1.1. The competition is open to all individual boys and girls aged four (4) to seven (7) years old as of their Preliminary Screening schedule.
1.2. Participants must be photogenic/telegenic, cute and charming, and must possess a talent under one of the following three categories:
1.3. Contestants must choose one talent from the three (3) categories and can only perform the chosen talent category throughout the stages of the competition.
The following are not eligible to join the SM Little Stars 2025 competition:
2.1. Previous winners or placers from similar contests (2024–2025) by companies/sponsors that may conflict with SM Supermalls or its retail affiliates.
2.2. Boys and girls under a talent management contract (verbal/written), or those who have or will appear in commercials, advertisements, or shows during the contest period.
2.3. Contestants who have commercial arrangements with any advertising, publishing, or talent agency within the contest period.
2.4. Top 10 winners of any previous SM Little Stars competitions.
Any contestant found ineligible will be disqualified at any stage, and all prizes and titles will be forfeited.
3.1. Parents/legal guardians must register via:
3.2. Submission requirements:
3.3. Registration Schedule:
STAGE 1: PRELIMINARY SCREENINGS
4.1. Participating Malls: 67 SM Supermalls nationwide
4.2. Schedule: Please refer to Annex A for the complete list of the 67 participating malls, including the schedule and venue details for the preliminary screenings.
4.3. Performance Duration: 1 minute per contestant
4.4. Props Allowed: Only essential items such as mat, table (max 4ft x 1.5ft), lyric stand, microphone stand, etc. (Section 8.2 applies)
4.5. Judging Criteria:
Criteria Description Weight
Star Quality Celebrity charm, on-stage charisma 40%
Personality Confidence, cuteness, articulation 20%
Talent Skill suitability for age and talent category 40%
TOTAL 100%
4.6. Winners Per Preliminary Screening Day (per mall):
There will be three (3) winners per Preliminary Screening schedule (per mall), with one (1) winner in each talent category: Singing, Dancing, and Other Talent.
4.7. Advancement: A total of 67 malls will participate in the preliminary screening dates, hosting 130 auditions in total. Given the configuration of having three (3) winners—one (1) per talent category (Singing, Dancing, and Other Talent)—per screening, 390 participants will advance to the Regionals.
4.8. Replacement Clause: In case a declared winner is disqualified, withdraws, or found ineligible, the next highest scoring contestant shall advance in their place.
STAGE 2: REGIONALS
5.1. Participating Malls: 10 designated SM Supermalls
5.2. Schedule: Please refer to Annex B for the complete list of participating malls, including the schedule and venue details for the regionals.
5.3. Performance Duration: Maximum of 2 minutes
5.4. Props Allowed: Permitted as long as not among restricted items listed in Section 8.1 5.5. Judging Criteria:
Criteria Description Weight
Star Quality Celebrity charm, on-stage charisma 40%
Personality Confidence, cuteness, articulation 20%
Talent Skill suitability for age and talent category 40%
TOTAL 100%
5.6. Winners Per Regionals Day (per mall):
5.7. Advancement: Thirty (30) regional winners (3 per mall x 10 malls) advance to the Grand Finals. 5.8. Replacement Clause: In case a declared winner is disqualified, withdraws, or found ineligible, the next highest scoring contestant shall advance in their place.
STAGE 3: GRAND FINALS
6.1. Date: August 9, 2025 (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
6.2. Venue: Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia
6.3. Participants: 30 Finalists
6.4. Performance Duration: Maximum of 2 minutes
6.5. Music: Finalists must choose from a provided list (no song duplication allowed; if the same song is selected by more than one finalist, a draw—conducted in the presence of SM officials and event organizers—will determine who keeps it).
