MANILA, Philippines — Liza Soberano is coming home.
The Filipina actress is set to return to the Philippines with Grammy-winning singer and actress H.E.R. for a special Manila homecoming celebrating DreamWorks Animation’s highly anticipated Filipino-inspired film “Forgotten Island.”
The two stars are scheduled to meet Filipino fans on August 25 at 7 p.m., as part of promotional activities for the animated feature, according to a Manila Bulletin report published Wednesday. The Manila visit comes just weeks before the movie reaches Philippine cinemas.
For Soberano, the visit carries an added emotional weight. Although she has continued working on international projects since moving her career base to the United States, she has maintained strong ties to the Philippines. She also briefly returned to the country in May for a vacation, sharing moments with family and friends.
But this time, her return is not simply a personal homecoming.
It is part of a major international film campaign centered on a story that puts Filipino culture, folklore and mythology at the heart of a DreamWorks production.
Liza Soberano voices a Filipino heroine
In “Forgotten Island,” Soberano voices Raissa, one half of a lifelong friendship at the center of the story. H.E.R. voices her best friend, Jo.
The story follows the two recent high school graduates as they prepare to go their separate ways for college. During their final night together, however, a mysterious portal transports them to Nakali, a fantastical island filled with creatures and legends inspired by Filipino folklore.
Their journey quickly becomes more than an adventure.
Jo and Raissa discover that their memories of their friendship may be the price of finding their way home. They must therefore escape the island before they forget the very relationship they are fighting to preserve.
That emotional premise is one reason the movie has resonated with Soberano.
Earlier this year, she said she was “proud and honored” to be part of a project that showcases Filipino culture and talent. GMA News and ABS-CBN both reported her enthusiasm for the film after the first trailer was released.
A Filipino cast with Hollywood star power
Soberano and H.E.R. aren’t the only Filipino talents attached to the project.
The voice cast also includes acclaimed Filipino actress Lea Salonga, who lends her voice to the film’s formidable Manananggal, as well as Dolly de Leon, Manny Jacinto, Jo Koy and Amielynn Abellera. International stars including Dave Franco, Jenny Slate and Ronny Chieng are also part of the ensemble.
The movie is directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, with Crawford an Academy Award nominee and Mercado a Filipino-American filmmaker. The pair are associated with the creative team behind “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”
That Filipino connection is particularly significant for the film.
The trailer features recognizable elements of Philippine life and culture, including jeepneys, Filipino-style neighborhoods, classrooms, friendship traditions and mythical creatures drawn from Filipino folklore.
From Hollywood back to Manila
Soberano’s “Forgotten Island” journey has already taken her and H.E.R. to major international events.
In May, the pair attended the Gold House Gala in Los Angeles and shared an early look at the film.
They also appeared at San Diego Comic-Con in July alongside fellow cast members, where the Filipino-inspired film became part of a broader celebration of Philippine representation in international entertainment.
Now, the stars are bringing that celebration to Manila.
And for Filipino audiences, the August 25 homecoming could be more than another promotional stop. It represents the return of a homegrown star to the country for a project that places Filipino stories and mythology on a global animated stage.
When will ‘Forgotten Island’ be released?
“Forgotten Island” is currently slated for a September 2026 theatrical release, although published sources have carried differing dates for the Philippine release.
TV5 reported a September 23 Philippine premiere, while CinemaCon materials from DreamWorks/Universal list September 25, 2026 as the film’s opening date. Current movie-release databases likewise list September 25.
For publication, the safest wording is therefore “September 2026” unless Universal Pictures Philippines confirms the final local date.
What is certain is that Filipino audiences won’t have to wait much longer to see Soberano and H.E.R. bring Raissa and Jo’s extraordinary friendship to the big screen.
And before that happens, Manila gets its chance to welcome Liza Soberano home.
The bigger question now: what will the “Forgotten Island” stars reveal when they finally meet their Filipino fans on August 25?
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