Pag-ibig sa bayan o sarili? ‘Pulang Araw’ leads choose self-love first

(From left) David Licauco, Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, and Sanya Lopez in the press conference of “Pulang Araw.” Image: Courtesy of Netflix

If they had to choose between love for self and country, “Pulang Araw” lead stars Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, David Licauco, and Sanya Lopez admitted they would prioritize self-love first.

The Kapuso stars made sure to clarify that one needs to be whole before choosing to wholeheartedly serve their country.

“That’s a hard question,” Richards admitted to INQUIRER.net in a roundtable interview, while Forteza, Licauco, and Lopez nodded in agreement. The actors star as childhood friends in the historical drama “Pulang Araw,” who learn to navigate their inner traumas and the devastating effects of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in the 1940s.

“Para sa’kin, pag-ibig sa sarili. Kasi kailangan mong magkaroon ng pag-ibig sa sarili bago mo matutunang mahalin ang bansa mo. Kasi kapag sarili mo, hindi mo alam paano mo mamahalin, paano mo mamahalin ‘yung iba pa? Nagsisimula talaga ‘yun sa sarili mo,” Lopez said, as she motioned to go first.

(For me, I would choose to love myself. You need to have self-love before you learn how to love your country. Because if you don’t know how to love yourself, how would you love others? It really starts with yourself.)

Sanya Lopez as Teresita Borromeo. Image: Courtesy of Netflix

Meanwhile, Richards pointed out that he and his character Eduardo would probably have different answers to the question.

“Siguro kung si Eduardo, pag-ibig sa bayan. Pero kung si Alden, pag-ibig sa sarili. Kailangan mong mahalin ang sarili mo bago ka makapagmahal ng ibang bagay o tao, diba (I guess if it’s Eduardo, love for his country. But for Alden, love for himself. You have to love yourself because loving other things and other people)?” he said.

His response, however, led Forteza to playfully tease him, saying “Ah, so gan’un na si Alden (So Alden is that kind of person)?” A laughing Richards replied, “Gan’un na (He’s like that now).”

Alden Richards as Eduardo dela Cruz. Image: Courtesy of Netflix

Laughing at his co-star’s teasing, Richards pointed out that there’s nothing wrong in thinking of yourself. He also stressed that it’s hard to give love to others if one is feeling empty inside.

“Find time for yourself pero may point din naman kasi minsan nare-realize mo sa buhay, hindi naman kasamaan na isipin at mahalin mo muna ang iyong sarili kasi it all starts from you eh. In order for you to take care of other people, kailangan hindi ka maubos. Mahirap maubos kung purong ibang tao lang ang iniisip,” he said.

(Find time for yourself. There’s a good point in doing this because you would eventually realize that there’s nothing wrong with thinking and loving yourself. It all starts with you. For you to take care of other people, you shouldn’t leave your cup empty. It’s hard to be empty, especially when you’re only thinking about others.)

Richards quickly shifted the conversation to Forteza when it was her turn to answer the question. “Ako naman, pag-ibig sa sarili (For me, love for myself),” she carefully said.

“As a healthy young woman, pag-ibig muna sa sarili kasi nararanasan ko ang napapabayaan ko [ang aking sarili]. Kasi lagi akong nagtatrabaho. Nakakalimutan ko ang pag-ibig sa sarili [in the sense] na kailangan mong pahinga (As a healthy young woman, you have to love yourself because I experienced neglecting myself. Because I always choose to work. I forget to love myself in the sense of forgetting to rest),” she further added.

Barbie Forteza as Adelina dela Cruz. Image: Courtesy of Netflix

The actress stressed that “finding time” for yourself would be a lesson she would always carry in her day-to-day life.

“Find time for yourself. Para okay ako to work, okay ako mag-provide sa family ko, and mga… huy,” she said, apparently hinting at her personal life. “Makakapagtrabaho ako nang maayos, mas makakapag-serve ako sa bayan ko, so pag-ibig para sa sarili.”

(Find time for yourself. So I would be okay to work, provide for my family, and do other things. I would be able to work properly. I would be able to serve my country properly, so love for myself.)

On the other hand, Licauco confessed that practicing self-love is “not easy,” especially if one tends to delve into their mistakes. “Siguro ako, mas gusto ko ang pag-ibig para sa sarili dahil siyempre, minsan, hindi madali [gawin ‘yun].”

David Licauco as Hiroshi Tanaka. Image: Courtesy of Netflix

“Everyday, meron kang dilemma kung inimprove and pipiliin mo ang sarili mo. Kailangan mong hanapin ang in-between n’un and kung kailangan mong mag-adjust dahil hindi pwede na ikaw lang ang nagbibigay [sa iba],” he continued. “Kailangan mo ring magbigay para sa sarili mo.”

(Every day, there are dilemmas you need to improve on, and choosing yourself plays a role in that. You have to find the in-between of these things because you can’t simply give everything to others. You need to give something to yourself as well.)

The Dominic Zapata-helmed drama also stars Dennis Trillo, Epy Quizon, Rochelle Pangilinan, Angelu de Leon, Ashley Ortega, Sef Cadayona, Mikoy Morales, Derrick Monasterio, and Rhian Ramos in a special role.

In the press conference, Richards revealed that “Pulang Araw” has been part of GMA’s archives for 10 years before it was brought into fruition.