Forgotten no more: Filipino folklore finds footing on global stage

Filipino folklore, including the manananggal and tiyanak creatures, has gained worldwide attention after being featured in DreamWorks' animated film Forgotten Island. The movie, co-directed by Filipino-American Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford, opened in the Philippines on Wednesday and in the United States two days later. Featuring a cast of Filipino entertainers, such as Grammy-winning artist H.E.R., Filipino actress Liza Soberano, and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, the film showcases Filipino culture and mythology for the first time in a major Hollywood production.

Filipino-Americans, who make up the third-largest Asian-origin population in the US, are eager for their culture to be represented on the global stage. Berlynn Tuazon-Bradshaw, a 34-year-old US-based Filipina, believes the film will help her daughter, who is half-Filipino and half-American, maintain her cultural roots. Pia Lingasin, a 38-year-old Filipino-American accountant, hopes her children will appreciate their heritage and feel proud of their identity.

Filipino representation in Hollywood is significant not only for those living in the US but also for those in the Philippines, where many families have experienced migration and separation. Media observers argue that cultural recognition and representation play a crucial role in shaping the identities and experiences of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. The potential size and purchasing power of the Asian audience in the US, including Filipinos, have led to Hollywood's growing interest in Filipino stories.