THE ongoing historical Philippine drama “Pulang Araw” has gone international, earning a nomination from an award-giving body in Italy.
On Facebook, GMA Drama announced that the drama war series—topbilled by Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez, David Licauco, Alden Richards, and Dennis Trillo—got nominated for the Best Soap/Telenovela category at the Venice TV Award 2024.
“Mabuhay ang galing ng Pilipino,” it wrote in the caption, sharing “Pulang Araw’s” poster.
Forteza and Trillo also shared the drama’s international nomination in their respective Instagram stories.
“Pulang Araw” was the only nominee from the Philippines in the Best Soap/Telenovela category, alongside those from Portugal, Turkey, and Brazil. In the end, it was Portugal’s “Lady of Tides” that took home the recognition.
According to its website, the Venice TV Award is held two weeks after the annual Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. The award-giving body honors companies and individuals behind “the world’s finest work on TV.”
It was launched as “a tribute to and celebration of television, increasing national and international recognition for both producers and broadcasters who create high-quality output.”
About ‘Pulang Araw’
Directed by Dominic Zapata, “Pulang Araw” follows four childhood friends Adelina (played by Forteza), Teresita (played by Lopez), Hiroshi (played by Licauco), and Eduardo (played by Richards), and how they navigate life before and amid World War II.
Trillo, on the other hand, portrays the drama’s main antagonist Yuta Saito, a Japanese Imperial Army officer whose mission is to conquer the Philippines.
The drama also mirrors the courage and sacrifices of Filipinos during the Japanese occupation of the country.
This was not the first time Forteza, Licauco, and Trillo worked together on a drama that highlighted the country’s rich history. They previously starred in the hit 2022 fantasy drama “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” which retold narratives from the novels “Noli Me Tàngere” and “El Filibusterismo” written by the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
“Pulang Araw” aired its first episode on Netflix in June, immediately taking the no. 1 spot on the “Top 10 TV Shows in the Philippines Today” list.
Currently, “Pulang Araw” has 45 episodes available on Netflix.
