Suspension • A
26-year-old filmmaker, Rhianne Paz Bergado,
was honored by Chi Delta Theta for the
Filipino American Heritage Month with
her film “Suspension.” Pictured
with Bergado, second from the right,
is her leading ladies Maria A. Yanez,
Susan Scanaliato, and Lainnie Felan.
Leslie Branzon/Online Forty-Niner
Chi Delta Theta hosts Filipina filmmaker
Lesley A. Banzon
Contributing Writer
In celebration of Filipino American Heritage Month, the women of Chi Delta Theta
honored Filipina filmmaker, Rhianne Paz Bergado last week with a viewing of her
documentaries in the Anatol Center, located at the University Library. The group
welcomed the 26-year-old filmmaker the traditional Filipino way—with a
loud and energetic room filled with curious guests, gifts, and of course, a late
night dinner. Bergado’s audience viewed the featured film, Suspension.
Suspension is about a girl named Natalie who struggles to survive at a new school
after making enemies with the popular, but heinous Kara. After feeling completely
alone, Natalie finds allies with other outsiders, thus starting a battle between
the two comical characters. In the end, Natalie learns a lesson of acceptance
in identity and overcoming humiliation.
Viewers seemed to appreciate the exaggerated humor, quirky characters and typical
incidents that all teens encounter. “It was a great depiction of a person
struggling to be herself in a world of conformity,” said Philip Daludado,
the 23-year-old senior and president of the Filipino-American Coalition.
The sorority wanted to do something unique for Filipino American Heritage Month. “We
figured in the Filipino American community [film] wasn’t covered enough,” Chi
Delta Theta President Rachelle DeVera said.
They felt that Bergado would be a great inspiration to young women of color making
a name for themselves. “Chi Delta Theta is trying to expose the Filipino
community to young Filipino filmmakers. Not too many young Filipino Americans
know about these filmmakers trying to make it out there,” sorority member
and Culture Chair Tina Refuerzo said.
Filmmaking wasn’t always what Bergado had in mind as a career. Growing
up, she wanted to be a comic book artist until she discovered a love for placing
all school projects on video. “All I knew was that I loved inventing things
and then making them be seen,” she said.
When she began college at Cal State Fullerton, she got more involved with film
and animation, and moved on to get her masters in film and television at Loyola
Marymount University.
She literally places her life into all her films. Many of her cast members are
personal friends and family members, and the plots are even inspired by some
of her experiences from growing up. Her personality comes out with each film
focusing on sarcasm, discovering identity through comedy, and even a soundtrack
with music she produces herself.
Bergado is happy with how far she has come. The thing that matters to her the
most is what she has accomplished, seeing her ideas come to life, inspiring a
crowd like the one she entertained on campus, and being involved with breaking
barriers between women and technology.
Like many, she has felt the pressures of family expectations, but after pushing
forward with all her passion and drive, she finally got the support she needed. “My
mom already got a lawyer [in the family], so I figured I could get away with
something else!” she said.
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