Sabayang Pagbigkas 2026
Pagpupugay ng mga Wikang Filipino
Inter-school Competition
Banyuhay Aotearoa is bringing back Sabayang Pagbigkas this year to commemorate and celebrate
Buwan ng Wika (Filipino Language Month) in 2026.
We have two (2) categories and prizes to award the deserving teams who will be able to showcase their knowledge and mastery of a Filipino language or two!
Did you know that the Philippines has over 130 distinct languages?
This year, we are celebrating the many languages that are still used in the Philippines and within Filipino communities in the diaspora.
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, a National Artist of the Philippines.
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 ‘25 is open to all primary, intermediate, and secondary schools throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. (REGISTRATION HAS NOW CLOSED)
Categories
This year’s categories are:
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Paaralang Elementarya (Primary School, includes Intermediate) - Y1 to Y8.
Group 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 as long as they’re all still within the scope of the category.
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i.e. Paaralang Elementarya entries can only 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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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 group. Joining multiple groups will be cause for disqualification.
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Each group is allowed one entry only. Multiple entries will be cause for disqualification
Expressions of Interest
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Registration has now closed for Sabayang Pagbigkas 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 also 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!
This year, we are celebrating 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 SECOND 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 second 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 second stanza in Ilocano, your performance will look like this:
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First Stanza: Original Tagalog Text
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Second Stanza: Translated Ilocano Text
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Record your performance so you are speaking the original Tagalog text for the first stanza, then the translated text for the second 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) - 15 points
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Costumes & Props - 5 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 second stanza in a different Filipino language) - 10 points
Prizes
We will be recognising the top 3 teams for each category who will receive the following:
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Champion (per category): $1,000 (paid to the school) + Certificate of Recognition
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1st Runner-up & 2nd Runner-up (per category): 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)
IMPORTANT! In the event that any of the categories receives less than 3 entries, Banyuhay Aotearoa reserves the right to merge all entries into one category and will only award one team the title of overall Champion.
Expressions of Interest
Registration has now closed for Sabayang Pagbigkas 2026
Deadline of Video Submissions
We are no longer accepting any more submissions for this year's Sabayang Pagbigkas Online Video Contest. Keep an eye out for this year's official entries!
Sponsor Acknowledgments
This project will not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors and donors!
GOLD SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSORS
