Win Up to
₱ 1 Million!

Mechanics

1. Eligibility.

   • Regular Edition. The competition is open to all natural-born Filipino citizens ages 18–35, whether amateur or professional, participating either as individuals or as a team.
     

   • Elementary and High School Editions. The competition is open to all natural-born Filipino citizens not older than 35 years old and currently enrolled in an educational institution from Grade 1 through Grade 12, participating either as individuals or as a team.
     

   • Natural-born Filipino citizens enrolled in the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System program may participate in the edition appropriate to their age and/or grade level, participating either as individuals or as a team, provided they are not older than 35 years old.
     

   • Employees and affiliates of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as well as their immediate family members up to the third degree of affinity or consanguinity, are not eligible to participate.
     

   • Participants must be natural-born Filipino citizens and must retain their Filipino citizenship until the award is conferred, if any. If participating as a team, all members of the team must be natural-born Filipino citizens. DTI reserves the right to withhold additional support for winning entries if any participant loses their citizenship after receiving the award.
     

   • Entries commissioned by third parties, as well as those that have received grants or awards from other competitions (including YC2 Season 1 or Season 2), are strictly prohibited. Participants who have won in either Season 1 or Season 2 may join again with a different entry; however, those who have won in both seasons, regardless of category, are no longer eligible to participate. This prohibition also applies to participants who were semi-finalists in both Season 1 and Season 2, regardless of category.

2. Theme. The competition theme is open, allowing participants full creative freedom to choose any topic or subject matter they wish to explore.

3. Original Content. All entries must be original works created by the participants. Plagiarism or any form of copyright infringement shall result in immediate disqualification.

4. Adaptation

   • If the entry is an adaptation of an existing work by another author, the participant must secure and submit a signed written consent from the original author. This consent must explicitly authorize both the adaptation and its entry into the competition.

   • Entries commissioned by a third party or previously submitted to other competitions are not eligible. Only unpublished and unproduced works shall be accepted. Enhanced or modified versions of previously published or produced works are strictly prohibited.

   • Entries that are initially shortlisted or announced as Semi-Finalists or Finalists, but are later found to have been previously published, produced, or submitted elsewhere, shall be disqualified.

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Entries that are entirely generated or significantly assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) are strictly prohibited. However, limited use of AI tools for minor enhancements may be allowed, provided that the final output is primarily the result of the participant’s own creativity and effort.

   
   Acceptable enhancements may include, but are not limited to:

   • Basic color correction and lighting adjustments;

   • Noise reduction and image sharpening;

   • Grammar and spell checking;

   • Layout alignment or formatting aids;

   • Caption or subtitle generation (with participant review and editing); and

   • Transcription support for audio or video entries.

   
   Participants who use AI in any part of their entry must ensure that its application adheres to the following ethical standards:

   • Clearly disclose all AI tools or models used, including their specific function or purpose, in the official submission form;

   • Ensure that the entry reflects originality and substantial creative input beyond AI-generated content;

   • Guarantee that any AI-generated elements do not infringe on intellectual property rights; and

   • Comply with a content review process, during which the DTI may request additional documentation or clarification regarding the extent of AI usage.

   
   DTI reserves the right to disqualify any entry that fails to meet these ethical guidelines.

   
   Use of AI may also affect the evaluation of entries. Point deductions, if applicable, shall be at the sole discretion of the judges based on the degree of AI involvement and its impact on the originality and creative quality of the entry.

6. Copyright and Usage Rights.

   • Participants retain full ownership, copyright, and all related rights to their entry.

   • By entering the competition, participants grant DTI a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and promote the submitted content solely for purposes related to the competition.

   • DTI shall not use the entries for any commercial purposes.

7. Publicity. By joining the competition, participants consent to the use of their preferred screen names and entries in announcements and promotional materials related to the competition.

8. Disqualification. DTI reserves the right to disqualify any entry at any stage of the competition, including during submission, screening and validation, judging, deliberations, or any point prior to the official announcement of winners, if it is found to violate the terms and conditions, fail to comply with submission guidelines, or contain content that is inappropriate, unethical, harmful, or offensive. Entries may also be disqualified if they are deemed to tarnish the image or reputation of DTI.

