GMC Cebu Arts School Holds 2025 Graduation and Siddhartha Musical Showcase

Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple
December 24, 2025

On December 6–7, 2025, Guang Ming College Cebu Arts School held its 2025 Graduation Ceremony and Performance Showcase at the Siddhartha Theater. The two-day event featured six original Three Acts of Goodness musicals created by the 1st Creators Class and the 3rd Siddhartha Training Program, as well as a Folk Dance Graduation Performance. The full program ran for five hours and received enthusiastic praise from the audience.

Venerable Yung Guang, Head Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Philippines, attended the event to give encouragement. She affirmed the efforts of the “Siddhartha Workshop,” noting that six months of dedicated training enabled students to deliver performances with international-level quality. She expressed gratitude to all teachers and staff for nurturing young artists through Buddhist humanistic education.

This year also marked the first Siddhartha Theater Arts Festival, jointly presented by the Siddhartha Training Program and Guang Ming College Cebu. The festival brought together 62 Accomplishers and more than 150 young artists, showcasing creativity, teamwork, and the power of the Three Acts of Goodness through art.

The six original musicals impressed audiences with:
Beautiful music
Sincere and mature acting
Touching stories and meaningful themes
Continuous applause and heartfelt reactions

The students’ passion illuminated the stage, carrying forward the legacy of the Siddhartha the Musical and showing that Buddhist-inspired arts are growing and thriving in the Philippines.

Many participants also shared their reflections.
Joana Jo, one of the mentors and an original cast member of Siddhartha the Musical and Star and Cloud, expressed gratitude for her team’s trust. Their group won Best Script and Best Play, a result she described as “a miracle created through teamwork and perseverance.”

Actor Charlie Sumalinog shared how he overcame the emotional and physical challenges of a difficult scene with the guidance of mentors and the support of the creative team.

The event gathered directors, writers, dancers, musicians, technical crew, and students from various institutions, all contributing to a powerful artistic celebration. Through this festival, young people discovered confidence, inspiration, and the meaningful practice of the Three Acts of Goodness.

More than a showcase, the event marks a new chapter for Humanistic Buddhist arts in the Philippines—beginning here in Cebu.