Dannyka Manangan

Liza Soberano on returning to PH for ‘Forgotten Island:’ 'I hope this is just the beginning of seeing more Filipino stories'

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Returning to the Philippines to promote her international film, actress Liza Soberano expressed pride in sharing Filipino stories and culture with audiences through the animated film <em>Forgotten Island.</em></p><p>Taking to social media, the actress posted highlights from her Manila homecoming, reflecting on what it meant to bring a project grounded in rich Philippine culture back to local audiences.</p><p>“There’s something extra special about getting to come home and share this film with the Philippines. 🇵🇭🤍,” Liza wrote.</p><div><strong></strong></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DciAL5qFJoD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DciAL5qFJoD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DciAL5qFJoD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Liza Soberano (@lizasoberano)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>She went on: “The past few days in Manila have been filled with yummy food, jeepney rides, interviews, conversations, familiar faces, and finally getting to share <em>Forgotten Island</em> with some of you. It’s been so nice being back home and feeling all the love and excitement for <em>Forgotten Island</em>!!!”</p><p>For Liza, the film represents more than another acting project. Rather, it’s a great help to pave the way for more Filipino stories to be told and celebrated around the world.</p><p>“This film is such a special project to be part of, not just for me personally, but for so many people because of what it represents. To be part of DreamWorks’ first original Filipino story and to see our culture, our people, and pieces of home represented on this scale is something I’ll always be proud of. I hope this is just the beginning of seeing more Filipino stories told and celebrated around the world!!” she said.</p><p>Liza also expressed her gratitude to the Filipino fans who have supported the film and joined the screenings during her homecoming.</p><p>“Thank you to everyone who came to the screening, everyone who sat down with us over the past few days, and everyone who has been cheering us on from the very beginning 🫶🏻 I’m so excited for the rest of the world to finally see Forgotten Island and experience this story for themselves ❤️,” she said.</p><p>“Always feels good to be home. 🇵🇭.”<strong></strong></p><div><strong></strong></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcex9D0j-Gy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcex9D0j-Gy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcex9D0j-Gy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Forgotten Island Movie (@forgottenislandmovie)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/7/26/liza-soberano-reflects-on-why-she-connected-with-her-character-in-forgotten-island-1904"><strong>READ:</strong><strong> Liza Soberano reflectson why she connected with her character in &#x27;Forgotten Island&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>Liza lends her voice to Raissa, a young woman who finds herself stranded on the mystical, memory-stealing island of Nakali alongside her childhood best friend, Jo (voiced by Grammy-winning artist H.E.R.). To find their way back, the duo must navigate a treacherous path where the price of returning home could mean losing their most cherished memories.</p><p>The film is written and co-directed by Filipino American filmmaker Januel Mercado alongside Joel Crawford. </p><p>Liza previously shared her excitement about finally bringing the film to Filipino audiences, describing it as a “love letter to the Philippines.”</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m super excited to be sharing this film with the Philippines finally because, as Joel and Januel have always put it, this is our love letter to the Philippines, our motherland,&quot; Soberano expressed. &quot;We&#x27;re so, so proud of this film, and we hope that you guys will support it and feel proud to be Filipino as well.”</p><div><strong></strong></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcd7Ev1pm7V/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcd7Ev1pm7V/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcd7Ev1pm7V/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Forgotten Island Movie (@forgottenislandmovie)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/8/26/liza-soberano-part-of-jury-for-golden-globes-impact-prize-for-documentary-at-venice-film-festival-1020"><strong>READ: Liza Soberano, part of jury for Golden Globes Impact Prize for Documentary at Venice Film Festival</strong></a></div><p>The actress also revealed that <em>Forgotten Island </em>holds a special place in her heart because she auditioned for the project when she was in the process of moving from Manila to Los Angeles.</p><p>&quot;That took obviously a lot of courage and bravery for me to step outside of my comfort zone,&quot; she said.</p><p>Alongside Liza and H.E.R., <em>Forgotten Island </em>features a powerhouse voice cast that includes Filipino theater icon Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Jenny Slate and Ronny Chieng.</p><p><em>Forgotten Island</em> is set to be released in Philippine theaters on September 23.</p>

<p><b>Liza Soberano proud to bring ‘Forgotten Island’ to Filipinos and the world.</b></p>