The animated film Forgotten Island imbues the Tagalog phrase “Tayo na!” with multiple layers of meaning, transforming it from a simple expression into a significant in-joke and narrative device. The film's stars, Liza Soberano and H.E.R., shared how their own Filipino backgrounds helped them navigate and deliver the phrase’s evolving significance throughout the story.
In Tagalog, “Tayo na!” can convey a range of sentiments, from a casual “Let’s go!” to a more intimate “You and me!” or an encouraging “Get up!” depending on context and pronunciation. In Forgotten Island, the phrase is spoken by the two lead characters, Jo and Raissa, as they navigate complex emotional shifts in their friendship and face impending separation. Initially used as an informal prompt for adventure, the phrase gains considerable weight as the narrative progresses.
Voice actors Liza Soberano, who plays Raissa, and H.E.R., who voices Jo, found that their personal connections to the language enriched their performances. H.E.R. described hearing the phrase used by her mother to hurry her along, noting that for them, it evolved into a sentiment of inclusion: “Come on, you. You've gotta join me. Let’s go.”
Soberano recalled her grandmother frequently using the phrase, explaining that “Tayo na!” can be a more formal invitation to depart, emphasizing a sentiment of togetherness: “More than anything, it means ‘I’m not doing this without you.’”
As Raissa prepares to leave for college, leaving Jo behind, the phrase becomes a crucial element in their dynamic. When a magical portal to the island of Nakali opens, Raissa hesitates, but Jo uses “Tayo na!” to urge her forward. This usage echoes other narrative devices, such as the codeword “Oklahoma” in Ted Lasso or “Grapefruit” in Bring Her Back, where a specific phrase signals a demand for truth or action.
H.E.R. elaborated on the phrase’s significance, stating, “Once I say ‘tayo na,’ she knows I’m serious. You can’t back down from a ‘tayo na.’ It’s almost like an initiation. Like ‘If I say tayo na, you can't say no.’ It’s our promise with each other.” Soberano agreed, calling it their “safe word” that signals a moment of seriousness and commitment, akin to invoking a “best-friend card.”
Both actors also noted their shared heritage allowed for organic contributions to the script. H.E.R. specifically highlighted adding a joke where Jo calls a bully’s car a “cheapney,” a reference to the iconic Filipino jeepney.
“It was so much fun,” H.E.R. said. “I just loved how much we were able to be so ourselves. Even though we might have been nervous at times, or shy, or whatever, it just was so organic, especially because we’re both Filipino. We’ve been talking so much about how when you meet another Filipino, immediately you’re like family. [...] You relate to each other, and it’s like a safe space. We experienced that recording together.”
Forgotten Island is currently playing in theaters.