Contest Mechanics, Guidelines & Criteria for Judging

16TH YAPIS Literary Festival

A City-Wide Inter-School Literary Competition 2023

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION

RULES FOR THE CHAIN STORYTELLING

Participation Rules:
● Number of Groups:
○ A participating school may submit one (1) or two (2) groups, each
consisting of five (5) members.
● Registration and Briefing:
○ Upon arrival, participants shall immediately report to the Event
Coordinator for briefing and instructions. They must present their
School IDs and fill up the provided registration sheet.
● Holding Area:
○ Participants must stay at the designated holding area. Leaving the
venue is not allowed unless permitted by the event coordinator or a
member of YAPIS.
● Waiting Area:
○ Participants are not allowed to stay inside the performing area prior to
their turn to deliver. There will be a designated waiting area for the
participants.

Storytelling Rules:
● Language Medium:
○ The medium of language to be used is English.
● Story Creation:
○ The organizer (YAPIS) will provide the first part of the story, and the
participating school will provide the rest. It is a test of creativity. It is at
the discretion of the participating school how they are going to make
the story and end it.
● Order Determination:
○ A drawing of lots will be done to determine the order of the storyteller.
● Time Limit:
○ The first 4 participants are given 1 minute and 30 seconds to deliver,
while the last participant is given 2 minutes. The last person will be the
one to finish and wrap up everything.
● Timing Signals:

16th YAPIS Literary Festival 2023

 ○ The timekeeper will raise the "START" placard to signal that the
participant may begin the delivery, and only then will the timing of
delivery commence.
○ The timekeeper will raise a Yellow flag to signal that the participant
has only 30 seconds left and "STOP" if time is up.
○ No signal will be given for the under time and overtime periods.
● Language Etiquette:
○ The use of foul and vulgar words during the delivery of the story is
strictly prohibited.
● Overtime Penalty:
○ A one-point deduction per judge will be penalized for every twenty-
second overtime per participant.

Judging Rules:
● Criteria for Judging
Creativity and Coherence 30%
Body Language 30%
Voice Quality 20%
Stage Performance 20%
Total 100%
● Decision Authority:
○ The decision of the Board of Judges, once signed by the Board of
Tabulators, is final and irrevocable.

Attire Rules:
● Attire:
○ Participants should wear white collared shirts.

Compliance Penalties:
● Non-Compliance:
○ Failure to comply with the above-stated rules shall result in a
deduction of one (1) point per judge.

Organizer's Discretion:
● Rule Modifications:
○ YAPIS reserves the right to modify, alter, or amend the above-
mentioned rules or waive compliance at his/her sole discretion if such
steps are in accordance with the purpose of the contest scheme.

16th YAPIS Literary Festival 2023

 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
RULES FOR THE IMPROMPTU SPEECH CONTEST

Participation Rules:

● Number of Contestants:
○ Each school may submit one (1) or two (2) contestants.
● Elimination Round:
○ An elimination round shall be conducted when the total number of
contestants reaches ten (10).

Speech Medium:

● Language Requirement:
○ The medium to be used should be English, with a minimum length of 1
minute and a maximum of 3 minutes.

Topic Selection:

● Topic Drawing:
○ After the contestants have drawn their speaking order, the first
speaker shall choose the topic for discussion among the available
topics in the envelopes, witnessed by all other contestants.
● Topic Envelope Handling:
○ Once the envelope containing the topic is picked, the first contestant
shall give the envelope to the contestant master while the other
contestants are ushered out of the room to a designated holding area
that will not allow them to hear the speech of their fellow speakers.

Speech Presentation:

● Immediate Speaking:
○ The contestant will be speaking immediately by the time he/she has
picked the topic for discussion.
● Time Management:
○ The speaker is given three (3) minutes of speaking time.
● Timing Signals:
○ The timekeeper will raise colored flags indicating the number of
minutes left:
i. Green: 30 seconds
ii. Yellow: 1 minute
● Overtime and Under time Penalties:
○ The speakers going beyond the maximum time and going under the
minimum time shall be automatically deducted with one (1) point of
their total score.

16th YAPIS Literary Festival 2023

 ● Substitutes
○ If there are any inevitable instances that may lead to the absence of
the contestant/s, substitutes are allowed to replace them, provided
that they are identified upon registration before the contest, during the
preliminary round.

Final Round:

● Final Round Qualification:

○ The contestants garnering the top five (5) highest scores shall qualify
for the final round.
● Final Round Mechanics:
○ The same contest mechanics shall be followed in the final round.

Judging Rules:

● Criteria for Judging

Content - 40%
Organization - 30%
Diction, Voice Quality, and Projection - 20%
Stage Presence - 10%
Total: 100%

● Winner Selection:
○ The contestant with the highest points shall be declared as the winner.
● Decision Authority:
○ The decision of the Board of Judges, once signed by the Board of
Tabulators, is final and irrevocable.

