RECAP: Sabayang Pagbigkas 2025
- M Buada
- Sep 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 18
On its third year, Banyuhay Aotearoa successfully concluded the Sabayang Pagbigkas Online Video Contest for 2025.
We received a total of thirteen (13) entries:
Paaralang Elementarya - 8 entries
Paaralang Sekondarya - 5 entries
Watch their full performances on our Youtube Channel.
Participating schools spanned the whole length of Aotearoa New Zealand:
Auckland - 5 entries
Christchurch - 6 entries
Timaru - 1 entry
Queenstown - 1 entry
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
St Joseph's School Timaru
Te Huarahi - Linwood Avenue School
St Mary's School, Northcote
Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School
Our Lady of Victories School
Hornby High School
St Joseph's ki Mahutonga, Papanui
Wharenui School - Te Kura o Wharenui
Wakatipu High School
Aquinas College
Papakura High School
Edgewater College
Catholic Cathedral College
All entries once again exceeded all expectations and we were treated to powerful performances filled with colour, movement, and passion. We couldn't be prouder of all the students and the communities behind them for their performances.
All the entries were showcased on our Facebook page and Youtube channel for the whole month of August.
PANEL OF JUDGES
Judging of the entries was done during this period as well. We'd like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our judges who sacrificed a significant amount of their time to provide their critiques for each entry.
Jan Macdonald
Writer
Carmela Laylo
CEO, House of Musa
Jan Macdonald
Founder, Likha NZ
Hayley Concepcion
World Languages Librarian
Rene Molina
High School Teacher, Multimedia Producer & Director
SABAYANG PAGBIGKAS '25 AWARDEES
We announced the winners via a live online event on the 4th of September.
SPECIAL GUESTS
During the online session, we were also joined by two special guests who shared their thoughts about Sabayang Pagbigkas and the celebration of Buwan ng Wika. Christopher and Mariejo also helped us announce this year's winners.
Christopher Patrick Aro
Minister & Consul General, Philippine Embassy New Zealand
Mariejo Sevilla
Senior Solicitor, Layburn Hodgins Lawyers
SPECIAL AWARDS
People's Choice Award
Mga Binhi ng Laya
St. Mary's School Northcote
Best in Choreography
Tinig Lahi Bigkasang Papakura
Papakura High School
Best in Costume & Props (Tie)
Makabayang Tinig ng Te Huarahi Linwood Ave
Te Huarahi Linwood Avenue School
Mga Binhi ng Laya
St. Mary's School Northcote
PAARALANG ELEMENTARYA TOP 3
Champion
Mga Binhi ng Laya
St. Mary's School Northcote
First Runner-up
Makabayang Tinig ng Te Huarahi Linwood Ave
Te Huarahi Linwood Avenue School
Second Runner-up
Trinity Pearl
Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School
PAARALANG SEKONDARYA TOP 3
Champion
Edgewater College
Edgewater College
First Runner-up
Tinig Lahi Bigkasang Papakura
Papakura High School
Second Runner-up
Tinig ng Catholic Cathedral College
Catholic Cathedral College
Congratulations to all our winners and participants!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We'd like to say a special thank you to National Artist for Literature, Virgilio Almario who generously shared his poem, Ang Laya ay Hindi Layaw, for this year's Sabayang Pagbigkas contest piece.
We'd like to also commend our volunteers who shared their time and talents for this activity, namely:
Becky Buada
Krisma Andres
Maria Victoria Lucero
Sasha Aizpuru
Luisa Bayot
Lois Carlos
Kakay Babalo
Em Cardeno
We'd also like to thank the generosity of our sponsors:
GOLD SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
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