Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, David Licauco, and Sanya Lopez were brimming with undeniable excitement and pensive reflections as they spoke onstage and took questions from the press during the grand media conference for “Pulang Araw” on Tuesday, July 10. They showed how deserving they are to be chosen to topbill the war-drama, something they are overwhelmingly grateful for. 

“Noong una kong nalamang magiging parte ako nito, ibang klaseng tuwa yung naramdaman ko,” said Forteza.

The Kapuso Primetime Princess also described how excellent the entire cast and production crew were in making her “Pulang Araw” a fun and memorable one despite the heavy scenes. ”Kung ano ang ikinabigat ng storya at materyal namin, iyon ang ikinagaan ng produksyon at taping dahil kay Direk at sa amin lahat na cast.”

“Nung nalaman ko pa kung sino ang amkakasama ko, lalo akong natuwa at nasiyahgan dahil lahat sila ay malapit sa aking puso,” added Forteza, with special mention of “Pulang Araw” director Dominc Zapata. Barbie portrays the character of Adelina dela Cruz, an American-hating Filipina who sides with the Japanese during World War II.

Alden Richards, meanwhile, revealed that the conceptualization process for this period drama had begun some ten years ago, something that was already somehow introduced to him by GMA executive Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes. 

“Lingid sa kalaaman ng iba, nabanggit na po ito sa akin ng aming boss na si Ms. Annette. Ang ‘Pulang Araw’ ay matagal nang nasa baul ng konsepto ng GMA, at pagkatapos ng sampung taon ay ngayon ulit siya gagawin,” said the Asia’s Multimedia Star. He will be playing the role of Eduardo dela Cruz, a Filipino guerilla during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and the loving brother of Adelina dela Cruz. 

“Nakakaproud na andami nang nagbago sa istorya, pero hindi nila tinanggal ang pangalan ko sa hanay ng mga artistang gaganap,” shared a very appreciative Richards.

Sanya Lopez also could not contain her elation over her inclusion in the “Pulang Araw” lineup, where she plays Teresita Borromeo, a vaudeville star in the making who’s the half-sister of Adelina. 

“Sana mainspire tayo lahat sa pinaghirapan ng buong produksyon, (GMA) Network, ng lahat. Sino ang hindi tatanggap sa ganto kagandang proyekto? Wala. Totoo yung sinabi nila Barbie– yung samahan pa lang ng cast, yung direktor pa lang namin, yung napakahusay na manunulat na si Ms. Suzette Doctolero,” said an emotional Sanya. 

“Nung araw na binanggit sa akin ito, naiiyak talaga ako,” she added.

GMA Network’s upcoming historical drama series is directed by Dominic Zapata and written by Suzette Doctolero, with National Aritst for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee as the show’s Content Development Consultant. 

It arrives on Netflix on July 26, three days ahead of its television premiere on GMA Prime on July 29.