Pulang Araw is getting everyone's attention these days—including ours. It's another one of those series that would take you across Philippine history. We've seen how they did it with the groundbreaking fantasy drama, Maria Clara at Ibarra in 2022. It gained prominence with how it was able to connect present times and the Philippines' colonial era under Spain, as told through Dr. Jose Rizal's works, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
This time around, Pulang Araw is taking us back to the 1940s—to the time when we were under the Japanese colonial forces. Sounds interesting and informative, right? True enough, it is really the core of the show: the history and the stories of people living during those times.
At the GMA Gala 2024, we took the chance to ask Pulang Araw lead stars, Barbie Forteza and David Licauco, about the historical drama. The two made quite the buzz for their chemistry during the run of Maria Clara at Ibarra, who were then paired and given some romantic-comedy takes that remain popular, like Barbie's "Babu!" or David's swoon-worthy, "Binibining Klay."
Talking to Cosmopolitan Philippines, Barbie enthusiastically shared that her GMA Gala 2024 gown was actually inspired by their show. Every detail in her gown was related to Pulang Araw. ICYMI, Barbie wore a custom-made white ball gown by Filipino designer, Mak Tumang.
"We put Sakura branches all over the dress. Yung flowers ay Sampaguita, so it represents Japan and the Philippines. Of course, we chose white because it symbolizes peace. It was held in 1947 because we celebrate a newfound peace after the war," Barbie explained to Cosmo. NGL, she looked absolutely stunning in it. (She low-key looked like a bride too!)
Asking what viewers should expect from Pulang Araw, Barbie seemed to be overwhelmed with everything about the show, but in a good way. Regardless of the expectations, Barbie makes it to a point to emphasize that the show isn't about her—it's about the story itself.
Barbie stated, "I just want people to watch it not just for me. Pero the importance of the show, the core value of the show, sana ma-appreciate ng mga tao."
As for David, the Kapuso actor assures that there's something to watch for, especially for his character in Pulang Araw. "A different David," he claimed. That's what his fans and everyone else who's gonna watch the show should expect.
He says that in Pulang Araw, he definitely veered away from his usual image of "pa-cute" and "pa-gwapo." David also expressed his gratitude to the network and the whole production team for entrusting him with such a challenging character. This might be the first time that David is really delving into a "complex" character as he called it.
"In this teleserye, I really worked on my craft. Daming drama, daming internal conflicts sa character ko which I'm so super grateful for. They trusted me with this kind of role, complex and challenging," David declared.
More importantly, the actor underscored that the viewers can expect more values and takeaways from their drama—not just entertainment. He told Cosmo, "It's just so nice as an actor, na hindi lang purely entertainment. In Pulang Araw, I think we can inspire people through our series."
Is Pulang Araw Worth The Hype?
In case you haven't seen its promotional videos (which, bt dubs, are so amazing) and some spoilers already, let's take a quick deep dive into Pulang Araw here.
Pulang Araw's story will begin with the stories of four childhood friends who are tested and bonded by their experiences during the American and Japanese occupation in the Philippines. Set in the 1940s, Alden Richards, Sanya Lopez, Barbie Forteza, and David Licauco will portray the characters Eduardo dela Cruz, Teresita Borromeo, Adelina dela Cruz, and Hiroshi Tanaka, respectively.
Alden and Barbie's characters in the drama are half-siblings from the same mother portrayed by Rhian Ramos. Barbie and Sanya become half-sisters in the series, with Epi Quizon as their father.
ALSO READ: Rhian Ramos Earns Praise For Her Acting In 'Pulang Araw'
Although Pulang Araw is a historical drama, there's still a romantic part in it that'll surely capture everyone's hearts. We're sure it's not going to be the usual love stories out there, given the era that these four characters live in. David portrays Barbie's half-Japanese childhood-friend-turned-love-interest in the show. Meanwhile, the relationship between Alden and Sanya's characters will be tested by the situations brought about by the Japanese colonization.
We'll see the four main characters of Pulang Araw develop their personalities and principles in life as the Japanese forces take over the Philippines—and their lives. Eduardo, Teresita, Adelina, and Hiroshi will take on different paths that intensify the poignant turns throughout Pulang Araw.
Watch Pulang Araw's official full primer here:
Internet Reacts To Pulang Araw
Even just by watching its official trailer, we were in total awe of Pulang Araw's story, cinematography, and cast. Aside from the four celebrities mentioned above, Kapuso A-lister Dennis Trillo also joins the stellar cast. He plays the character of a ruthless Japanese soldier named, Yuta Saito.
The first episodes of Pulang Araw were first released on the streaming platform, Netflix. As of writing, the series has five episodes already. Of course, we were curious as to how the Internet perceived Pulang Araw, given that it's also one of the most anticipated teleseryes this year.
And it seems that Pulang Araw did not disappoint with its pilot week. We've read nothing but intense praises for how the historical drama has been crafted not just for the Filipino audience, but also at par with international viewers.
With its understated cinematography, the acting chops of the cast, and the well-written script it offered for its first episodes—Pulang Araw is sure to give viewers more to look forward to.
