The range of emotions while shooting the production was like a rollercoaster ride for the main cast of “Pulang Araw,” a GMA and Netflix drama. This highly-anticipated wartime series stars Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez, David Licauco, and Alden Richards, and also features Dennis Trillo.
At a press conference last Tuesday at the Peninsula Manila, Barbie, Sanya, David, and Alden revealed the most memorable scenes in the original series that traces the intertwined lives of four childhood friends during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines.
Barbie, who plays Adelina, and Sanya, as Teresita, are vaudeville performers during the war. Barbie shared her experience of how taxing it was to be a stage performer during a scene that they shot for the whole day. Even during wartime, vaudeville stars were expected to remain professional and continue performing while the city was being bombed.
“Gumaganun ako,” she said, gesturing with her hands. “Automatic na, hangga’t nag-a-action si Direk Dominic [Zapata].”
Sanya recalled an intense scene where she even swallowed a drop of perspiration from her co-star. “Ang alat be,” she told Barbie in jest.
“Ayoko munang i-disclose kasi baka ma-preempt pero masasabi ko na na pagkabigat ng eksena na ‘yun. May moment pa nga doon na sobrang intense ng eksena, na dire diretso lang ‘yung pagkuha nito… Magka-cut lang kami kapag ‘yung ibang angle na. May moment pa na habang ginagawa namin ‘yung eksena na ito, nakalunok pa ko ng Paris ng kaeksena ko.”
She also enumerated her other experiences – being pricked by a needle and feeling exhausted to the point of not being able to get out of bed. “Parang nag workout ako buong maghapon tapos puro pasa ako,” she added. “Pero ang masasabi ko wala akong regrets nung ginawa ko yun. Hindi ko naramdaman. Nakaka-excite lang mapanood sa Netflix.”
Alden revealed that he did most of his own stunts. As Eduardo, the actor had many physically demanding scenes that required him to wear a harness and be near explosives.
“Usually kasi, for safety purposes kumukuha ng body double yung set, para just in case doon sa mga explosion scenes ‘yung double ‘yung gagawa,” he explained. “Ayoko yun. I make it a point na ako talaga ‘yung malapit sa explosives… kasi while doing those scenes, nakakadagdag siya sa experience, kasi hindi ka lang umaarte, kasi talagang nasa tabi mo lang ‘yung explosives, ako ‘yung nagpa-harness, ako rin ‘yung nagpatalsik, so that really adds to the experience of doing this and ‘yun ‘yung mga naappreciate ko.”
David, who plays the Japanese Hiroshi, valued every scene as he feels fortunate to be part of the project. “Halos lahat ng scenes favorite ko. I just love working with Direk Dom and I super appreciate him. Everytime may eksena ako, tinatanong ko, ‘Direk OK ba?’ ‘Very good, very good.’ ‘Uy, very good ako.’ Kasi alam ko napakahirap ng teleseryeng ito, napakahirap ng role ko kaya super thankful ako kay Direk.”
“Pulang Araw” is coming to Netflix on July 26 and to GMA on July 29.
