PAGCOR opens 2026 photography contest on childhood and play

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has opened its Photography Contest for 2026, inviting Filipino amateur and professional photographers nationwide to capture images of children at play in local communities.

This year’s competition carries the theme “Kids at Play (Kids@Play),” which aims to highlight everyday scenes that reflect the joy of childhood and the values shaped through play and community interaction.

PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco said the contest seeks to immortalize moments that show how games and play contribute to a child’s character and aspirations.

“Simple as they may seem, these games help instill discipline, persistence, sportsmanship, and resilience – values that are developed in children during their formative years and which may later serve as a foundation for their dreams, whether in sports or in life,” Tengco said.

“Sa paglalaro nagsisimula ang pangarap. Sa paglalaro rin nahuhubog ang kanilang kinabukasan,” he added.

The contest will feature three categories: Conventional, Mobile, and Drone.

The Conventional Category covers photographs taken using digital cameras, including single-lens reflex, mirrorless, compact, point-and-shoot, bridge, and rugged cameras. The Mobile Category includes images captured using smartphones, tablets, action cameras, 360 cameras, and similar devices. The Drone Category, meanwhile, features aerial photographs taken using drone-mounted cameras.

PAGCOR will select eight grand winners per category. Winners in the Conventional Category will receive P100,000 each and a trophy, while grand winners in the Mobile and Drone categories will receive P50,000 each and a trophy.

In addition, 24 non-winning finalists will receive consolation prizes. Finalists in the Conventional Category will receive P35,000 each, while finalists in the Mobile and Drone categories will receive P20,000 each.

Eligible entries must be taken between September 23, 2025 and June 30, 2026. The contest is open to all Filipino professional and amateur photographers who are at least 16 years old as of January 1, 2026.

Participants whose entries advance to the finals will be required to submit a signed waiver from the child’s parent or legal guardian, authorizing PAGCOR to use the images for contest-related and promotional purposes.

Entries must be submitted through the official PAGCOR Photography Contest 2026 website at https://www.pagcor.ph/photocon2026. Interested participants are required to register online prior to submitting their entries. The submission deadline is 30 June 2026.