
To promote the traditional culture of the Mid-Autumn Festival and showcase culinary skills, college students from our school’s Hospitality Management Program successfully created and displayed a giant round mooncake measuring 10 feet in diameter on September 25, 2026, at the Lucky Chinatown Mall, celebrating the occasion with the Chinese-Filipino community. The theme of this event was “Moonlit Reverie: A Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration,” co-organized by our Higher Education Division with Lucky Chinatown Mall.
This stunning culinary project was meticulously crafted by our students, under the guidance of their mentor, Chef Catherine Blas Yu. This 10-foot round mooncake not only delivered a strong visual impact for the celebration, but was also a perfect showmanship of the students’ exquisite skills and teamwork.
The distinguished guests attending the unveiling of the mooncake included Manila City Third District Councilor Jeff Lau, Manila Police District Station 11 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Leopoldo Bonifacio Cajipe Jr., Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Deputy Secretary-General Gino Villanueva Chen, Lucky Chinatown Mall General Manager General Manager Jeff Menil, and Eng Bee Tin owner Royce Gerrik Chua, and our College President, Dr. Judelio Yap.
At the official unveiling and display ceremony of the giant mooncake, President Yap delivered a speech, thanking Lucky Chinatown Mall for inviting CKS College as its official school for this year’s celebration. He stated: “Today, we are especially proud to unveil the centerpiece of this year’s festival — the giant mooncake. This work not only showcases the students’ culinary skills and creativity but also embodies the spirit of passing on Mid-Autumn culture from generation to generation.” He particularly praised the Hospitality Management students for perfectly applying what they learned in the classroom under Chef Blas Yu to practice, demonstrating the excellence of precision, creativity, craftsmanship, and dedication that defines CKSians.
President Yap further elaborated on the deeper meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival: “The full moon symbolizes completeness; the round cake represents reunion. When we share mooncakes, what we share is not just a delicious pastry, but warmth and blessings passed down through generations.” He emphasized that CKS College not only cultivates students’ minds but also values the nurturing of their souls, striving to pass on Chinese-Filipino cultural heritage while cultivating students’ professional abilities and international vision for the future. This collaboration with Lucky Chinatown Mall is a perfect embodiment of this mission.
He concluded by quoting the ancient poem, “May we all be blessed with longevity, though far apart, we share the beauty of the moon,” wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and complete happiness.
This event was hosted by Chinoy TV host and CKSian alumna Mary Grace Khu as master of ceremonies, whose professional and lively hosting skills connected the entire program, adding many highlights to the event. Among these, the mooncake-cutting ceremony livened the atmosphere to its climax. The traditional mooncake was grandly cut on site, symbolizing the beautiful spirit of sharing blessings, unity, and community harmony during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
To enhance the festive atmosphere, the CKS College Chinese Folk Dance Troupe, under the guidance of Marvin Ng, delivered a spectacular dance performance on stage. The graceful movements not only ignited the lively atmosphere on site but also showcased the school’s achievements and dedication in promoting holistic education and passing on Chinese-Filipino cultural arts.