A new show is trending on Netflix and social media, and tonight, televiewers will know the reason why.
Pulang Araw delivers a compelling narrative that highlights the untold stories and legacies of Filipinos during World War II. It follows the lives of Eduardo, Teresita, Adelina, and Hiroshi. As war tears apart their country and Japanese forces take over, their dreams, friendships, and loyalties are put to the test.
In a recent interview, the main cast talked about how much they cared about these roles and how hard they worked to make the story real and powerful.
Alden Richards, who plays Eduardo, talked about how hard it was to separate himself from the trauma shown in the series. He pointed out that the series is based on real events experienced by Filipinos during the war.
“Pulang Araw is based on real events, which made it hard to detach from the trauma. Knowing Filipinos went through this was very emotional and disturbing,” he said.
Even though they were just acting, the emotional weight affected the cast deeply, according to Alden. He considers the series one of his most important projects to date.
“Even as actors, we felt the weight of it. That’s why this project is so important to me,” Alden added.
Barbie Forteza, who plays Adelina, teased her fans about seeing a new side of her character. She explained that even though Adelina and her brother Eduardo didn’t have a luxurious life, they were happy and content.
“In the beginning, even though they weren’t given a luxurious life by her brother, the siblings were happy, as if they had everything. You can see Adelina’s childhood until her dream of becoming a vaudeville star with her sister Teresita came true,” she expressed.
Her becoming a vaudeville star, which marks her transformation into a fighter during the war, was surprising according to Barbie.
“You wouldn’t think she could fight in the war, but she will,” she said.
Sanya Lopez, who plays Teresita, shared how her role changed her perspective. She got to speak with former comfort women and felt their pain, which is still very real for them.
Sanya emphasized how important it is to share these stories with viewers because they teach valuable lessons. She noted that while people often think their problems are significant, others have gone through much worse. If these women didn’t give up, neither should anyone else.
“I was given the privilege to personally talk to former comfort women. You can feel the pain they went through. It’s still very fresh in their minds. It’s important that we can share this with viewers because they will learn a lot,” Sanya said.
David Licauco, who plays Hiroshi, talked about the intense preparation needed for his role. Hiroshi has to choose between his loved ones and his duty to his country, which is a big internal conflict. Licauco explained that this role was very challenging and required a lot of preparation to portray accurately.
“Hiroshi has many internal conflicts. It’s like a battle between the head and the heart. The role is very challenging. This teleserye tackles a very deep subject so when I joined the series, I made a lot of preparations,” he said.
Also joining the star-studded cast are Ashley Ortega, Mikoy Morales, Sef Cadayona, Jay Arcilla, Aidan Veneracion, and Tyro Dylusan, with special appearances by Julie Anne San Jose, Derrick Monasterio, Isay Alvarez, Rabiya Mateo, Jacky Woo, Maria Ozawa, Billy Ray Gallion, and Rhian Ramos.
Pulang Araw, based on the original concept of head writer Suzette Doctolero and under the direction of Dominic C. Zapata, premieres tonight on GMA.
