“Bernadette” 

A stand-up comic view of life as a Filipino-American.

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In “Faces of America,” Bernadette Balagtas combines acting and comedy skills.  The show deals with issues of multi-culturalism and diversity.

Balagtas grew up in the Philippines to parents who struggled to bring her and her three sisters to America for a better life. Once in America , Bernadette's main goal was to be a contestant on the legendary game show “The Price is Right”. While in the Philippines , she saw a man win a washer and dryer by bidding one dollar and thought to herself, "Wow, only in America .”

Balagtas began performing after she grasped the English language. Occasionally, she would slip from English to her native language which made for very interesting school plays. After high school, she pursued a nursing career because if you were Filipino you had to be a nurse. It's the LAW! Before getting accepted to the program Bernadette decided to quit college and pursue acting. She never told her parents but they eventually found out after seeing her in an MCI commercial.

Her big break came when she landed the lead role of Rose Mercado in the critically acclaimed movie "The Debut." This ground breaking film is the first Filipino-American movie ever made and released in the United States .

Balagtas performs at comedy clubs, college events and church functions across the country. Since she will never be a nurse, she hopes to fulfill her mother's dreams by someday playing one on TV.

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