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Ashley Ortega signs off as Sister Manuela in ‘Pulang Araw’
Ashley Ortega has signed off as Sister Manuela in “Pulang Araw,” a character she described as "one of the most challenging roles I have ever done.”
On Instagram, the Kapuso actress shared photos and videos of her time in the series, including getting into her costume and bloody makeup as well as her memorable scenes.
Ashley reflected on her experiences, writing, “I am afraid I cannot simply put into words all that I have felt in the journey I had with Sister Manuela.”
Per the actress, she knew she had a lot of work to do even if she had already been in the industry for a long time. She also learned more about the craft of acting.
“In the beginning, I was doubtful if I will be able to live up to the expectations this show was setting, even more so with the agonizing and grueling character of Sister Manuela,” she said.
“But if there was one thing I learned from being part of this series, is that actors, really, are not just for entertainment. Very often we are perceived as artists that deliver content through the screen. But shows like ‘Pulang Araw’ will tell us that the storytelling actors do goes beyond that purpose of entertainment."
Ashley also shared that she had a “heavy responsibility” in portraying Sister Manuela, as it “was one that consisted of educating and not simply entertaining.”
“I knew that I had to do well in my performance in order to deliver a gut-wrenching and accurate narrative of what really transpired in those significant moments of our history."
The actress added that she credits the "guiding spirit" of Sister Manuela throughout her "Pulang Araw" journey.
"I am most thankful to the guiding spirit of Sister Manuela, who inspired me in ways I could have never imagined. For reminding me of the reason why I do what I do, I hope that I was able to return the favor through the portrayal, or more accurately, the education, I delivered through the screen," she said.
“Maraming salamat po sa lahat na nagmahal sumuporta sa ‘Pulang Araw.’ Mabuhay po ang bawat Pilipino.”
In the Kapuso historical series, Sister Manuela Apolonio is a nun who was forced to become a comfort woman during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines.
On Thursday night’s episode of “Pulang Araw,” Sister Manuela is wounded but endures and survives the war alongside her friend Adelina, played by Barbie Forteza.
In a previous Instagram post, Ashley told her character, “It would be my greatest honor and biggest responsibility to portray your narrative."
"It's about time your story should be heard," she added.
In preparation for her role, Ashley and her co-star Sanya Lopez visited comfort women to learn more about their experiences. The actresses turned emotional as the women recounted what happened to them.
"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” airs its finale on Friday on GMA Prime. It also streams on Netflix.
— Nika Roque/CDC, GMA Integrated News
