• Source: Pulang Araw

Pulang Araw (transl. red sun / international title: In the Arms of the Conqueror) is a 2024 Philippine television drama war series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Dominic Zapata, it stars Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez, David Licauco, Alden Richards and Dennis Trillo. It premiered on July 29, 2024, on the network's Prime line up replacing Black Rider.
The series is streaming online on Netflix and YouTube.




Premise


Eduardo, Adelina, Teresita, and Hiroshi navigate their respective lives amid the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.




Cast and characters



Lead cast
Barbie Forteza as Adelina "Chinita" dela Cruz:
Eduardo's younger sister, harbors a strong dislike for Americans. When World War II begins, she chooses to side with the Japanese.

Sanya Lopez as Teresita "Morena" Borromeo:
Adelina's older half-sister, Teresita Borromeo, has aspirations of becoming a vaudeville star. She is the daughter of Carmela and Julio Borromeo.

David Licauco as Hiroshi Tanaka:
The son of Japanese immigrants, he goes to Japan to study and eventually returns to the Philippines, where he reunites with his childhood friends Adelina, Teresita and Eduardo.

Alden Richards as Eduardo dela Cruz:
Harbors resentment towards his American father, who rejected his mother. The older half-brother of Adelina and has romantic feelings for Teresita. Choosing to side with neither the Americans nor the Japanese, he joins the guerrilla forces.

Dennis Trillo as Yuta Saitoh:
A Japanese Imperial Army officer whose mission is to conquer the Philippines, he eventually develops feelings for Teresita.

Supporting cast
Epy Quizon as Julio Borromeo
Angelu de Leon as Carmela Borromeo
Ashley Ortega as Manuela Apolonio
Rochelle Pangilinan as Amalia Dimalanta-Torres
Mikoy Morales as Tasyo
Brianna Advincula as Luisa
Isay Alvarez as Dolores
Jay Arcilla as Dado
Don Melvin Boongaling as Juanito
Sef Cadayona as Luis
Skye Chua as Yuki
Tyro Dylusan as Juan
Joyce Glorioso as Rosing
Karenina Haniel as Meding
Issa Litton as Bettina
Joanne Morallos as Yolanda
Ryoichi Nagatsuka as Ryu
Jay Ortega as Akio Watanabe
Bombi Plata as Francisco
Armson Panesa as Isko
Angeli Nicole Sanoy as Lorena
Robert Seña as Johnny
Neil Ryan Sese as Lauro Torres
Aidan Veneracion as Mario Santos
Guest cast
Rhian Ramos as Filipina "Fina" dela Cruz
Jacky Woo as Chikara Tanaka
Maria Ozawa as Haruka Tanaka
Billy Ray Gallion as Tyler Campbell
Franchesco Maafi as younger Eduardo dela Cruz
Cassy Lavarias as younger Adelina dela Cruz
Cheska Maranan as younger Teresita Borromeo
Miguel Diokno as younger Hiroshi Tanaka
Julie Anne San Jose as Katy de la Cruz
Derrick Monasterio as Marcel
Zephanie Dimaranan as Chichay
Waynona Collings as Mary Walter
Lauren King as Etang Discher
Rabiya Mateo as Rosalia
Abraham Lawyer as an American soldier
Max Collins as Yay Panlilio
Ronnie Liang




Episodes






Development


Writer Suzette Doctolero began conceptualizing Pulang Araw between 2012 and 2013. In 2023, the series was announced, with Doctolero serving as the head writer.
Doctolero's interest in writing a story set during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines was a result of her grandparents' experience as guerrilla fighters and vaudeville performers. She researched and interviewed World War II veterans, vaudeville artists and comfort women for the series.




= Casting

=
In November 2023, the cast of the series was announced. In December, Abraham Lawyer joined the cast. In July 2024, additional cast members Robert Seña, Neil Ryan Sese, Jay Arcilla, Sef Cadayona and Tyro Daylusan were announced. Julie Anne San Jose, Derrick Monasterio, Isay Alvarez, Rabiya Mateo, Jacky Woo, Maria Ozawa and Billy Ray Gallon were announced for a guest role.




Production


Principal photography commenced on December 1, 2023. Filming took place in Manila, Quezon, Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan and Pampanga. Historical locations that were no longer existent were recreated using CGI. Several Japanese language coaches were hired to teach the cast, including cast member Ryoichi "Ryo" Nagatsuka, who is of Filipino-Japanese descent.




Music


"Kapangyarihan" (transl. power) by Ben&Ben and SB19 serves as the main title theme of Pulang Araw. The songs for the series were produced by Rocky Gacho, using the compositions from the time period the series is based on, notably of Shelton Brooks, Nicanor Abelardo, Brewster Higley and Daniel E. Kelley. A soundtrack album was released on August 9, 2024, by GMA Playlist, featuring the songs performed by the series' cast.




Release


The pilot episode of Pulang Araw premiered on Netflix on July 26, 2024, while its television debut on GMA Network was broadcast on July 29, 2024. Originally set to air 100 episodes, the series was given additional ten episodes in November 2024.




Reception






= Ratings

=
According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement People in Television Homes, the pilot episode of Pulang Araw earned a 12.8% rating.




= Critical response

=
James Patrick Anarcon of PEP, complimented the series' cast and highlighted the performance of actress Rhian Ramos, stating the actress showed "depth" to the character she was portraying. Mikhail Lecaros of The Philippine Star Life, gave a positive note towards the series' production design, visuals, costume design and cast, and also criticized the series for its "tired telenovela tropes".




Accolades






Notes






References






External links


Official website
Pulang Araw at IMDb

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