Albert Josef Lirio

Banaue Rice Terraces-like location spotted in new ‘Pokemon’ trailer

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/38XHXMdDegg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Excitement about the new ‘Pokémon’ game announcement hit close to home, quite literally, after fans pointed out nods to the cultures of the Philippines and other neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.</p><p>The trailer for the 10th-generation ‘Pokémon Winds’ and ‘Pokémon Waves’ showed a brand new tropical region for Poké-fans to explore, with some areas seemingly drawing inspiration from real-life locations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/2/27/-pokemon30-3-decades-of-catching-em-all-1530">#Pokemon30: 3 decades of catching ‘em all</a></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772334303584The Official Pokémon YouTube channel - [UK] First Look Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves Announcement Trailer [Rfz8dR2P8kY - 1106x622 - 1m54s].png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from The Official Pokémon YouTube channel</em></span></span></span></div><p>An example is the view of rice terraces, which viewers connect to the famed Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, a UNESCO World Heritage site.</p><p>Fans also pointed out an area with floating houses by the beach and pristine waters, which has similarities with structures on Balesin Island and the crystal clear waters of Palawan, respectively.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772334354145The Official Pokémon YouTube channel - [UK] First Look Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves Announcement Trailer [Rfz8dR2P8kY - 1106x622 - 1m53s].png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from The Official Pokémon YouTube channel</em></span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772334370445The Official Pokémon YouTube channel - [UK] First Look Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves Announcement Trailer [Rfz8dR2P8kY - 1106x622 - 2m06s].png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from The Official Pokémon YouTube channel</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Mangroves, which are also found in tropical regions such as Southeast Asia, also made an appearance in the trailer.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772334384305The Official Pokémon YouTube channel - [UK] First Look Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves Announcement Trailer [Rfz8dR2P8kY - 1106x622 - 2m11s].png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from The Official Pokémon YouTube channel</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Ghost-type Pokémon can also be seen wandering outside a house at night, a reference to the superstitious belief of ghosts running free when the moon comes out.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772334395505The Official Pokémon YouTube channel - [UK] First Look Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves Announcement Trailer [Rfz8dR2P8kY - 1106x622 - 2m15s].png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from The Official Pokémon YouTube channel</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Pokémon Centers and Poké Marts, the game’s centers for healing creatures and buying items, were also likened to the Philippines’ sari-sari stores.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772334457445The Official Pokémon YouTube channel - [UK] First Look Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves Announcement Trailer [Rfz8dR2P8kY - 1106x622 - 1m48s].png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from The Official Pokémon YouTube channel</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The in-game references were celebrated by fans in Southeast Asia, including Filipinos who are ecstatic about seeing the local culture represented in a popular global video game franchise.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:514px;height:629px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" 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data-tweet-id="2027433731947172063"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>“This game is definitely set in SEAsia !!! Either in Indonesia… or even the Philippines …. or maybe Vietnam !!!” quipped another <a href="https://x.com/acethetitle/status/2027398744162132169?s=20">user</a> on X (formerly Twitter).</p><p>The new starter Pokémons also drew the attention of fans and audiences. Players will be choosing from the grass-type owl Browt, fire-type pomeranian Pombon, and water-type gecko Gecqua.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772334759944The Official Pokémon YouTube channel - [UK] First Look Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves Announcement Trailer [Rfz8dR2P8kY - 1106x622 - 2m28s].png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from The Official Pokémon YouTube channel</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>‘Pokémon Winds’ and ‘Pokémon Waves’ will be released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2026/2/26/online-feud-erupts-between-seablings-vs-south-korea-1322">RELATED: Online feud erupts between &#x27;SEAblings&#x27; vs South Korea</a></div>

<p>Excitement about the new ‘Pokémon’ game announcement hit close to home, quite literally, after fans pointed out nods to the cultures of the Philippines and other neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.</p>

Excitement about the new ‘Pokémon’ game announcement hit close to home, quite literally, after fans pointed out nods to the cultures of the Philippines and other neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.