MANILA — Filipino representation in global entertainment may be entering a new chapter, and actress Liza Soberano believes the growing international attention is becoming more than a series of individual breakthroughs.
During promotional activities for DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming film “Forgotten Island,” Soberano described the growing visibility of Filipinos around the world as a “movement,” pointing to a wider wave of Filipino achievements across film, music and food.
The animated feature, which draws inspiration from Filipino culture, mythology and folklore, has placed that conversation directly on the international entertainment stage.
Liza Soberano: “This Is Kind of a Movement”
Soberano told Philstar.com that she feels Filipinos are increasingly experiencing a moment of recognition in different areas of global culture.
She pointed specifically to developments in film, music and food, saying it is exciting to see audiences from other cultures becoming curious about Philippine culture and discovering its creative traditions.
For Soberano, Forgotten Island represents one example of that wider cultural visibility.
The actress leads the voice cast alongside Filipino-American singer and actress H.E.R., with the two also contributing a song to the film’s official soundtrack.
‘Forgotten Island’ Puts Filipino Culture at the Center
The DreamWorks Animation production follows best friends Raissa and Jo, voiced by Soberano and H.E.R., after they become stranded on the mysterious island of Nakali.
Their journey is connected to the island’s supernatural world and forces them to confront the possibility of losing memories and emotions in their attempt to return home.
Rather than using Filipino culture merely as background decoration, the project is explicitly inspired by Filipino mythology, folklore and cultural traditions.
Recent Philippine coverage has highlighted the film’s significance for Filipino representation in a major Hollywood animated production.
A Major Filipino-Diaspora Cast
Soberano and H.E.R. are far from the only performers with Filipino connections involved in the project.
The cast also includes Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy and Manny Jacinto, alongside Filipino-American actress Amielynn Abellera and international performers including Dave Franco, Jenny Slate and Ronny Chieng.
The creative team also includes Filipino-American director Januel Mercado, who co-directs the movie with Joel Crawford.
That combination gives the project an unusually strong Filipino presence both in front of and behind the microphone.
Why Filipino Representation Is Getting More Attention
The conversation surrounding Forgotten Island comes amid a broader increase in international visibility for Filipino artists and creators.
Filipino performers have been appearing in major international productions, while Filipino musicians, filmmakers, athletes and creators continue building audiences outside the Philippines.
Recent coverage has also pointed to Filipino achievements at international festivals and entertainment events, including recognition for filmmaker Lav Diaz at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival.
These developments are different from one another and should not be treated as a single coordinated movement.
But collectively, they contribute to a growing international conversation about Filipino talent and culture.
Soberano’s Hollywood Journey Adds Another Layer
Soberano’s involvement in Forgotten Island also represents another step in her effort to establish herself in international entertainment.
After building her career in Philippine television and film, she expanded into Hollywood projects, including the 2024 horror-comedy “Lisa Frankenstein.”
Her role in Forgotten Island now places her in a project where Filipino identity is not simply part of her personal background but is directly connected to the film’s cultural foundation.
That makes the project particularly meaningful for Soberano.
From Filipino Stories to Global Audiences
One of the most significant elements of Forgotten Island is the decision to make Filipino culture part of the story’s central identity.
For years, Philippine culture has often reached international audiences through food, travel, music and individual Filipino performers.
The DreamWorks production takes another route: Filipino mythology and folklore become part of a large-scale animated adventure designed for international audiences.
That distinction matters because representation is not only about having Filipino actors in international productions. It can also involve bringing Filipino stories, traditions and cultural perspectives into projects intended for audiences around the world.
‘Forgotten Island’ Arrives in Philippine Cinemas
The film is scheduled to open in Philippine cinemas on Sept. 23, 2026.
For Filipino audiences, its release comes with an additional point of interest: a major animated studio production featuring a substantial Filipino and Filipino-diaspora creative presence while drawing directly from Philippine cultural traditions.
For Soberano, however, the significance extends beyond a single movie.
Her comments suggest that she sees the growing international attention surrounding Filipino creators as part of a broader cultural shift — one in which audiences around the world are increasingly discovering Filipino stories and talent.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Soberano’s comments do not establish that Filipinos have suddenly achieved universal global recognition, nor do they prove that every international success is connected.
What they do reflect is a visible increase in Filipino representation across different areas of global culture, with Forgotten Island offering a particularly prominent example because Filipino mythology is built into the film’s premise and the production features numerous Filipino and Filipino-diaspora talents.
The next question may be whether this increased visibility leads to more opportunities for Filipino stories, artists and creators to reach audiences beyond the Philippines.
FACT-CHECK / EDITORIAL NOTE
Confirmed: Liza Soberano said she views the growing international recognition of Filipinos across film, music and food as “kind of a movement” in an interview with Philstar.com.
Confirmed: Soberano voices Raissa in DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island alongside H.E.R., with the two also contributing to the film’s soundtrack.
Confirmed: The film draws from Filipino culture, mythology and folklore and includes Filipino and Filipino-diaspora performers and filmmakers.
Important clarification: “Movement” is Soberano’s characterization of the broader cultural moment, not the name of an organized campaign or formal industry initiative.
Philippine release: Forgotten Island is scheduled to open in Philippine cinemas on Sept. 23, 2026.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
Leave a Reply