For the first time in thirteen years, I was able to re-visit the Philippines and immerse myself within a culture I had been experiencing vicariously through my Filipino family. As a woman of color and a filmmaker, one of my goals has always been to share stories reflecting who I am and where I come from, in an effort to mobilize and celebrate the conversation of diversity and racial identity. My short film documents my experiences in re-discovering, exploring, and admiring my roots over a span of two weeks. Although the trip may have been brief, it was more than enough time for me to fall in love with my parents’ birthplace and home before coming to the United States; the rustic environment, delicious food, and the overall compassion of the Filipino people.
Rialin José (pronounced RY-lin ho-ZAY) is a Chicago-based filmmaker and photographer. She is currently a Cinema Art and Science major, and is a media director for TEDxColumbiaCollegeChicago. Outside of film, Rialin has experience with illustration, graphic design, and multimedia journalism. From 2013-2015, she contributed to the Chicago Tribune’s teen publication, The Mash, as a student reporter.
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