The stage was thousands of miles away, but the light she carried came from a small Filipino town.
Riley Brielle C. Cantos, an 8-year-old Grade 4 student of St. Bridget College – Batangas City, earned 1st Place in the Theater Arts Division (Elementary Category) of the International Carmel Arts Competition – Rising Star 2026, organized by the International Talent Academy in Carmel, Indiana, USA. The competition gathered young performers from several countries, and Riley was the only Filipino participant in her division.
She won with a storytelling piece titled “The Boy Who Befriended a Firefly,” a story she had grown attached to long before the international stage. “I chose this story because I had already performed it in another competition, where I qualified for the national round,” she shared with TGFM. “It is an inspiring story about a boy and his friend, a firefly. It teaches us that even the smallest creatures can bring light, hope, and kindness to the world.”
That message stayed with the young performer, who said the closing of the piece is the part she loves most. “I love that message because it reminds us that we can also bring light and hope in simple ways, like helping others, showing kindness, and loving one another,” she said.
Winning did not come without nerves. Riley admitted she felt anxious before stepping up to perform, and leaned on family and faith to steady herself. “My Nanay encouraged me, and that helped me stay calm and become more confident,” she said. She also prepared by picturing a full auditorium of judges and spectators, practicing until her voice carried clearly across the room, and turning to prayer for courage.
The win, she said, felt like proof that her effort had meant something. “I felt very happy when I found out that I won First Place because I knew that all my hard work had paid off,” she said. “I honestly did not expect it to happen. I was proud of myself, and I was also happy because I made my Nanay and Tatay proud.”
Behind the performance stood a wide circle of support — her parents, who rehearsed with her daily; her grandmother, whose prayers she credited for her strength; and her teachers, Ma’am Catral and Sir Castillo, who refined her acting and delivery.
The same storytelling piece earned Riley 4th place at the ASMEPPS International Organization, Inc. Regional Marathon of Talents and Skills, qualifying her as a national contender. Her international win was later recognized by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Batangas City and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Batangas Province.
For now, the young storyteller is already looking past this victory toward the stages still ahead. “My big dream is to join more international competitions and proudly represent my school, my province, and my country, the Philippines,” she said. She hopes her achievement encourages other children to believe in themselves — a small light, cast outward, in the spirit of her school’s motto: “Let Your Light Shine.”