6.6. Props Allowed: Permitted, subject to Section 8.1
6.7. Judging Criteria: Same as previous stages –
Criteria Description Weight
Star Quality Celebrity charm, on-stage charisma 40%
Personality Confidence, cuteness, articulation 20%
Talent Skill suitability for age and talent category 40%
TOTAL 100%
6.8. Grand Final Winners Configuration:
6.9. Winner Determination: Based on overall scores, regardless of category
6.10. Replacement Clause: Same as earlier stages
Each contestant must choose one (1) category:
o Gymnastics, Acrobatics, Acting
o Beatbox, Hula Hoop, Juggling, Jump Rope
o Playing an Instrument (instrument provided by contestant)
o Ventriloquism, Magic Show, Painting, Drawing
8.1. Strictly Not Allowed Props (at any stage):
8.2. Preliminary Screening: Only essential performance items allowed (see Section 4.4) 8.3. Regional & Grand Finals: Props allowed, excluding restricted items
8.4. Special Effects: Not allowed at any stage
General Rules
20.1. The trip to Hong Kong that will be awarded is exclusive to the top ten (10) winners and finalists and their chosen parent or guardian. The trip will be scheduled within the next 6 months from grand finals.
20.2. All travel requirements, taxes, airfare expenses, food, transportation, and hotel accommodation in Hong Kong, excluding the passport application and issuance, of the grand finalists and their accompanying parent or guardian, will be shouldered by SM Supermalls, provided the contestants and their chosen companion have submitted the supporting documents within the deadline set by SM Supermalls.
20.3. The Philippines shall be the country of origin in going to Hong Kong.
20.4. Failure to submit the foregoing requirements and unavailability to join the trip for any reason shall constitute a waiver of the winners and finalists and their chosen parent or guardian to travel to Hong Kong.
20.5. The trip to Hong Kong for two is transferable but not convertible to cash or any cash equivalent. SM Supermalls reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the trip due to unforeseen circumstances, force majeure, or any act of God. In the event of a cancellation, SM Supermalls may provide cash compensation of Php 40,000.00 per winner to the top ten (10) winners.
21. Eligibility for Employees
Employees of Shopping Center Management Corporation (SCMC), their affiliates, sponsors, organizers, advertising agencies, and judges, including their relatives up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity, are not eligible to join this promotion.
Talent Performances
Rehearsals and Workshops
Regionals
Workshop Schedule and Venue: Please see Annex B.
Grand Finals
Workshop Schedule: August 8, 2025
Workshop Venue: SM Prime Headquarters, MOA Square, MOA Complex, Pasay
TOPIC |
EXERCISES |
DESCRIPTION |
Warm-up |
Tawataya |
Participants chosen as an “it” will chase other participants. Once tagged, a participant will “explode” laughing and become an “it” as well. |
Popcorn |
Participants will be in a circle. Randomly, each one must jump up and clap. If two or more people jump together, they move out from the circle. |
|
Takbo – bagal – bilis |
Participants run around the room and the instructor will call out the speed. |
|
Sit-down tag |
An “it” will be assigned to chase and tag the other participants. Those sitting down can’t be tagged. But participants can’t sit-down continuously at one given time. |
|
Observation |
Pila – pila |
Each group will take turns in being the “object of observation” while the others observe. Each group comes into a workspace and makes a formation. The other participants observe their positions. They then come back not in the same position and the other participants arrange them based on their first observation. Formation of groups are as follows: 1. Single File 2. Single File with Pose 3. Single File with Expression 4. Tableaux |
Concentration |
Sunod - sunuran |
Participants will pair up. One of each pair will be the leader and the other is the follower. The leader must lead the follower around the room with just his hand and without touching. |
Pusa’t daga |
Participants will sit in a circle. The “cat” is blindfolded and sits in the middle of the circle with a ball in front of him. The others must act like the “mice” and get the ball without the cat hearing them. |
