As a start, the group decides to use the minimum criteria set by PWAG Maturity Stage 1 Checkpoints. The selected judges from PWAG are: Lourdes Borgonia, Lemuel Cabia, Jojo Esposa, Rey Mendoza and Ma'am Grace Amberong.

It is hoped that by next year, web accessibility will form part of the overall criteria in evaluating award winning websites. For more information, visit their news article at http://www.philippinewebawards.com/newsroom.asp?n=23

The seminar introduces DAISY standards and Digital Talking Books (DTB). Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura, Chairman DAISY Consortium and Project Manager for Daisy for All was the main speaker. Mr. Monthian Buntan, President - Thailand Association of the Blind also gave a demonstration.

A traditional talking book is an analog representation of a print publication. A Digital Talking Book (DTB) is a multimedia representation of a print publication. In both instances the rendering of the audio is in human voice. This is very useful specially to the visually impaired and with learning disabilities.

Among those who presented include: NCWDP Executive Director Atty. Dulfie Tobias-Shalim, Ms. Lanie Arminio, Information Systems Analyst - NCC and PWAG member and Ms. Rebecca Arabain, Supervisor, PPHB-Department of Education. A group of librarians also attended. NCWDP was also represented by Mr. Dandy Victa and Ma'am Nelia De Jesus while Ma'am Eva Neri and Grace Amberong heads the NCC group. PWAG was represented by Jojo Esposa. The activity was spearheaded by Resources for the Blind through Mr. Randy W. Weisser Executive Director and Ms. Mayette Regala.

Its chairman, Dr. Hong Sung Wook gave the inspirational message. Mr. Choi, Eun Young is the Executive Director and Dr. Jose PM Cunanan is the Editor.

Withnews.org is a joint project of Withnews Philippines and Center for Asian Mission for the Poor (CAMP). Withnews is the internet media which preaches the Gospel and Love of God. It was established in Korea in 2002, and makes a hard effort to establish the rights of the minority and the disabled, for them to live together with non- handicapped people.

PWAG was represented by Mr. Jojo Esposa and another deaf member Glenn Ortega. The book "Basic Web Accessibility Guide for Filipinos" was also introduced to the audience who are mostly from the Persons with Disabilities sector.

The 102 page book "Web Accessibility Guide for Filipinos" is now officially published and copyrighted. This is one of the crowning achievements of PWAG. Some of the articles there are in the PWAG website and Yahoogroup but most of the contents are new.

The book contains definition of web accessibility, types of assistive devices available, laws affecting disability in the Philippines, statistics of Filipino PWDs and Filipino Internet user statistics. It also details the history of web accessibility initiatives in the Philippines from 2003 up to the present.

The book also lists down the basic manual accessibility checklist and detailed description on how to comply with Manila ICT Design Recommendations as well as PWAG Maturity Stages 1 and 2. It also features accessible websites from House of Representatives, Dela Salle University, Arielle Cruz Website, Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf, Vision Office, National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons and Emilio Aguinaldo Colleges.

The book is sold for P200 each. Proceeds will go to PWAG funds. Special thanks to MCCID for shouldering the printing expenses. For details on how to buy this book, please email us info@pwag.org or call us at Tel. Nos. 02412-9447. The book will soon be available in National Bookstore.