VISALIA, Calif. (FOX26) — A familiar face made a surprise appearance at the Regal Theater in Visalia this afternoon, as family and friends gathered to celebrate the release of the animated film Forgotten Island.
Visalia native and voice actress Liza Soberano returned to her hometown ahead of the film’s release, surprising members of the audience who came out to support her.
For some of her family and friends, seeing Soberano on the big screen was the latest chapter in a journey they say they always believed would lead to something special.
“Since she was young, I even told her one day you’re going to be famous. And it came true,” Rudy Watson, her brother said.
Soberano voices Risa, one of the film’s lead characters.
“Forgotten Island is a story about two lifelong best friends, Joe and Risa,” Soberano said. “I play Risa, and they are about to enter college. Risa has to move to America from the Philippines to go to L.A., to go to Caltech.”
The film follows a group of friends who find themselves stranded on a mysterious island filled with mythical creatures. As they search for a way home, they are forced to make difficult choices.
For Soberano, the story carries a personal connection.
“It’s a movie that’s rooted in my own culture, which is not necessarily from here in Visalia, but I had a community, a Filipino-American community here in Visalia, so it really is hitting home for me,” she said.
Returning to Visalia also gave Soberano a chance to reflect on the community that helped shape her.
“I was allowed to have fun and be adventurous and, you know, be very curious,” she said. “And I think that it’s a town that nurtures that type of energy.”
While Visalia helped shape Soberano, she says her Filipino heritage helped shape the story she is now helping bring to audiences.
And she hopes the film does more than entertain, she hopes it introduces more people to Filipino culture.
“I’m really happy about what this is doing for the Filipino culture as well, because a lot of people who may have not been as familiar with Filipino culture are now getting introduced to it,” Soberano said.