b. Workshop Exercises for the Grand Finals:
TOPIC |
EXERCISES |
DESCRIPTION |
Space Awareness |
Guho |
Participants must group themselves according to the number given to the space given. |
Ispats |
Participants choose 3 spots of their own. They will then be given instructions as to what spot they will go to and what they will do there. |
|
Kuwarto’t tulay |
Participants must show the bridge where they are crossing and the room they are entering given the instructions as to where it is. |
|
Role Playing |
Animal |
Participants will individually move as animals, they will then look for their pair and act together, and then race. |
Tauhan Walk |
Create a character, walk, then talk |
|
Edad |
Give a setting. Give an age, act it out, getting older, getting younger |
|
Assignment |
Use costumes to act out role with variants and situations. |
|
Group Work and Sensitivity |
Counts |
Participants walk around the room. They must count 1 to 10 without signaling each other. When participants call out a number at the same time, they start again. |
Things |
Form two groups, each group must form with their bodies: spaghetti, typewriter, radio |
|
Rhythm |
Participants in a circle, each will then contribute a sound |
|
Sculpture |
Each participant contributes a pose to a group sculpture |
|
Machine |
One by one, participants go in the performance area, strike a pose, and create a sound. |
|
Voice |
Vocal Games |
By pair, each one talks based on the factors given, a place, volume, pitch, etc. |
Imagination |
Movement & Voice |
Participants move around. Instructions are given on how they will move: like an animal, like the wind. Variations are given as to what the thing is like. |
Zigzag Echo |
Participants form two lines, they must then throw a sound and a movement across until it reaches the end. |
Special Award Presented by SM Malls Online: SM Little Stars’ People’s Choice Award
1. SM Little Stars’ People’s Choice Award
1.1.People's Choice Award voting is a sub-segment/category of SM Little Stars 2025 competition. Participants will come from the pool of grand final contestants of SM Little Stars 2025. 1.2.From the 30 contestants qualified to compete in the Grand Finals, there shall be an online crowd voting hosted under the SM Malls Online App.
a. Each grand finalist must submit a high-resolution soft copy of his/her photo portrait. Each contestant will have their own voting page, image highlight, direct link, and QR Code available by July 29, 2025.
b. Contestants are allowed to share and promote their online voting page from July 29 to August 8, 2025 (11:59PM).
c. Submission of the contestants’ photos also merits the parents’ consent to use the photos for any promotional material under the SM Little Stars competition.
1.3.One (1) winner will be crowned to receive People's Choice Award based on highest count of online votes within the allowable voting period.
1.4. The winner of People’s Choice Award shall receive the Php 15,000 worth of SM Malls Online Shopping E-vouchers.
Step 1: Open SMOP Webtool
Step 2: Create a Coupon
Step 3: Proceed to fill up your coupon details
1.1. Select “Mall Events” under coupon classification.
1.2. Input the Coupon prefix (ex. LITTLESTARSJUAN)
2.1. There will be no maximum redemptions set for total count of votes per contestant. 1.2. In terms of usage limit, a person may only swipe to vote a candidate once. He/she however, may swipe to vote for multiple candidates.
o Access Page Image: 600px by 600px.
o Format: JPEG or PNG, max 500 KB.
Step 4: Scheduling
Step 5: Publish
3.1.Audience must download the SM Malls Online App and register an account
3.2.They can find the voting coupon of each Little Star finalist by either: search bar on the app, share link from social media sites, or scanning QR at the event.
3.3.Audience can swipe and will receive a confirmation of their 1 Vote for the contestant of their choosing.
3.4.Each vote is automatically received in the SM Malls Online backend platform.
4.1.During the deliberation proper on August 9, 2025, all online votes will be extracted from the SMO backend. A DTI representative may be present during the event to witness the data extraction.
4.2.Eligible votes per contestant will be added.
4.3.The contestant with the top votes (1 winner) will be announced as winner during the program.
