Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
In Forgotten Island, “tayo na” is the personal motto and pact of Jo and Raissa, the two friends at the center of the film. Saying it means they are committing to do something together and to follow through on it.
What the phrase means in the film
The line works as a promise between the two characters. When one of them says it, the other is agreeing to see a thing through with them. The writer-directors, Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford, describe it as the girls’ own catchphrase rather than a general expression the film is borrowing from everyday speech.
Why a formal-sounding phrase was kept
The phrase was not chosen because it sounds natural in casual conversation. Liza Soberano, who voices Raissa, noticed that “tayo na” sounded formal to her, while “tara na” felt more casual. The directors then checked the phrase with cultural consultant Kirby Araullo before deciding to keep it.
Mercado explained the decision in an interview with Vogue Philippines:
#1 Best Overall
“Even though it’s not colloquial, we adopted it for the girls for their own personal motto. It’s their promise and their pact, like, every time we say this, we gotta do it. Like ride or die.”
The formality is part of what makes it work for the characters. A phrase that sounds a little solemn suits a vow between two kids, and it gives the line a weight that a casual expression would not.
Why the phrase matters to the story
The motto is tied to a friendship that builds over time. Crawford tied it to the intensity of the girls’ bond:
“It’s something that stands out, that’s specific to this friendship that could match the intensity of their predator handshake.”
That matters because the film’s premise tests the same friendship. According to a September 16, 2026 transcript of an interview on Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley, two lifelong friends grow apart and are tested in a mythical world where their memories of each other are at risk. Each time the phrase is spoken, it carries the history of that friendship, which is why the directors wanted a phrase that belonged only to these two characters.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where the meaning stops
The explanation above reflects how the filmmakers use the phrase in Forgotten Island. It is not a dictionary entry, and it does not establish how Filipino speakers use “tayo na” in general. If you want to know the phrase’s everyday usage, a Tagalog dictionary or phrasebook is a better guide than the film. For this film, the useful reading is the one the characters give it: a pact to act together and keep the promise.
For release context, Vogue Philippines reported that the film opened in Philippine cinemas on September 23, 2026, ahead of its US release on September 25, 2026.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
