Dallas Liu, the Prince Zuko of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ says PH weather makes it feel like ‘the fire nation’

We’re one night away from witnessing the masterpiece that is the “Avatar: The Last Airbender!" 

Ahead of its release on Netflix, Gordon Cormier and Dallas Liu went to the Philippines to promote the much-anticipated live-action adaptation of the well-loved animated series.

In a press conference on Wednesday in BGC, Dallas Liu, who will portray Prince Zuko in the series, expressed his excitement about visiting the Philippines for the first time.

“It’s been really exciting, this is my first time in Manila and everyone has been very welcoming,” the actor said. 

The only thing warmer than the welcome perhaps is the weather.

“It’s so hot, oh my gosh! It's so humid,” Liu continued. 

“[When] I step out of an [air-conditioned room] for one second, I feel like I’m in the fire nation,” he added with a laugh.

Nobody told Liu the Philippines is currently in the middle of El Niño, with 41 provinces already under the influence of the weather phenomenon and 10 more provinces to be affected by the end of February. 

According to weather service PAGASA, the country has not yet experienced the full effects of El Niño, because Amihan Season, or Northeast Monsoon, which brings cold air, is still on going. Ana Lisa Solis of PAGASA's Climatology and Agrometeorology Division on Saturday said El Niño can even extend up to June.

While Liu will thankfully not experience the worst of it, it's high time to really look into climate change because in a June 2023 report, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US said "Climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Nino. For example, El Nino could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Nino.”  

Can you imagine how uncomfortably hot the Philippines will get for visitors like Liu and balikbayans like the 15-year-old Fil-Canadian Cormier, who earlier expressed happiness at coming back to the Philippines?

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" will premiere on Netflix on February 22. It also stars Kiawentiio as Katara, Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, and Ian Ousley as Sokka.

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" is a beloved Nickelodeon cartoon that aired from 2005 to 2008.

— LA, GMA Integrated News