The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has officially opened its 2026 Photography Contest, inviting both amateur and professional Filipino photographers to capture the timeless joy of childhood through images of children at play in communities across the country.
Carrying the theme “Kids at Play (Kids@Play),” this year’s competition seeks to spotlight simple yet powerful moments that reflect how play shapes values, builds character, and nurtures dreams.
Through candid and creative photographs, PAGCOR hopes to preserve scenes that show how games and shared experiences help mold children’s aspirations, whether in sports, the arts, or everyday life.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the contest is meant to go beyond visual storytelling and capture the deeper meaning behind childhood play.
“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.”
The competition is open in 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 welcomes images captured via smartphones, tablets, action cameras, 360 cameras, and similar devices, while the Drone Category features aerial shots taken using drone-mounted cameras.
PAGCOR will select eight grand winners in each category. Winners in the Conventional Category will receive P100,000 and a trophy, while grand winners in the Mobile and Drone categories will each take home P50,000 and a trophy.
In addition, 24 non-winning finalists will be awarded consolation prizes, with P35,000 each for Conventional finalists and P20,000 each for Mobile and Drone finalists.
All entries must be taken between September 23, 2025 and June 30, 2026. The contest is open to Filipino photographers, both professional and amateur, who are at least 16 years old as of January 1, 2026.
Participants whose works 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 submission. The deadline for entries is June 30, 2026.