GMA Network and Netflix Philippines’ newly released historical series ‘Pulang Araw’ retells a story of Filipinos’ freedom and resilience during the Japanese occupation. The pilot episode premiered on Netflix on July 26, 2024 and aired on GMA Network on July 29, 2024.
The pilot episode introduced the roles of Barbie Forteza and Alden Richards who play as half-siblings with an unbreakable bond. Overtime, their connection endures hardships as they grow apart. Forteza’s role (Adelina) grows up to be a vaudeville performer and Richards (Eduardo) becomes an insurgent. Sanya Lopez (Teresita) plays as a comfort woman and David Licauco (Hiroshi) who plays as a childhood friend that joins the Japanese forces.
The director, Dominic Zapata, tells how multiple historical events inspired the show, mostly by the Filipinos that sacrificed, fought, and survived during World War II. Though the series revolves around Japanese occupation, he emphasized that “there’s no hatred in this show.”
The cast, crew, and staff also held a watch party at their shooting locations as the first episode premiered on television. Forteza, Licauco and Lopez watched the episode in Batangas while Dennis Trillo (Yuta), who plays as a Japanese soldier in the show, was in Pampanga. Meanwhile, Richards has already flown to Canada to film his upcoming film with Kathryn Bernardo, “Hello, Love, Again.”
“Pulang Araw’ marks the first ever collaboration between Netflix Philippines and GMA Network. Said to release 100 episodes, it promises us Filipinos of all sacrifices made and our resilience in hopeless situations.
Photo Courtesy: Netflix Philippines