Sample backend extract including:
Annex A: List of Participating Malls in the Preliminary Screenings
# |
MALL |
PRELIMS DATE 1 |
PRELIMS DATE 2 |
PRELIMS DATE 3 |
METRO MANILA 1 |
||||
1 |
SM City North EDSA |
June 29 |
July 6 |
July 13 |
2 |
SM City Grand Central |
June 28 |
July 13 |
|
3 |
SM City Fairview |
June 14 |
June 28 |
July 12 |
4 |
SM City Novaliches |
June 29 |
July 5 |
|
5 |
SM City San Jose Del Monte |
July 6 |
July 13 |
|
6 |
SM City Caloocan |
July 12 |
||
7 |
SM Center Sangandaan |
June 21 |
July 12 |
|
8 |
SM City Valenzuela |
June 14 |
July 5 |
|
METRO MANILA 2 |
||||
9 |
SM City East Ortigas |
June 28 |
July 6 |
|
10 |
SM Center Angono |
June 28 |
July 5 |
|
11 |
SM City San Lazaro |
June 28 |
July 12 |
|
12 |
SM City Manila |
June 21 |
July 5 |
|
13 |
SM City Sta. Mesa |
June 22 |
July 13 |
|
14 |
SM City San Mateo |
July 13 |
||
15 |
SM City Marikina |
June 14 |
July 12 |
|
16 |
SM City Masinag |
June 28 |
||
METRO MANILA 3 |
||||
17 |
SM City Bicutan |
June 28 |
July 12 |
|
18 |
SM City Sucat |
June 21 |
July 5 |
|
19 |
SM City BF Paranaque |
July 6 |
July 13 |
|
20 |
SM Southmall |
June 28 |
July 12 |
|
21 |
SM Center Muntinlupa |
July 5 |
July 13 |
|
22 |
SM City Bacoor |
June 28 |
July 5 |
|
23 |
SM City Molino |
June 22 |
July 6 |
|
24 |
SM Center San Pedro |
June 29 |
July 13 |
|
NORTH LUZON 1 |
||||
25 |
SM City Baguio |
June 21 |
June 28 |
|
26 |
SM City Rosales |
June 29 |
July 6 |
|
27 |
SM City Urdaneta Central |
June 14 |
June 22 |
|
28 |
SM Center Dagupan |
July 13 |
||
29 |
SM City Laoag |
July 12 |
||
NORTH LUZON 2 |
||||
30 |
SM City Baliwag |
June 28 |
July 12 |
|
31 |
SM Center Pulilan |
June 22 |
June 29 |
|
32 |
SM City Tarlac |
July 5 |
July 12 |
|
33 |
SM City Cauayan |
June 22 |
July 5 |
|
34 |
SM City Tuguegarao |
June 22 |
July 6 |
|
35 |
SM City Cabanatuan |
June 22 |
July 5 |
|
NORTH LUZON 3 |
||||
36 |
SM City Marilao |
July 5 |
July 6 |
|
37 |
SM City Olongapo Central |
July 6 |
July 13 |
|
38 |
SM City Bataan |
July 6 |
July 12 |
|
39 |
SM City Clark |
June 29 |
July 6 |
July 13 |
40 |
SM City Telabastagan |
June 21 |
July 12 |
|
41 |
SM City Pampanga |
June 28 |
July 5 |
|
SOUTH LUZON 1 |
||||
42 |
SM City Tanza |
July 6 |
July 13 |
|
43 |
SM City Trece Martires |
June 21 |
July 5 |
|
44 |
SM City Lipa |
June 22 |
July 13 |
|
45 |
SM City Dasmariñas |
June 29 |
July 12 |
July 13 |
46 |
SM City Santa Rosa |
June 21 |
July 5 |
|
47 |
SM City Calamba |
June 22 |
July 6 |
|
48 |
SM City Sto. Tomas |
June 22 |
July 12 |
|
49 |
SM City Rosario |
June 28 |
July 12 |
# |
MALL |
PRELIMS DATE 1 |
PRELIMS DATE 2 |
PRELIMS DATE 3 |
SOUTH LUZON 2 |
||||
50 |
SM City Lucena |
June 28 |
June 29 |
|
51 |
SM City Batangas |
July 5 |
July 6 |
|
52 |
SM City Naga |
June 29 |
July 12 |
|
53 |
SM City Legazpi |
June 29 |
July 13 |
|
54 |
SM City Daet |
June 29 |
||
55 |
SM City Sorsogon |
July 28 |
||
56 |
SM City San Pablo |
June 28 |
July 12 |
|
VISAYAS |
||||
57 |
SM City Cebu |
June 29 |
July 13 |
|
58 |
SM City Consolacion |
June 22 |
July 6 |
|
59 |
SM City Bacolod |
July 5 |
July 6 |
|
60 |
SM City Iloilo |
June 28 |
July 13 |
|
61 |
SM City Puerto Princesa |
June 28 |
July 13 |
|
62 |
SM City Roxas |
June 28 |
July 6 |
|
MNDANAO |
||||
63 |
SM City Davao |
June 21 |
July 13 |
|
64 |
SM City General Santos |
June 29 |
July 6 |
|
65 |
SM CDO Uptown |
June 28 |
July 5 |
|
66 |
SM City Butuan |
June 21 |
July 5 |
|
67 |
SM City Mindpro |
June 28 |
July 5 |
Selection of Preliminary Screening Winners per mall cluster
# |
MALL CLUSTER |
TOTAL QUALIFIED |
1 |
Metro Manila 1 |
51 |
2 |
