’s the spirit, Hsiang!
Photo op of winners, by Daryl Silao. Click for a larger view.
Another picture of the winners, also taken by Daryl Silao. Click for a larger view.
Wasn’t able to pose with my trophy at the venue so we just took this picture at home. Forgive the eye bags. We got home at around midnight. More photos of the event, including the hosts and speakers can be found at the 12th Philippine Web Awards album of Skysenshi’s Hermitage. Excuse me while I LSS over Noel Cabangon’s Kanlungan. Such a beautiful song, really. I keep playing it over and over on my digicam Shin-Chan2.

31 Comments

  1. Mom-Friday

    April 9, 2011 at 10:59 am

    congrats again Bea! wow 12 words lang??? πŸ™‚ good thing you have this blog to expound, hehe…

  2. skysenshi

    April 9, 2011 at 11:06 am

    Oo grabe nga eh. Biglaan na nga tapos iisipin mo pa kung ano ang magkakasya sa 12 words. Kaloka. Hahahaha! Marami pa akong pasasalamatan, pero dun na sa OtakuFridge.com mismo para mabasa ng community. πŸ˜€

  3. skysenshi

    April 9, 2011 at 11:09 am

    Thanks, Jenny! Pero lalo ako kinabhan. Kasi baka mamaya dun ako sa compre sumemplang. Haha. Sunod-sunod kasi na swerte eh. *crosses fingers*

  4. Milo Timbol

    April 9, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    Hi! saw you at the event. Congrats! pagrab naman ng group photos. thanks!

  5. skysenshi

    April 9, 2011 at 1:30 pm

    Thanks! And sure, you can grab the group photos. I just grabbed them from someone else, too. Congratulations, as well! πŸ˜€

  6. Tom

    April 9, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    Congratulations! So happy you won.

  7. John Ray Cabrera

    April 9, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    where is this webby awards held now. i remember attending this once because our site was nominated but it was so supertagal na, i think it was even held at Greenbelt 1 palang.

    congrats bea. you look lovely.

  8. skysenshi

    April 9, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    Thanks! RCBC Plaza for the past 2 years na ata. But the last time ksai I attended was in 2002 pa. Grabeng tagal na nun. I'm not even sure if it was Meralco Theater or what. Haha!

  9. dementedchris

    April 9, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    Congrats again, Bea!! Nakakatuwa. (My gulay, nagcocontribute pa ako long long ago!) And yay for Noel Cabangon!

  10. skysenshi

    April 9, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    Oo nga, you guys were truly instrumental to what the Otaku Fridge is today. πŸ™‚ Thanks! πŸ˜€

  11. jenny

    April 9, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    Congratulations! So proud of you!

  12. skysenshi

    April 9, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    Thanks, Jenny! πŸ˜€ I'm overwhelmed by everyone's support, grabe!

  13. Blue_polynesian

    April 10, 2011 at 2:15 am

    wow kelan to? congrats Bea! πŸ™‚

  14. skysenshi

    April 10, 2011 at 2:29 am

    Thanks!! The awards night was held last Friday at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC. πŸ˜€

  15. Toney Sevilla

    April 10, 2011 at 6:43 am

    Googol of hugs and besos, Ms Bea ^_^ You are my idol in blogging πŸ™‚ Proud student and friend here ^_^

  16. skysenshi

    April 10, 2011 at 6:47 am

    Thanks, Toney! πŸ™‚ You guys were my first student ever. It's nice to see that you've always been there for me as I have always been there for you. πŸ™‚

  17. Andy Uyboco

    April 10, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    Congrats Bea πŸ™‚

  18. skysenshi

    April 10, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Thanks, Andy! Long time no hear! πŸ˜€

  19. Issa

    April 11, 2011 at 6:59 am

    congratulations!

  20. skysenshi

    April 11, 2011 at 7:58 am

    Thanks! πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€

  21. Chona

    April 11, 2011 at 11:04 am

    Congrats Ms. Bea! Thank you for being a role model to your students,
    you're not only a mentor but also a friend to them. Good luck for your next
    projects…

  22. skysenshi

    April 11, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    Thanks so much! I learn from them valuable things even as I share my knowledge with them. It's a cycle. πŸ™‚

  23. skysenshi

    April 12, 2011 at 1:28 am

    Thanks, MrsM!! πŸ˜€ >:D<

  24. Ken

    April 12, 2011 at 8:46 am

    oh you fvckin… :)) congrats congrats! otakufridge definitely deserved some recognition. hopefully you can pump up skysenshi and soon enough, it'll be recognized more by the local market (which isn't too far now that you seem to be getting good traction in your niche!) so yeah congrats πŸ™‚ gj and more success!

  25. skysenshi

    April 12, 2011 at 8:48 am

    LOL. Thanks! It was the Otaku Fridge that didn't have a local niche. Haha! πŸ™‚ Thanks for dropping by and keeping watch. πŸ˜€

  26. Rachel β™₯

    April 13, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    Congratulations, Miss! (Late reaction, heh.)

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