Moviegoers and animation fans around the world are heading to theaters—and straight to Google Search—as DreamWorks Animation’s newest feature Forgotten Island, starring world-class Filipinos Liza Soberano and H.E.R., tops Philippine search trends.
Search data on Google Trends over the past week shows spikes in interest in the entire country, with the “Forgotten Island” search term scoring a perfect 100 once on September 23 and past 90 on more than one point. This means that the term completely dominated all other search keywords by volume, proving that the Filipino culture-inspired blockbuster is indeed a hit phenomenon at home.
And as viewers fall in love with the film's lush visuals and story, they are also turning to Google to discover the real-world Philippine mythology that inspired it.
From winged nocturnal creatures to giants lurking in ancient trees, Forgotten Island weaves iconic elements of Filipino folklore into its narrative. The surge in global search interest shows how cinematic storytelling can spark curiosity about local heritage and traditions.
You can start looking up some of the lore, too. Whether you’re a lifelong lore enthusiast or a movie fan
curious about what inspired the story, here are four simple ways to use Google Search to explore
authentic Pinoy mythology:
● Search for creature origins using exact names: Curious about the creatures featured on screen? Type specific names like Manananggal, Tiyanak, Kapre, or Batibat alongside keywords like Filipino mythology or regional folklore to find reliable articles, myth breakdowns, and cultural studies.
● Use quotation marks for targeted search terms: If you want precise information on a specific myth or creature, enclose your search term in quotation marks—for example, mythological origins of Kapre& Batibat folklore in Ilocano culture. This tells Google to return results containing those exact phrases.
● Explore local customs and cultural concepts: Forgotten Island showcases more than just mythical beasts—it highlights rich traditions and local values. Search terms like Filipino spirit offerings, Philippine animism traditions, or traditional gestures featured in the movie to understand the deep cultural roots behind each scene.
● Dive into visual and video resources: Folklore lives in art and storytelling. Switch to Google Images or search YouTube within Google to watch documentaries, listen to local storytellers, and see traditional illustrations of Philippine mythical lore by local Filipino artists.
As Forgotten Island continues to captivate audiences from the Philippines to the rest of the world, Google Search makes it easy for moviegoers everywhere to turn movie-night wonder into meaningful learning.