Metro Manila 2 |
42 |
3 |
Metro Manila 3 |
48 |
4 |
North Luzon 1 |
24 |
5 |
North Luzon 2 |
36 |
6 |
North Luzon 3 |
39 |
7 |
South Luzon 1 |
48 |
8 |
South Luzon 2 |
36 |
9 |
Visayas |
36 |
10 |
Mindanao |
30 |
TOTAL |
390 |
Annex B: List of Participating Malls in the Regionals
# |
MALL CLUSTER |
July 19 |
July 26 |
July 27 |
Saturday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
||
1 |
Metro Manila 1 |
SM City North EDSA |
||
2 |
Metro Manila 2 |
SM City Marikina |
||
3 |
Metro Manila 3 |
SM Southmall |
||
4 |
North Luzon 1 |
SM City Baguio |
||
5 |
North Luzon 2 |
SM City Cabanatuan |
||
6 |
North Luzon 3 |
SM City Pampanga |
||
7 |
South Luzon 1 |
SM City Santa Rosa |
||
8 |
South Luzon 2 |
SM City Lucena |
||
9 |
Visayas |
SM City Seaside Cebu |
||
10 |
Mindanao |
SM City Davao |
Selection of Regional Semi-Finals Winners per mall cluster
# |
MALL CLUSTER |
MALL |
TOTAL QUALIFIED |
1 |
Metro Manila 1 |
SM City North Edsa |
3 |
2 |
Metro Manila 2 |
SM City Marikina |
3 |
3 |
Metro Manila 3 |
SM Southmall |
3 |
4 |
North Luzon 1 |
SM City Baguio |
3 |
5 |
North Luzon 2 |
SM City Cabanatuan |
3 |
6 |
North Luzon 3 |
SM City Pampanga |
3 |
7 |
South Luzon 1 |
SM City Santa Rosa |
3 |
8 |
South Luzon 2 |
SM City Lucena |
3 |
9 |
Visayas |
SM Seaside City Cebu |
3 |
10 |
Mindanao |
SM City Davao |
3 |
TOTAL |
30 |
Annex C: List of Prizes
PRELIMINARY SCREENINGS |
PRIZES |
Winners |
• Winners will not receive any cash prize and gift certificate from preliminary screenings |
REGIONAL FINALS |
PRIZES |
Winners |
Php10,000 worth of SM gift certificates |
Consolation Prizes |
Php1,000 worth of SM gift certificates |
GRAND FINALS |
PRIZES |
Grand Winner |
▪ Total of Php150,000 worth of cash and SM gift certificates (Php75,000 cash and Php75,000 worth of SM gift certificates) |
First Runner-Up |
▪ Total of Php100,000 worth of cash and SM gift certificates ▪ Php20,000 worth of Toy Kingdom gift cards ▪ 100% discount of tuition fee at National University (NU) applicable in any 4- year degree program in any NU campus nationwide ▪ Trip to Hongkong for 2 for 5 days & 4 nights (inclusive of round-trip tickets, tour itinerary, and hotel accommodations with breakfast, lunch & dinner) ▪ Annual Pass Certificate for unlimited bowling game and skating admission valid for one (1) year ▪ 30 regular ride tickets at SM by the BAY Amusement Park/Sky Ranch ▪ Gift voucher for an overnight stay at Park Inn by Radisson Davao in a Superior room with buffet breakfast for 2 |
Second Runner-Up |
▪ Total of Php70,000 worth of cash and SM gift certificates ▪ Php15,000 worth of Toy Kingdom gift cards ▪ 100% discount on tuition fee at National University (NU) applicable in any 4- year degree program in any NU campus nationwide ▪ Trip to Hongkong for 2 for 5 days & 4 nights (inclusive of round-trip tickets, tour itinerary, and hotel accommodations with breakfast, lunch & dinner) ▪ Annual pass certificate for unlimited bowling game and skating admission valid for one (1) year ▪ 30 regular ride tickets at SM by the BAY Amusement Park/Sky Ranch ▪ Gift voucher for an overnight stay at Park Inn by Radisson Clark in a Standard room with buffet breakfast for 2 |
Third Runner-Up |
▪ Total of Php40,000 worth of cash and SM gift certificates (Php20,000 cash and Php20,000 worth of SM gift certificates) ▪ Php10,000 worth of Toy Kingdom gift cards ▪ 100% discount on tuition fee at National University (NU) applicable in any 4- year degree program in any NU campus nationwide ▪ Trip to Hongkong for 2 for 5 days & 4 nights (inclusive of round-trip tickets, tour itinerary, and hotel accommodations with breakfast, lunch & dinner) ▪ Annual pass certificate for unlimited bowling game and skating admission valid for one (1) year ▪ 30 regular ride tickets at SM by the BAY Amusement Park/Sky Ranch ▪ Gift voucher for an overnight stay at Park Inn Hotel Bacolod or Iloilo with buffet breakfast for two |
