Member-only story
I Met Liza Soberano 9 Years Ago
I met the young Filipino actress Liza Soberano back in Italy while they were filming “Dolce Amore,” a Filipino TV drama that aired in 2016. The drama was inspired by Italy, and one of the filming locations was my hometown, Bologna.
At that time, everyone, including my friends, went crazy over Liza. Mind you, this was nine years ago, she was a lot younger, and even I couldn’t believe the craze for her. I wasn’t a huge fan of her personally, but the whole thing fascinated me.
Who could’ve predicted that an 18-year-old actress would one day make such a significant impact on the Filipino community?
Almost nine years later, she made her official Hollywood debut in the movie “Lisa Frankenstein,” alongside Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse.
Whether you’re a fan of hers or not, it’s impossible not to like what she’s doing. If you’re Filipino, you have to pay attention.
Why is this such a big deal?
First, it’s not every day that a Filipino makes international headlines in Hollywood. Second, almost two years ago, when news broke about her plans to try her luck in Hollywood, it was met with skepticism and mixed reactions. You would expect support from her fellow Filipinos, but no. Many mocked her decision and some even said she wasn’t talented enough to make it. Some people even went as far as calling her ‘ungrateful’.
According to Philippine Star, one of the reasons of her departure is due the unpleasant experiences Liza had in Filipino productions. As far as I’m concerned, she had every right to pursue international opportunities. Especially, while she’s still young.
Fast-forward to today, and she’s silenced every critic and naysayer.
While the movie “Lisa Frankenstein” has received mixed reviews, Liza Soberano is earning glowing praise for her Hollywood debut. Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post wrote, “The brightest light in these dismal proceedings might be Liza Soberano’s Taffy…”
Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair even wished the movie focused more on Liza Soberano’s character. A strong…
