9 'Forgotten Island' Trailer Details You Might Have Missed

by Dannica RamirezBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffI'm a Southern California-based writer on the Lifestyle team who likes to try and rank viral foods and read and recommend awesome books.

Hi, I'm Dannica, and I'm a first-generation Filipino American! My dad immigrated to the United States from Samar province in 1987, and my mom immigrated from Manila in 1995.

Dannica Ramirez

BTW, the date in the bottom picture is wrong, and I know that because I simply was not alive until '98.

Growing up, I honestly don't remember there being a whole lot of Filipino representation. When I was younger, I remember looking for Filipino characters in every show and movie I watched on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. It honestly wasn't until second grade, when Vanessa Hudgens played Gabriella Montez in High School Musical, that I felt somewhat "seen" (Gabriella Montez is Latina in the movie, but still, a Filipina is a Filipina).

Since being in second grade, though, I've had the pleasure of watching Filipino culture and characters become more prevalent in pop culture — like the scenes with Ned and his lola in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Mateo Liwanag from Superstore, Lars from Steven Universe, plus the overall spreading popularity of Filipino food (ube, taro, Jollibee, etc.).

Sony / NBC / YouTube: Olivia Rodrigo / Cartoon Network / Via youtube.com

So imagine my absolute DELIGHT when I found out that DreamWorks is releasing a new movie called Forgotten Island, set in the Philippines, starring two Filipina besties — voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano — AND based on Filipino mythology and folklore!

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

There are quite a few details from the trailer alone that point to or represent Filipino culture, so I thought it would be fun to point them out and explain them to those who are curious or just don't know! Let's start! 🇵🇭

DreamWorks / Via youtube.com

1.

First off, let's begin with the myth that probably inspired Forgotten Island in the first place. In the trailer, it's mentioned that the longer you're on the island, the more memories you'll forget. Now, there are a few different folktales of hidden cities or islands in the Philippines, but the most popular is about Biringan, also called the City of the Lost. There are several versions of the story, but it's believed to be located in Samar (where my dad grew up!!), and is typically described as a super advanced city that only appears to people who are lost. The city is said to be populated by spirits and other entities and creatures, and those who visit Biringan and return to the real world often come back with gaps in their memory or notice that time has passed differently.

DreamWorks / Via youtube.com

There are also some versions of the myth that say humans are lured to the island and that the longer they're there, the more they lose their connection to the real world, and begin forgetting how they ended up in the city in the first place. Again, Biringan is supposed to be this really technologically advanced metropolis, so judging from the trailer, I think the island they end up on is heavily inspired by Biringan and probably a mix of other tales.

DreamWorks / Via youtube.com

But also, yes, the Philippines really is that lush and gorgeous.

(My parents and I aren't really sure what the stone statues are, and I can't seem to pinpoint them to anything. If any fellow Pinoy knows, feel free to let me know in the comments!)

2.

The uniforms that Jo and Raissa are wearing at the beginning of the trailer are typical schoolgirl uniforms in the Philippines. The shift from them wearing blue to red relates to their moving from elementary school to secondary school and beyond.

Universal Images Group via Getty Images) / DreamWorks / Via youtube.com

3.

Jo, voiced by H.E.R., is holding a Balisong, also known as a butterfly knife or Batangas knife. It's a folding pocket knife that has two handles that counter-rotate around the blade's tang. The knife is a symbol of craftsmanship and ingenuity, with its birthplace said to be in the province of Batangas. The name "Balisong" is said to be derived from the Tagalog words "baling sungay," which roughly translates to "broken horn," as early knife handles were made using animal horns.

DreamWorks / u/slammer4real / Via reddit.com / youtube.com

Also, peep how Jo's knife has "LOLA" engraved on it. 🫣

4.

Upon their first meeting, when Jo first shows Raissa her knife, Raissa, voiced by Liza Soberano, says, "Uh, sorry, I can't do a blood oath." This could be a reference to the ancient Philippine ritual called Sandugo, a blood pact intended to seal an alliance, friendship, or an agreement. The word comes from Visayan, meaning "one blood."

DreamWorks / Via youtube.com

Fun fact: There are eight major languages spoken in the Philippines (Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Kapampangan, and Pangasinense), but there are over 100 dialects.

5.

They're riding in a Jeepney! In WWII, Willys Je