Several Filipinos lauded what they believe to be queer representation in one of the characters of the Filipino folklore-inspired animated film “Forgotten Island.”
The film is the latest of Liza Soberano‘s projects in Hollywood, with its trailer released on Thursday, March 26.
Produced by DreamWorks Animation, the Filipino-themed film follows two high school graduates who are about to go their separate ways but are transported to a magical island populated by creatures from Filipino folklore.
It stars Raissa, a long-haired bespectacled girl voiced by Liza, and Jo, a short-haired girl voiced by Fil-Am singer H.E.R.
ALSO READ: ‘So so so honored’: Liza Soberano expresses gratitude for role in DreamWorks’ ‘Forgotten Island’
The coming-of-age film embraces Filipino culture, featuring elements such as jeepney, balisong and tangled overhead cable wires in the trailer.
Among those who also stood out in the trailer was the character of Jo, who some viewers believe represents a queer individual, based on how she carries herself.
“First accurate tomboy representation in media,” an online user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), sharing screengrabs of Jo’s character.
first accurate tomboy representation in media #forgottenisland #seen pic.twitter.com/ag5r2MV3Gl
— ryu | iniwang sanggol ng mga dragon (@yagamiscoat) March 25, 2026
The post has garnered two million views, 20,000 likes, 2,000 reposts and almost 60 replies.
“Fun fact for my oomfs: In the Philippines, lesbians are called tomboys,” another wrote. “OOMF” refers to “one of my followers.”
Another X user shared an image from the book “The Persistent Desire: A Femme-Butch Reader,” noting that the English terms “dyke” and “butch” are “never used” in the country and “are understood only by a few.”
“In the Philippines we are better known as tomboys, T-birds, babaeng bakla (woman faggot), or pars, which is a Tagalog word for pare, meaning the men who stood as sponsors in ceremonies such as weddings and baptisms,” an excerpt of the book reads.
“Lesbians are those women who fall in love with tomboys/T- birds/pars,” it added.
“I understand the confusion in the qrts [quote retweets or replies], but tomboy means butch [or] lesbian in the Philippines, especially in rural areas,” the user who shared an excerpt from the book read.
i understand the confusion in the qrts/replies but tomboy means butch/lesbian in the philippines, especially in rural areas :p https://t.co/fahrFubVuy pic.twitter.com/qGWHxRAlgV
— jaz (@eyebagsemoji) March 26, 2026
“It’s so refreshing to see a common body type of Filipino women that’s less represented, even in our own media, in this movie by a mainstream company,” another commented.
Some viewers also noted that the background in the scene featuring Jo seemed to reflect the colors of the lesbian flag.
“Lesbian color scheme, it’s not subtle, guys,” an X user wrote.
The lesbian flag has colors of orange, white, pink, and dark rose, with each color symbolizing meanings.
“Forgotten Island” also features a predominantly Filipino cast, including the voices of Dolly de Leon, Lea Salonga, Jo Koy and Amielynn Abellera.
It is also directed by Filipino-American filmmaker Januel Mercado with Joel Crawford serving as co-director.
It is the first Filipino-themed animated film in Hollywood.
