Fil-Am singer H.E.R. felt ‘at home’ with her Filipino roots in ‘Forgotten Island’

Filipino-American singer H.E.R. said working on DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” gave her a strong sense of connection to her Filipino roots as several parts of the film reminded her of home and her family.

“I felt at home from the beginning of the process even now, today, being in Manila with all of you,” H.E.R. said during a media session with the cast and filmmakers on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at a hotel in Taguig City.

H.E.R., whose mother is Filipina, said many elements of the animated film reminded her of her own experiences, including scenes featuring Lola, Filipino food and gestures.

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“There’s so many scenes in the movie that actually literally feel like my home, my mom’s home,” she said. “Watching it and seeing it really come to life, from the scenes with Lola to the pointing of the lips to the food to the way that Raissa and Jo are connected, everything about this movie feels like a very personal, at-home experience.”

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READ: Liza Soberano, H.E.R. to hold Manila fan meet for ‘Forgotten Island’ promo

The singer-songwriter credited the film’s directors, Joel Crawford, who is married to a Filipina, and Januel Mercado, who is Filipino-American, and the DreamWorks Animation team for making her feel welcomed and involved throughout the production.

“Being at the DreamWorks Animation Studio, which is actually my favorite, not because of this movie. It was always my favorite animation studio. I felt right at home with you guys,” H.E.R. said.

“You guys made it so fun and they welcomed me and it was so collaborative. And every day, working with them felt like home,” she added.

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Asked if there was a particular scene that made her think, “Wait, that’s my life,” H.E.R. immediately pointed to a familiar sight in many Filipino homes.

“Oh, my gosh. There’s quite a few of those. Mostly looking at Jesus on the wall,” she said, referring to a scene in the film featuring a religious image.

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H.E.R. also said “Forgotten Island” allowed her to discover more about Filipino folklore. While she grew up hearing stories about the “manananggal,” she encountered other mythical creatures through the film that were new to her.

“Honestly, there were new aswangs that I had never heard of. Because I grew up hearing stories about manananggal. I was very surprised that more of the creatures I had never heard of,” she said.

The Grammy- and Academy Award-winning artist also found similarities between herself and Jo, the character she voices in the film, saying the role brought out her “inner child” and playful side.

“I think I just learned more so to have fun and be exactly who I am at all times and be unapologetic about it,” H.E.R. said.

In “Forgotten Island,” Jo and Raissa (Liza Soberano) are best friends who have known each other since grade school. On the eve of going their separate ways after high school, they discover a mysterious portal that transports them to Nakali, a fantastical island populated by creatures rooted in Filipino mythology.

H.E.R. and Soberano are currently in the Philippines with the film’s creative team for promotional activities ahead of its Sept. 23 theatrical release.

Aside from meeting with members of the media on Tuesday morning, they attended a fan event at a mall in Pasay City later that day.

H.E.R. and Soberano also surprised children supported by Save the Children Philippines during a special screening of “Forgotten Island” at a mall in Taguig on the same day.

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The screening, organized by DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, brought together children supported by Save the Children, which has worked in the Philippines for more than four decades. /ra