# Pulang Araw

Pulang Araw (transl. red sun / international title: In the Arms of the Conqueror) is a 2024 Philippine television drama war series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Dominic Zapata, it stars Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez, David Licauco, Alden Richards and Dennis Trillo. It premiered on July 29, 2024, on the network's Prime line up. The series concluded on December 27, 2024, with a total of 110 episodes.
The series is streaming online on Netflix and YouTube.

## Premise

Eduardo, Adelina, Teresita, and Hiroshi navigate their respective lives amid the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

## Cast and characters
### Lead cast

* Barbie Forteza as Adelina "Chinita" dela Cruz:
Eduardo's younger sister, harbors a strong dislike for Americans. When World War II begins, she chooses to side with the Japanese.
* Sanya Lopez as Teresita "Morena" Borromeo:
Adelina's older half-sister, Teresita Borromeo, has aspirations of becoming a vaudeville star. She is the daughter of Carmela and Julio Borromeo.
* David Licauco as Hiroshi Tanaka:
The son of Japanese immigrants, he goes to Japan to study and eventually returns to the Philippines, where he reunites with his childhood friends Adelina, Teresita and Eduardo.
* Alden Richards as Eduardo dela Cruz:
Harbors resentment towards his American father, who rejected his mother. The older half-brother of Adelina and has romantic feelings for Teresita. Choosing to side with neither the Americans nor the Japanese, he joins the guerrilla forces.
* Dennis Trillo as Yuta Saitoh:
A Japanese Imperial Army officer whose mission is to conquer the Philippines, he eventually develops feelings for Teresita.

### Supporting cast

* Epy Quizon as Julio Borromeo
* Angelu de Leon as Carmela Borromeo
* Ashley Ortega as Manuela Apolonio
* Rochelle Pangilinan as Amalia Dimalanta-Torres
* Mikoy Morales as Tasyo
* Brianna Advincula as Luisa
* Isay Alvarez as Dolores
* Jay Arcilla as Dado
* Don Melvin Boongaling as Juanito
* Sef Cadayona as Luis
* Skye Chua as Yuki
* Tyro Dylusan as Juan
* Joyce Glorioso as Rosing
* Karenina Haniel as Meding
* Issa Litton as Bettina
* Joanne Morallos as Yolanda
* Ryoichi Nagatsuka as Ryu
* Jay Ortega as Akio Watanabe
* Bombi Plata as Francisco
* Armson Panesa as Isko
* Angeli Nicole Sanoy as Lorena
* Robert Seña as Johnny
* Neil Ryan Sese as Lauro Torres
* Aidan Veneracion as Mario Santos
* Justin Lim as first lieutenant Yamada

### Guest cast

* Rhian Ramos as Filipina "Fina" dela Cruz
* Jacky Woo as Chikara Tanaka
* Maria Ozawa as Haruka Tanaka
* Billy Ray Gallion as Tyler Campbell
* Franchesco Maafi as younger Eduardo dela Cruz
* Cassy Lavarias as younger Adelina dela Cruz
* Cheska Maranan as younger Teresita Borromeo
* Miguel Diokno as younger Hiroshi Tanaka
* Julie Anne San Jose as Katy de la Cruz
* Derrick Monasterio as Marcel
* Zephanie Dimaranan as Chichay
* Waynona Collings as Mary Walter
* Lauren King as Etang Discher
* Rabiya Mateo as Rosalia
* Abraham Lawyer as an American soldier
* Max Collins as Yay Panlilio
* Ronnie Liang
* Elle Villanueva as Kumander Liwayway

## Development

Writer Suzette Doctolero began conceptualizing Pulang Araw between 2012 and 2013. In 2023, the series was announced, with Doctolero serving as the head writer.
Doctolero's interest in writing a story set during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines was a result of her grandparents' experience as guerrilla fighters and vaudeville performers. She researched and interviewed World War II veterans, vaudeville artists and comfort women for the series.

### Casting

In November 2023, the cast of the series was announced. In December, Abraham Lawyer joined the cast. In July 2024, additional cast members Robert Seña, Neil Ryan Sese, Jay Arcilla, Sef Cadayona and Tyro Daylusan were announced. Julie Anne San Jose, Derrick Monasterio, Isay Alvarez, Rabiya Mateo, Jacky Woo, Maria Ozawa and Billy Ray Gallon were announced for a guest role.