Attire Rules:

● Attire:
○ Elimination Round: Contestants should wear white collared shirt.
○ Final Round: Contestants should wear business attire.

Compliance Penalties:

● Non-Compliance:
○ Failure to comply with the above-stated rules shall result in a
deduction of one (1) point per judge.

Organizer's Discretion:

● Rule Modifications:
○ YAPIS reserves the right to modify, alter, or amend the above-
mentioned rules or waive compliance at his/her sole discretion if such
steps are in accordance with the purpose of the contest scheme.

16th YAPIS Literary Festival 2023

 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
RULES FOR THE CONTEMPORARY LYRICAL DANCE CONTEST

Participation Rules:
● Team Composition:
○ There should be only one team consisting of three (3) members per
school/curriculum.

Dance Piece:
● Selected Song:
○ The dance piece to be performed is "Almost is Never Enough" by
Ariana Grande and Nathan Sykes.
● Singing and Lip Sync:
○ No singing is allowed. Lip sync is permitted.

Props:
● Prop Allowance:
○ Hand-carried props are allowed. No dangerous props, no live animals,
no glass. Human props are not permitted. Props must be able to be
moved quickly and easily.

Coaching:
● No Coaching:
○ No coaching from the sideline is allowed.

Costumes and Behavior:

● Costume and Behavior Etiquette:
○ All routines and costumes must not be obscene and should be
suitable for the academic setting.
○ Courteous behavior must be exhibited at all times during the event.

Music:
● Music Selection:
○ There should only be one music to be performed by all schools.
Schools may edit the song; however, editions are to be coming from
the piece itself. No remixes are allowed.

Performance Time:
● Time Limit:
○ Each performance is given only 2-3 minutes, excluding entrance and
exit.

Penalties:
● Time and Rule Violations:
○ Deduction of points shall be made if:

16th YAPIS Literary Festival 2023

 i. 2 points from the total score for every 30 seconds that exceeds
the time limit.
ii. 2 points from the total score for every rule not acted in accord
with.

Judging Rules:
● Criteria for judging
Showmanship 40%
(Grace and poise, Stage presence, Rapport with partner, and
Coordination)
Choreography (Style and Execution, Formation) 30%
Interpretation (Originality and Meaning) 30%
Audience Impact 10%
Total: 100%

● Decision Authority:
○ The decision of the Board of Judges, once signed by the Board of
Tabulators, is final and irrevocable.

Compliance Penalties:
● Non-Compliance:
○ Failure to comply with the above-stated rules shall result in a
deduction of one (1) point per judge.

Organizer's Discretion:
● Rule Modifications:
○ YAPIS reserves the right to modify, alter, or amend the above-
mentioned rules or waive compliance at his/her sole discretion if such
steps are in accordance with the purpose of the contest scheme.

16th YAPIS Literary Festival 2023

 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
RULES FOR THE ON-THE-SPOT POETRY CONTEST

Participation Rules:
● Number of Contestants:
○ Each participating school may submit one (1) or two (2) contestants.

Contest Piece:
● Provided Topic:
○ The organizer shall provide a topic that shall be used as a contest
piece, addressing a current issue in the Philippines.

Preparation and Presentation:

● Preparation Time:
○ Each contestant shall be given three (3) minutes to prepare his/her
presentation.
● Presentation Time:
○ Each contestant shall be given two to three (2-3) minutes for his/her
presentation.
● Time Management:
○ No deduction shall be made if the contestant finishes the delivery in
less than the minimum time frame. But 1 point per judge if the
contestant exceeds the maximum time.

Delivery and Materials:

● From Memory:
○ The spoken poetry may be delivered from memory. Bringing a copy of
their piece on stage is allowed, provided that the contestant will not
read the entire poetic piece but only glance at their copy.
● Backgrounds:
○ Sounds, instrumental, or musical backgrounds are allowed to
complement the delivery. No deduction shall be made if the contestant
opts not to have a musical background.

Judging Rules:
● Criteria for Judging
Content and Originality 40%
Mastery 20%
Delivery and Projection 30%
Stage Presence and Showmanship 10%
Total: 100%
● Decision Authority:
○ The decision of the Board of Judges, once signed by the Board of
Tabulators, is final and irrevocable.

16th YAPIS Literary Festival 2023

Attire Rules:
● Attire:
○ Contestants should wear Filipiniana / Barong Tagalog attire.

Compliance Penalties:
● Non-Compliance:
○ Failure to comply with the above-stated rules shall result in a
deduction of one (1) point per judge.

Organizer's Discretion:
● Rule Modifications:
○ YAPIS reserves the right to modify, alter, or amend the above-
mentioned rules or waive compliance at his/her sole discretion if such
steps are in accordance with the purpose of the contest scheme.

16th YAPIS Literary Festival 2023