Netflix Philippines Unveils the Mysterious Island of ‘Balaraw’

 

The show’s cast and creator welcomed members of the press and content creators for an evening of celebration ahead of its October 29 premiere

Netflix Philippines brought together the stars and the creator of BALARAW for an exclusive media launch, welcoming lead stars Janine Gutierrez, Charlie Dizon, Ronnie Lazaro, Nonie Buencamino, alongside director/co-creator Rae Red, for an evening of intrigue and anticipation ahead of the mystery-thriller’s launch on October 29.

Themed content zones, atmospheric design elements, an abundant food spread, and staff dressed in attire inspired by the show shaped the immersive atmosphere for the guests and gave them an idea of what awaits on the mysterious island at the center of this story.

Director and co-creator Rae Red offered guests a glimpse into her process and the inspiration behind Balaraw, sharing how great stories almost always start with a question, and how hers grew from a deep fascination with folkloric beliefs and their influence on Filipinos’ everyday lives.

Beyond the series’ scale and air of mystery, however, Red and her co-creators wanted to explore a more intimate, withstanding emotional core, one rooted in her own experiences as a daughter and a desire to understand her parents: “Isa sa mga conversations namin was how we never really know our parents; the moment you get to know them, magulang na sila. You don't know the person they were before they had you. And that's such a mystery to me growing up. Parang na-parallel lang namin siya sa folklore, where it's shrouded in mystery.”

 

Gutierrez, who plays the show’s main protagonist Sabina, said that it’s the opportunity to work with the production team again – one she worked with on a previous project – that really interested her in the beginning. Ultimately, however, it was the script that sealed the deal: “I saw the deck, I saw the script, even when it’s episodes of [the] script, tatapusin mo talaga siya in one reading eh, kasi sobrang exciting. Super page-turner. And napaka-epic ng kwento. It was an easy yes.”

This enthusiasm was echoed by her cast members, who shared their perspectives on their characters and the motivations that drive them. Buencamino, who plays Ramon, highlighted his complex character and how important it was to maintain an air of mystery while ensuring he was able to remain believable: “I really like complex characters, [one who] doesn’t give away many things, especially in the beginning of the story. How are you able to portray that mystery pero [still remain] truthful and logical.”

For Lazaro, who plays Sabina’s godfather Arturo, the project was a chance to show the world a slice of the Philippines and the richness of our local superstitions: “We have so many stories to tell the world. (...) Napakagandang pagkakataon [ito] na maipakita natin sa mundo ang isa sa parte ng buhay natin dito sa Pilipinas.”

 

Dizon, who portrays Sabina’s loyal and tenacious girlfriend Bulak, was drawn to the project for its sense of adventure and its grounding in Filipino folklore that promises an insight into familiar cultural narratives: “Super exciting kasi bagong-bago siya for me; may kasamang Filipino folklore, may mystery, may family drama.”

Filming anything that required the physicality Balaraw demanded met its own set of challenges, one in particular was a scene that required them to film in the middle of the sea for two days. Janine said this about the experience: “There was a time where we shot in a boat. Kami ni Tito Ronnie ‘yun. Talagang nandoon kami sa gitna ng laot, dun kami nagshoo-shoot. Walang balikan ‘yon. Meron lang mas maliit na boat na merong portalet, so kapag may toilet break ka, lilipat ka dun, tapos babalik ka ulit dun sa malaking bangka.” 

Lazaro described the project as their labor of love and was grateful for the opportunity to film across various locations in the country. Reflecting on that experience, he shared, “That was an experience I will never forget. We worked [on] this very good story, and we filmed it really well.” He closed his statement by inviting all filmmakers to watch this series and appreciate the thought and care that went into its production.

 

 

While the island at the heart of Balaraw may be isolated, Red emphasized that bringing this concept and story to life was a collaborative effort. She confirmed that they wanted to minimize visual effects as much as possible and rely heavily on what was happening in front of them to ground the process from start to finish. Her team drew on their independent filmmaking backgrounds and undertook extensive research to shape this world: “I think it’s safe to say that we all came from a very independent background – indie filmmaking – so [with] something so big like this, we really had to do our homework. And I’m proud to say that I’m very happy with the result.”

As the press conference drew to a close, Janine invited viewers to tune in on October 29 to witness non-stop thrill and excitement, drawing guests into the very heart of the series: “It starts really as a mother-daughter story, which is so sentimental, and everybody will be able to relate. It’s within this grand world of Balaraw.

 

 

The evening garnered more than 80 media professionals and content creators to celebrate another milestone in Netflix’s creative repository. Balaraw joins Netflix Philippines’ growing slate of locally-produced titles, weaving together the country’s unique elements of folklore, family drama, and mystery in a story that invites audiences to peel back the layers of the island’s secrets and see the relationships that lie at its heart.

BALARAW launches globally on October 29. Only on Netflix.