## Production

Principal photography commenced on December 1, 2023. Filming took place in Manila, Quezon, Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan and Pampanga. Historical locations that were no longer existent were recreated using CGI. Several Japanese language coaches were hired to teach the cast, including cast member Ryoichi "Ryo" Nagatsuka, who is of Filipino-Japanese descent.

## Music

"Kapangyarihan" (transl. power) by Ben&Ben and SB19 serves as the main title theme of Pulang Araw. The songs for the series were produced by Rocky Gacho, using the compositions from the time period the series is based on, notably of Shelton Brooks, Nicanor Abelardo, Brewster Higley and Daniel E. Kelley. A soundtrack album was released on August 9, 2024, by GMA Playlist, featuring the songs performed by the series' cast.

## Release

The pilot episode of Pulang Araw premiered on Netflix on July 26, 2024, while its television debut on GMA Network was broadcast on July 29, 2024. Originally set to air 100 episodes, the series was given additional ten episodes in November 2024. The final episode of the series was released on Netflix on December 24, 2024, while its television broadcast on GMA Network aired on December 27, 2024.

## Reception
### Ratings

According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement People in Television Homes, the pilot episode of Pulang Araw earned a 12.8% rating.

### Critical response

James Patrick Anarcon of PEP, complimented the series' cast and highlighted the performance of actress Rhian Ramos, stating the actress showed "depth" to the character she was portraying. Mikhail Lecaros of The Philippine Star Life, gave a positive note towards the series' production design, visuals, costume design and cast, and also criticized the series for its "tired telenovela tropes".

## Accolades

Accolades received by Pulang Araw :
| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2024 | Anak TV Seal Awards | Household Favorite Program | Pulang Araw | Won |
| 2024 | Anak TV Seal Awards | Female Makabata TV Star | Barbie Forteza | Won |
| 2024 | Anak TV Seal Awards | Male Makabata TV Star | Alden Richards | Won |
| 2024 | Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Promo or Trailer | Pulang Araw | Won |
| 2024 | 7th Gawad Lasallaneta Awards | Most Outstanding Teleserye | Pulang Araw | Won |
| 2024 | Ima Wa Ima Asian International Film Festival and Entertainment Special Awards | Best Performance on a Featured Role | Rhian Ramos | Nominated |
| 2024 | Movie and Television Review and Classification Board | Plaque of appreciation | Pulang Araw | Won |
| 2024 | Venice TV Awards | Best Soap/Telenovela | Pulang Araw | Nominated |
| 2024 | Tag Awards Chicago | Best Actress, Series | Barbie Forteza | Gold |
| 2024 | Tag Awards Chicago | Best Actor, Series | Dennis Trillo | Silver |
| 2024 | Tag Awards Chicago | Best Supporting Actress, Series | Sanya Lopez | Bronze |
| 2024 | Tag Awards Chicago | Best Supporting Actor, Series | David Licauco | Gold |
| 2025 | 10th Platinum Stallion National Media Awards | Best Primetime Drama Series | Pulang Araw | Won |
| 2025 | 10th Platinum Stallion National Media Awards | Socially Relevant TV Series | Pulang Araw | Won |
| 2025 | 10th Platinum Stallion National Media Awards | Best Primetime Drama Series Actor | David Licauco | Won |
| 2025 | 10th Platinum Stallion National Media Awards | Best Primetime Drama Series Actress | Sanya Lopez | Won |
| 2025 | 10th Platinum Stallion National Media Awards | Best Primetime Supporting Actor | Epy Quizon | Won |
| 2025 | 10th Platinum Stallion National Media Awards | Best Primetime Supporting Actress | Rochelle Pangilinan | Won |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Child Performer | Cassy Lavarias | Pending |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Child Performer | Brianna Advincula | Pending |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Drama Actor | Alden Richards | Pending |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Drama Actor | David Licauco | Pending |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Drama Actress | Barbie Forteza | Pending |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Drama Supporting Actor | Dennis Trillo | Pending |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Drama Supporting Actress | Rochelle Pangilinan | Pending |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best New Male TV Personality | Jay Ortega | Pending |
| 2025 | 38th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Primetime TV series | Pulang Araw | Pending |

## Legacy

The series is set to be archived on the Lunar Codex located in Earth's Moon – an archive of works to be launched from Earth through NASA Artemis and Commercial Lunar Payload Services program partners.