MANILA, Philippines — More than 15 years after putting his studies on hold, Xian Lim has officially realized his dream of earning a college degree. The 36-year-old actor-director marched during the commencement exercises at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) over the weekend to receive his diploma in Bachelor of Arts in Music Production from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).
He achieved this through Benilde’s Expanded Tertiary Education, Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), a Commission on Higher Education-approved alternative learning system that allows individuals to get their degree through an assessment process.
Xian was actually a Psychology Major at Skyline College in San Bruno, California when he moved to the Philippines and then found the opportunity to become a full-time actor.
“Fifteen years flew by as I poured everything I had into my craft. But deep inside, I always felt something was missing,” he confessed in an Instagram post. “There was a quiet insecurity — a void I couldn’t quite explain. I had never finished school or earned a college degree, and that absence stayed with me. It became a gap I could no longer ignore, and I knew it was something I had to confront for myself.”
In 2025, Xian, while training to become a pilot at Topflite Academy, was encouraged by its founder and CEO, Capt. Sahl Andrews Onglatco, to consider resuming his college education through Benilde’s ETEEAP. Onglatco himself, through the same program, is a graduate of BS Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (BS-HRIM).
Xian enrolled in the same year. According to him, the celebrity status vanished the moment he stepped onto campus. “No, they never treated me differently,” he told The STAR. “Of course, there were moments when people would say hello or ask for a selfie, but once class started, I was just another student. What stood out to me most was how warm and welcoming everyone at Benilde was. I honestly didn’t expect so many people to be (so supportive).”
Below are more excerpts from our exclusive e-mail interview:
You mentioned in a past interview feeling bad for a long time about not having a college degree. Now that you’ve finally graduated from Benilde, how do you plan to celebrate? Who are you most grateful for this journey? And what was your mom’s reaction?
Xian: “After being away from school for more than 15 years, graduating from Benilde through the ETEEAP program is something I never thought would still happen. For a long time, I believed that chapter of my life had already closed because my career demanded so much of my time and energy.
“But I realized that some dreams never really leave you. No matter how many films, TV projects or achievements came my way, there was always a part of me that felt unfinished. Completing my education wasn’t about proving anything to anyone else — it was about fulfilling a promise I had made to myself. Finally, earning my degree gave me a sense of peace and fulfillment that I had been searching for years.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my professors, mentors, classmates and everyone at Benilde who welcomed me and reminded me that learning has no age limit. Most of all, I’m grateful to my mom. She believed in me even when I doubted myself. From preparing my meals before class to taking responsibilities off my plate so I could focus on my studies, her quiet acts of love made this journey possible. Seeing her at my graduation was one of the most emotional moments of my life because I finally got to give her a moment she had been waiting for.
“As for celebrating, I just want a simple get-together with my family, friends, and everyone who helped me get here. Nothing extravagant — just quality time with the people who made this milestone meaningful. To me, graduation isn’t the finish line; it’s the start of another chapter.”
Will you now write music for your films?
Xian: “Yes, that’s definitely part of the plan. Studying Music Production at Benilde has given me a much deeper understanding of how music shapes storytelling and emotion. It has opened up so many new possibilities, not just as a filmmaker, but as a creative.
“Moving forward, I’d love to score my own films and gradually develop a musical style that feels uniquely mine. I don’t see music as something that’s simply added in post-production — it has the power to become another character in the story. Being able to approach both the visual and musical aspects of filmmaking allows me to tell stories in a more personal and intentional way, and that’s something I’m really excited to explore.”
We imagine going back to school when you’re already famous can be scary. What was the most humbling experience as well as difficult feedback you got from your Benilde teachers?
Xian: “Yes, it was intimidating. For more than 15 years, my life has been very public. People have seen my successes, my failures and they’ve formed their own opinions about who I am. Walking back into a classroom, I wasn’t sure if people would see me as a student or simply as the person they knew from television. I had to remind myself to leave my ego at the door and just be willing to learn.
“The most humbling experience was realizing that I didn’t have music figured out at all. Before going back to school, I thought my years of writing and producing gave me a solid understanding of the craft. But being surrounded by incredibly talented professors and passionate classmates made me realize how much I still didn’t know. It was both inspiring and humbling to discover that I had only scratched the surface.
“One piece of feedback that stayed with me was that experience alone isn’t a substitute for strong fundamentals. In the industry, you’re often creating with deadlines, audiences and commercial success in mind. In school, you’re challenged to understand the ‘why’ behind every creative decision—to study the theory, the technique, and the intention. That shift in mindset completely changed the way I approach music.
“I left Benilde not just with a degree, but with a renewed sense of curiosity. The experience reminded me that no matter how successful you become, there’s always another level to reach if you’re willing to remain a student.”
You’re now a pilot, actor, director and music producer. If you could make one big project that uses all of these skills together, what would it be? Or is there anything in the works already?
Xian: “The obvious answer would be to make a film that brings all of those worlds together, a story centered around aviation that I direct, act in and score myself. That would definitely be a dream project because it combines everything I’m passionate about into one creative vision.
“But if I were to give the longer answer, I think these titles — pilot, actor, director and music producer — are really just byproducts of something much bigger. Each one has taught me discipline, leadership, responsibility and the value of lifelong learning. More than collecting skills, they’ve shaped the kind of person I want to become.
“Every new field I’ve entered has forced me to become a beginner again. It has taught me to stay humble, embrace failure, trust the process and keep showing up even when progress feels slow. Those lessons have given me a more systematic way of approaching life. Instead of being overwhelmed by big challenges, I’ve learned to break them down, stay consistent and trust that small improvements every day eventually lead to meaningful growth.”
Working adults might think it’s too late to return to school. What’s the best advice you can give to someone who wants to get a degree later in life like you did?
Xian: “My biggest advice is to know your why. Understand the reason you’re doing it. When your purpose is clear, it becomes your compass. It gives you direction on the days when you’re tired, discouraged, or questioning whether it’s all worth it.
“The second is to accept that sacrifices will have to be made. Going back to school later in life isn’t easy. You’ll have to make difficult choices, manage your time well and sometimes say no to opportunities so you can stay committed to the bigger goal. But every sacrifice becomes worthwhile when you remember why you started.
“One quote that has always stayed with me is from Denzel Washington: ‘Dreams without goals are just dreams, and ultimately they fuel disappointment. On the road to achieving your dreams, you must apply discipline and consistency, because without commitment you’ll never start, and without consistency you’ll never finish.’”