Bernardo Bernardo, Bernie or BB to some, is a known figure in television, movie and the theater. Last year he received the 2005 Filipinas Magazine Achievement Award d
(For Entertainment). This award is hande out by the US-circulated monthly glossy magazine

in "recognition of the accomplishments of the advocates, role models, and movers and shakers in the Filipino-American community." This puts BB in the same league as actors Lou Diamond Phillips, Tia Carrere, and Rob Schneider; film director Gene Cajayon and scriptwriter John Manal Castro ("The Debut"); David Maquiling ("Too Much Sleep"), the only Fil-Am member in the Directors Guild of America; Hollywood producer Dean Devlin ("Independence Day," "The Patriot," and "Stargate"); and singer Jocelyn Enriquez, all past recipients of the achievement award.

“I did study and live in the US for close to five years when I took my Masters in Dramatic Arts at the University of California, Santa Barbara and took the starving artist route for a time. At that time, Black was Beautiful and the only Oriental on the scene was Bruce Lee. Then he died.

Back then, being young and unable to take "No" for an answer, I would audition for anything and everything. I got to do some plays and musicals. I had scholarships from the American Conservatory Theatre (Summer Workshop), Pacific Conservatory Theater of Santa Maria and Inner City Cultural Center of Los Angeles.

William Ball, Nagle Jackson, Duncan Ross, Donald Mackayle, Janet Collins were among my illustrious teachers; all impressive names, but I was too young to appreciate that I was learning with living legends in the American performing arts. I mean, there I was working for C. Bernard Jackson, taking acting lessons from Beah Richards and barely surviving tap dance lessons from the Nicholas Brothers of Old Hollywood fame! I gag when I click on the internet and realize how blessed I was to even share a room with them. But I guess that's how youth handles mentorship when raging hormones take precedence.

It was no different when I worked with Lamberto Avellana, Rolando Tinio, Lino Brocka, Zeneida Amador and Ishmael Bernal. It is only in retrospect that it dawned on me that I could have learned so much more from these ultra-talented and supremely intelligent directors; and that I could have enjoyed their company more. Still, there are a lot of outstanding memories to cherish. You take what you can take with you.”

Having trained with the best he also delivers his best. This did not escape the notice of critics and the public. Recently, BB was named one of the five distinguished recipients of the 2006 Thomasians, USA Nobility Award, given to outstanding alumni of the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas for their "outstanding achievements and contributions in their field of specialization and in the service of society." He received the 2005 Gawad Parangal Best Stand-Up Comedian Award in Sacramento; and the 2004 Best Entertainer of the Year Award in the Via Times Hall of Fame Awards in Chicago. He was also an Urian Best Actor Awardee for his role in “Manila by Night” under Director Ishmael Bernal.

As an actor, BB has displayed tremendous versatility in theater and in film. He has performed for Filipino and foreign audiences, can perform in either Filipino or English and can do comedy, drama, and musicals. He was part of “Voyage”, “The Romance of Magno Rubio” , “Promises, Promises”, “Once on This Island”, “Goodbye Girls”, “Rocky Horror Show”, “El Filibusterismo”, “ Katy”, “Maynila!”, “Walang Sugat” productions among others. ( Bernardo was Prudencio in the Midwest premiere of the well-reviewed award-winning play "The Romance Of Magno Rubio" at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater. Out of more than 140 plays, "Magno Rubio" was chosen as one of the top five and was nominated for Best Production and Best Acting Ensemble for the JEFF Awards; Chicago's equivalent of Tony.) He has also directed and wrote scripts for concerts, musicals, company events, beauty pageants and fashion shows.

In film, he has been part of memorable productions, most notable of which was in “Manila by Night”, “City After Dark”, where he played the role of Manay Sharon. He was part of the cast of a Japanese film, “Chateau de Roses”, and French Italian film “Laure”. In Filipino productions he was at the cast of “Isang Bala ka Lang Part2”, “Blue Jeans”, “Pabling”, etc.

BB is also a teacher and trainer at heart. He was Speech and Drama instructor at the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University; a Human Resource Consultant/Trainer for Mercuri International in Singapore; Artistic Project Manager for Haw Par Villa Theme Park, Singapore; and Acting for the Camera teacher at John Robert Powers, Makati. He also taught Acting and Hosting for ABS-CBN; Acting for Singers coach for Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit (OPM); and a mentor of spiritual studies at the Institute of Inner Studies (Pranic Healing and Meditation) under the tutelage of Grand Master Choa Kok Sui.

Just before coming to the US, he did “Promises, Promises” with Actors’ Actors Inc, directed by Bart Guingona, and with Michael Williams and Rachel Alejandro in lead roles. He was also the scheming Steve Carpio in ABS-CBN’s “Home Along the Riles”, which starred the Comedy King Dolphy,

Currently, Filipinos in the States are enjoying BB’s talents. “ I Left the Philippines in June 2002, to do a series of shows in California. There were sufficient nibbles and inquiries for regular employment thrown my way which prompted me to stay and give the US another try. Sort of follow my bliss.” While in United States he does concerts and performances. He has performed as host, singer and stand-up comedian for the audiences of Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Juneau, Las Vegas and New York.

When asked how different performing in the US is from performing back in the Philippines, he replies, “Talent is a universal given. It knows no geographical limitations. I've performed for a couple of the leading regional theaters (Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago and Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, Alaska) in the US and did readings for two acclaimed theater groups (Aurora Berkeley Theatre and Magic Theatre in Northern California). Repertory Philippines and Tanghalang Pilipino are just as good. Mas marami lang silang pera sa 'Merica.

And, of course, they have Actors' Equity and SAG and AFTRA to protect and empower the performing artists. In the Philippines, we're mostly left to fend for ourselves. But people like Mitch Valdes of OPM and Cecile Guidote Alvarez of NCCA are doing their Sysiphian best.

There are a lot of very talented Filipino Americans on the scene. And they're making noise. Developing audiences. Getting great reviews. Among them, Ma-Yi and Diverse City Theatre in New York, Pintig in Chicago, Bindlestiff in San Francisco, S.I.P.A. in Los Angeles --- these are a few of the groups that come to mind.”

As for challenges in performing abroad, “Mainstream casting is not as colorblind as we would like it to be. The idea is to help create materials that would allow Filipino-Americans to shine. There is an audience out there for the best talents, no matter what color.”

While in the States he intends to keep himself busy with the performing arts and with being of service to the younger group of Filipino-American talents to help them prepare for mainstream performance challenges. Fil-Ams are sure lucky to have an exceptional fellow among them.

When is BB going to go back to the Philippines? He answers, “As Darius used to sing, "God Knows."