Consolation Prizes Top 5 – 10 Five (5) Winners |
▪ Total of Php15,000 worth of cash and SM gift certificates (Php10,000 cash and Php5,000 worth of SM gift certificates) ▪ Php3,000 worth of Toy Kingdom gift cards ▪ 50% discount on tuition fee at National University (NU) applicable in any 4- year degree program in any NU campus nationwide ▪ Trip to Hongkong for 2 for 5 days & 4 nights (inclusive of round-trip tickets, tour itinerary, and hotel accommodations with breakfast, lunch & dinner) ▪ Annual pass certificate for unlimited bowling game and skating admission valid for one (1) year ▪ 30 regular ride tickets at SM by the BAY Amusement Park/Sky Ranch ▪ Gift Voucher for one of the following: ο Radisson Blu Cebu: 20% discount off best available rate ο Park Inn by Radisson Davao: 20% discount off best available rate ο Park Inn by Radisson Clark: 20% discount off best available rate ο Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod: buffet breakfast for 2 ο Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo: buffet breakfast for 2 at Ani ο Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA: 20% discount off best available rate |
Consolation Prizes Finalist 11 – 30 |
▪ Total of Php15,000 worth of cash and SM gift certificates (Php10,000 cash and Php5,000 worth of SM gift certificates) ▪ Php3,000 worth of Toy Kingdom gift cards ▪ Annual pass certificate for unlimited bowling game and skating admission valid for one (1) year ▪ 30 regular ride tickets at SM by the BAY Amusement Park/Sky Ranch ▪ Gift Voucher for one of the following: ο Radisson Blu Cebu: 20% discount off best available rate ο Park Inn by Radisson Davao: 20% discount off best available rate ο Park Inn by Radisson Clark: 20% discount off best available rate ο Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod: buffet breakfast for 2 ο Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo: buffet breakfast for 2 at Ani ο Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA: 20% discount off best available rate |
Annex D: Claiming of Prizes
GIFT CERTIFICATES:
Prizes to be released after the Grand Finals:
TO CLAIM these prizes, please proceed to Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia after the Grand Finals program. Requirements:
Reminders:
CASH PRIZES
Cash prizes will be paid in check within 60 days
Payee Name: Parent’s or Guardian’s Name
Requirements:
TIN ID
Signed authorization letter from the parent – if the guardian will claim the prize
Photocopy of Parent’s or Guardian’s valid ID
TIN of the contestant/kid (One-Time TIN) – if parent’s TIN ID is not available
Home Address or Email Address and Contact Number of the Parent/s
For Metro Manila winners/consolation prize winners, checks will be released at the Head Office of SM Supermalls at the SM Prime Headquarters. Parents will be notified via email when the check is ready. • SM Prime Headquarters, MOA Square, Mall of Asia Complex, Coral Way, corner Seashell Lane, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila
For Provincial, Visayas, and Mindanao winners/consolation prize winners, a check will be released by the Representing Mall Branch of the contestants. Parents will be notified via email when the check is ready.
Requirements for the claiming of cash prize: