www.alumni.edu.ph recently bagged a semifinals seat in the prestigious 7th Philippine Web Awards (PWA). STI Alumni Association’s website qualified together with other seven contenders which vied for the top spot in the organization category.

STIAA’s entry got the judges’ votes based on the website’s content, design or use of graphical elements, functionality and usability. The association’s website is among the first-timers which have entered the semifinals round. In the news posted in the organizer’s website, PWA noted a good number of new participants who have taken semifinals seat which is considered a first in PWA history. PWA overall chairman Heinz Bulos said, “this is good for the awards and for the industry, that new sites and new faces are given their due recognition.”

STIAA President Raoul Espedido was pleased with the development saying the entry of STIAA website in the semifinals round was a strong recognition of the organization’s effort in delivering services to STIers in and outside the country.

For her part, STIAA Executive Director Babes Bonoan viewed the recognition as a signal to an even better organization’s online services and improve it based on the real needs of STIers. “We are happy that PWA has credited us for a good website. It is an honor. But more than that, it’s the services that our members are benefiting from the website that we are really proud of,” Bonoan added.

Just recently, STIAA made the website more interactive by adding new service features that allows members to participate in the discussion, share their thoughts on certain issues and make their views count. It is expected that these new services would increase traffic and high involvement of members in the activities and programs of STIAA.

Categories in the PWA were arts and portfolio, banking and finance, celebrities and personalities, community and portal, corporate, e-commerce, e-services, e-government, home and living, magazines and zines, media and entertainment, organizations, personal, recreations, schools and SMEs.

Other websites which qualified for the semifinals in the Organization category were Ang Dating Daan Bible Exposition Online, Don Bosco Philippines (North Province), Ink (Illustrador ng Kabataan), Pro-Life Philippines, The History and Struggle of Bangsamoro, Thomasian Triskelion and UP Mountaineers.

The awarding ceremony was held on Nov. 23, 2004 at the OnStage Theater at Greenbelt 1, Makati City.