Actor and entrepreneur Matteo Guidicelli recently experienced a full-circle moment after unexpectedly reuniting with his former teachers from Brent International School at his restaurant in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
In an Instagram post on May 8, Matteo shared what he initially thought was a regular reservation turned into an evening filled with gratitude, memories, and appreciation for the mentors who helped shape his life.
“A beautiful surprise tonight at @guidicelliristorante,” Matteo began.
According to the actor, he first assumed that students from the international school were the ones who booked the restaurant. But as the guests started arriving, he soon realized that it was actually members of the school’s faculty gathering together to celebrate the retirement of one of his former teachers, Ms. Lulu Floresca, after 38 years of teaching.
The intimate celebration became even more meaningful for Matteo, who admitted that he had not seen most of his teachers since graduating in 2008.
Photos shared by the actor showed him warmly reconnecting with his former mentors over dinner. One video clip even captured a lighthearted moment during a toast, with Matteo jokingly saying that he never imagined teachers actually drink.
The reunion also became a reminder for Matteo of how deeply teachers influenced him long after graduation.
“This is a random appreciation post because sometimes we take it for granted. But seeing all of them at one table, in my restaurant, many years after I graduated, hit me hard.”
“We are who we are today largely because of them. They molded us, taught us, shaped us. They made us believe in ourselves and keep pushing in life,” he expressed.
The evening also brought back memories of how one teacher helped open the door to the career he would eventually pursue. According to the actor, Ms. Floresca played a major role in steering him toward the entertainment industry after she made him perform “Corner of the Sky” during their school theater production of Pippin. Matteo shared that the experience became a turning point in his life, saying the moment “opened every door that came after.”
“To Ms. Floresca and to every teacher who shaped a life — thank you. More power to you. Congratulations on 38 incredible years of service. Teachers, thank you,” he ended.
Long before becoming known as an actor, racer, and entrepreneur, Matteo already had a strong passion for theater and performing arts. During his school years, he participated in several stage productions before later studying Performing Arts at Columbia College Chicago. In 2023, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management from the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu.
The touching reunion comes months after Matteo made headlines following an incident in February, when a vehicle rammed into the al fresco dining area of their family’s Italian restaurant in Muntinlupa City.