With the release of its first trailer, Forgotten Island immediately sets itself apart. Not just as another DreamWorks fantasy, but as one that draws heavily from Filipino culture, imagery, and storytelling. It is all there in the details, woven into a world that feels recognizable even at its most surreal.

The cast alone already signals that intention. H.E.R. and Liza Soberano lead the film, joined by Lea Salonga, Manny Jacinto, Jo Koy, and Ronny Chieng. 

Among them is CreaZion Studio Artists’ Dolly de Leon  adding another layer of Filipino presence both on and behind the global stage. 

The film is also co-directed by Januel Mercado, reinforcing that this is not just representation in front of the mic, but within the creative process itself.

Aside from the cast, the trailer is packed with distinctly Filipino elements that shape the film’s world.

1. A Biringan-inspired island

Nakali carries the same mysterious, almost unreachable energy as Biringan, the so-called phantom city in Samar folklore. It feels hidden and elusive, like a place that exists just outside ordinary sight, echoing stories many Filipinos grew up hearing about places you are not meant to find unless chosen.

2. A Manananggal costume

Jo’s Manananggal-inspired look pulls from one of the most recognizable creatures in Filipino folklore. It feels playful at first glance, like a costume you might see at a school event, but it also reflects how these myths live on casually in everyday culture, not just in horror stories.

3. The jeepney, down to the smallest details

A jeepney appears in the trailer with a “Mabuhay” sign displayed up front, along with a sticker featuring the sun from the Philippine flag. It is not just the presence of the vehicle that matters, but how specific it is. The details feel lived-in, like something you would actually see on the road.

4. “Spaghetti wires” overhead

The tangled electrical lines stretching across the street make a quick appearance. It is such a specific visual detail that it almost feels like an inside reference. Messy, chaotic, but familiar enough that you immediately recognize where you are.

5. A Philippine sun-shaped portal

The portal that transports Jo and Raissa to Nakali features eight rays, mirroring the sun on the Philippine flag. It is a subtle but intentional design choice, tying the idea of passage and transformation back to national symbolism.

6. A blood oath moment

A brief mention at a blood oath, reminiscent of the “sandugo,” a ritual tied to loyalty and brotherhood in Philippine history. Though they did not do it, it deepens the film’s central theme of friendship between Jo and Raissa. 

7. A balisong engraved with “LOLA♡”

A butterfly knife appears with “LOLA♡” etched into it, turning it into something more personal than practical. It suggests inheritance, memory, and the quiet ways family stays with you, even in unfamiliar worlds.

8. A bird that looks like the Ibong Adarna or Sarimanok

A glowing bird appears briefly, and while it is not confirmed, its design strongly recalls the Ibong Adarna’s mythical presence or even the Sarimanok’s iconic silhouette. Whether intentional or not, it taps into visual language deeply tied to Filipino folklore and art.

9. A towering creature that resembles a Kapre (or possibly a Tikbalang)

One looming figure in the trailer gives off the presence of a Kapre, with its size and stillness, though it is not explicitly confirmed. There are also hints that other creatures may draw from Tikbalang-like forms. Even without confirmation, the inspiration feels unmistakably rooted in local myth.

Taken together, these are not just Easter eggs. They feel like fragments of memory, carefully placed. With just one trailer, Forgotten Island already builds a world that does not just reference Filipino culture, it moves like it remembers it.

PHOTO: DREAMWORKS ANIMATION/UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (via YouTube)