What is Sabayang Pagbigkas?
Sabayang Pagbigkas is the recitation of a poem performed in unison by a group of people or choir. The poem comes to life through the tone, strength or power of the performance which may also be enhanced with the use of costumes and props, and the addition of choreography.
Performance Piece
This year’s official contest piece is “Kasarinlan” (Independence) by Claro M. Recto, known as the "Great Academician" and a staunch Filipino Nationalist throughout his career. He was a lawyer, politician, diplomat, author and writer. He was also the primary author of the 1935 Philippine Constitution.
Kasarinlan
Tula ni Claro M. Recto
Halamang may likas na ugat sa lupa,
Sugpu-sugpuin ma’y hindi nawawala;
Ang puhunang dugo’t ang puhunang luha,
Pag napagtubua’y sambuhay na tuwa.
Kasarinlan natin ay isang halamang
Pinutol ng lakas ng mga kalaban,
Halamang sa dugo hinasik ni Tatang!
Halamang sa luha dinilig ni Inang!
Ngayong narito na’t sa ati’y nagbalik
Alagaan naman ng ating tangkilik,
Iya’y bungang-hinog ng paghihimagsik
Na napitas natin sa pananahimik.
Contest Mechanics
Sabayang Pagbigkas Online Video Contest ‘26 is open to all schools with Year 1 to Year 8 students, all throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Categories
There will only be ONE category this year. All schools with Year 1 to Year 8 students will be eligible to join.
Team Size and Composition
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Participating teams should have a Minimum of 10, and a Maximum of 20 members.
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Teams can be a mix of students from different year levels
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i.e. Teams can have members from years 1 to 8,
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There should be at least one member who has NO Filipino heritage (non-Filipino) in each participating team.
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Schools can enter multiple teams.
Limitations
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All participants must currently reside in Aoteaora New Zealand.
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None of the participants should be related by consanguinity to any of the Trustees of Banyuhay Aotearoa.
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No participant should belong to more than one team. Joining multiple teams will be cause for disqualification.
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Each team is allowed ONE entry only. Multiple entries will be cause for disqualification
Expressions of Interest
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Register your interest no later than Friday, 30 May, 2026.
Performance/Video Requirements
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All entries must be in video format, preferably in .MP4 or .MOV
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Must be at least 1080p resolution
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The video must be in landscape orientation (not portrait)
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Entries must be one seamless single-shot video. No stitching of multiple video clips.
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Limit your video edits to improving lighting, colour and sound quality. Do not add any video or sound effects to your entry.
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Do not use or add any background music to your entry.
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Memorisation of the piece is NOT required. Reading aids can be used.
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Costumes, props, and choreography are highly encouraged. Costumes must be age-appropriate
Take the extra challenge to earn bonus points!
We continue to celebrate the many languages that are still used in the Philippines and within Filipino communities in the diaspora today. In case you didn’t know, the Philippines has over 130+ distinct languages.
Here’s how you can earn an extra 10 points for your team, while celebrating the robust and diverse Filipino languages:
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Translate (or get help translating) the THIRD stanza of the poem into one of these Filipino languages:
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Ilocano
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Kapampangan
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Bicolano
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Cebuano
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Waray
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Ilonggo
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Tausug
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Chavacano
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Surigaonon
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If you choose to take this challenge, your group only needs to perform the third stanza once, but in a different Filipino language that your group has chosen.
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For example, if you chose to translate the third stanza in Ilocano, your performance will look like this:
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First Stanza: Original Tagalog Text
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Second Stanza: Original Tagalog Text
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Third Stanza: Translated Text
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Record your performance so you are speaking the original Tagalog text for the first and second stanzas, then the translated text for the third stanza.
Criteria for Judging
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Delivery (voice quality, correct pronunciation, proper diction, cohesion of group performance) - 30 points
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Mastery (overall readiness of the group performance) - 25 points
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Video & Audio Quality - 20 points
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Choreography (gestures, movements, and emotive actions) - 10 points
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Costumes & Props - 10 points
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Public Votes/Audience Impact - 5 points - Based on reactions to the video entry post on the Banyuhay Aotearoa FB page and Youtube Channel
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EXTRA Bonus Points (if performing the third stanza in a different Filipino language) - 10 points
Prizes
We will be recognising the top 3 teams who will receive the following:
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Champion : $1,000 (paid to the school) + Certificate of Recognition
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1st Runner-up & 2nd Runner-up : Certificate of Recognition (no cash prize)
Special Awards
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People's Choice - Highest cumulative number of engagement (views, positive reactions, comments, shares) on the Youtube and FB post
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Overall Best in Choreography – Highest score in choreography (no cash prize)
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Overall Best in Costume & Props – Highest score in costume and props (no cash prize)
Expressions of Interest
Register your interest to join no later than 30 May 2026.
Sponsor Acknowledgments
This project will not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors and donors!
MINOR SPONSOR