   Disqualification may also apply to participants whose behavior, whether online or in person, is found to be disrespectful, offensive, or inconsistent with the values upheld by DTI. This includes actions observed during the competition period, deliberations, or any official activity related to the program.

   In the event of disqualification, the participant or team next in rank may be considered as a replacement winner, subject to validation and compliance with all competition requirements.

9. Judging and Final Decision. All entries shall be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by DTI. The decisions of the judging panel are final and irrevocable.

10. Timeline. The competition will follow the schedule outlined below:

    Activity and Schedule*

    Submission of Entries - September – December 2025

    Judging Period (Semi-Finals) - January – February 2026

    Announcement of Semi-Finalists and Finalists - February – March 2026

    Submission, Validation, and Judging of Enhanced Entries - February – April 2026

    Presentation of Entries and Judges’ Deliberations (Grand Finals)

    Grand Finale - April 2026

    *This may still be subject to change.

11. Modification or Cancellation. DTI reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the competition if circumstances arise beyond their control, without any liability.

12. Prize Redemption and Taxation. To claim their prizes, winners must present a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and an existing active bank account. While these are not required for entry submission, they are mandatory for prize redemption once the competition concludes. For winners in the Elementary and High School Editions, prizes must be claimed by their parents. Separate guidelines for claiming prizes shall be issued upon the conclusion of the competition.

    All prizes exceeding ₱10,000 are subject to a 20% tax in accordance with Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10963, otherwise known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

13. Waiver and Legal Responsibilities. All participants must sign the official Entry and Liability Waiver to confirm the originality of their entry, acknowledge DTI’s limited usage rights, and agree to the competition’s legal and ethical standards. The waiver outlines the terms regarding ownership, copyright, AI usage, liability, indemnification, disqualification, and other legal responsibilities. Entries without a completed waiver shall not be considered.

14. Acceptance of Terms: By participating in the competition, participants acknowledge and agree to abide by all terms, conditions, and related guidelines issued by DTI.

Submission Guidelines

1. Submission. To participate in the competition, participants must submit all required materials and documents through the official online submission form. Only one (1) submission per participant shall be accepted. Editing of submissions shall not be allowed, regardless of whether the submission period is extended.
   

2. Language. Entries may be written in, but not limited to, English or Filipino. In case the entry is written in another Filipino dialect/language, participants must also submit a document with the entry’s translation set to English.

3. Content. DTI is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants and audiences. As such, any entry containing hate speech, violence, harassment, or content deemed inappropriate, offensive, harmful, or unethical is strictly prohibited and may be grounds for disqualification.

   
   Participants are encouraged to focus on positive, creative, and constructive themes that promote creativity, diversity, and inclusivity. Entries that explore visually or mentally disturbing topics such as horror, psychological thriller, gore, war and conflict, dark fantasy, abuse and trauma, existential themes, social and political issues, and mental health disorders must be approached with utmost sensitivity and care due to their potential impact on viewers.

4. Number of Entries. Each participating individual or team may join only one (1) category and submit only one (1) entry. Individuals who are part of a team entry may not submit a separate entry as an individual or as part of another team, regardless of category. In case multiple entries are submitted by the same individual or team, only the first entry received shall be considered, and all subsequent entries, regardless of category, shall be automatically disqualified.

5. Anonymity. Entries must not contain names, logos, or any marks that may identify or associate the participant(s) with the entry. This is to ensure impartiality during the screening and judging process.

6. File Naming Format. All submitted files must follow this naming format: Edition - Category - Entry Title - Requirement (Example: Regular - Screenwriting_Feature - Ang Aking Bayan - Script)

7. Formatting Requirements. All written entries must follow the format below:

   • Font: Arial

   • Font Size: 12

   • Spacing: Double-spaced

   • Margins: 1 inch on all sides

   • Paper Size: A4

8. Submission Requirements. All participants must submit the following requirements through the official online submission form:

   • Resume / Curriculum Vitae (CV)

   • Primary Government-Issued ID

   • School ID (for Elementary and High School Editions)

   • Proof of Enrollment (for Elementary and High School Editions)

   • Submission Form

   • Entry and Liability Waiver