Some netizens saddened as Rochelle Pangilinan's heartbreaking 'Pulang Araw' line gets laugh reacts online

Rochelle Pangilinan's character had a heartbreaking line in the primer video for "Pulang Araw," where she plays a comfort woman during World War II.

Her character, Amalia Dimalanta-Torres, was shown being raped by Japanese soldiers and speaking to fellow Filipina women.

"O, ano pang inaantay n'yo? Kain na! Minsan lang espesyal ang ulam. Adobong baboy para sa mga binababoy," she said.

Stills of the scene with Rochelle's lines were reposted on social media, where it went viral, but some netizens felt saddened and disappointed when it drew laugh reactions.

In Nelson Canlas's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, "Pulang Araw" star Sanya Lopez admitted that it was painful to see such a reaction.

The Sparkle actress met a comfort woman together with Ashley Ortega as preparation for their roles in the series. They heard how Filipinas suffered during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. 

"Isa sa mga nakausap ko na comfort woman, ang sinabi niya talaga sa akin, 'Ang suwerte n'yo na hindi n'yo naranasan 'yung mga ganun kasakit na nangyari sa buhay n'yo, na ang saya n'yo kasi naranasan n'yo maging bata," she said.

Ashley also plays a comfort woman in "Pulang Araw." Her character is a nun named Manuela Apolonio.

"Comfort women" refers to the victims of sexual slavery practiced by the Japanese imperial army in countries like the Philippines, Korea, and China during World War II.

The few remaining Filipina survivors, who are in their late 80s or 90s, have been fighting for reparations from the Philippine and Japanese governments for decades.

"Pulang Araw," which stars Sanya, Barbie Forteza, David Licauco, Alden Richards, and Dennis Trillo, will premiere on Netflix on July 26 and on GMA Prime on July 29.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News