GMC Donation Day & WiFi Body
News Bulletin #4
A Warm Welcome to the members of the FGS Community
By: Eric Caña
Last September 23, 2022, the Wong Lai Chan Charity Foundation alongside other devotees from the Fo Guang Shan Foundation and members of the Buddha’s Light International Association visited Guang Ming College Tagaytay and conducted their regular donation drive. The students warmly welcomed the guests with merry songs as they walked along the way to the arena. Venerable Yung Guang and Venerable Miao Jing led the welcoming activity, thanking the guests for their good heart and generosity. The donations were various basic necessities such as sacks of rice, bread, toiletries, denim jackets, water flasks and shoes. All these to show their support to the institution and to the scholars.
Afterwards the students were treated to a plant-based, vegetarian bento box lunch which everyone truly enjoyed.
After their lunch, the students, led by the Guang Ming Harmonies, once again performed songs to entertain the guests and to show their gratitude for the unending support that they continually receive from the FGS Community.
WIFIBODY
By: Eric Caña
The CCP Choreographers Series conducted this year’s “WIFIBODY”, a choreography contest for contemporary dance in the Philippines where emerging artists reveal their craft and share the viewpoint of the youth. A first-tier competition for the solo-duet form was held last October 15, 2022 at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Cultural Center of the Philippines. The event showcased the winning pieces of the four aspiring artists who represented Guang Ming College.
Starting with Ms. Erica Patoc’s first placer, “Santigwar,” a term in Bicol that means to make the sign of the cross and/or be healed by a faith healer. It is a movement study on action-reaction inspired by Newton’s Third Law of Motion. Another pride from the school is Mr. Lloyd Pilapil’s piece entitled “Man-nequin”, which received an “Encouragement Award for Composition” and was granted by the Philippine National Artist for Dance, Ms. Alice Reyes.
Coming in second place was Ms. Mary Evangeline Recto’s “WITH | n | ME.” Ms. Recto is an alumna of GMC and is currently the coordinator for student activities under the Office of Student Affairs and International Mobility (OSA).
Lastly, another alumna and currently a GMC Hiraya member Jai Nacionales showcased her piece “Normal Temp”, a moving interpretation of living amid a pandemic, working on the concept of translating the body’s state of vulnerability and resilience in the threshold of crisis.
“Participating in this kind of competition is one of my stepping stones to growing, exploring, finding myself, and sharing my talent with people and what I can offer or share in the dance industry. This is my first time competing with my choreography, and I have decided not to dance to focus on making dance. It was my first time working with a large group of people. Almost everything in my process is completely new,” said Ms. Patoc in an interview.
The said competition was a success and very much a memorable experience, especially for the first-timers who were mentored by national contemporary dance choreographers and our National Artist for Dance, Ms. Alice Reyes.
“It was an unexpected event for me to take home the top prize at Wifibody 2022 because I typically compete as a dancer rather than a choreographer. It was different from what I was used to. I am extremely grateful, especially to God and everyone involved. This is one of my life’s treasures, not just because I won, but also because the process provided many opportunities for me to grow as an artist, especially to the people who have contributed to my success; without them, I would not be where I am today”, she added.