Filipino-American actress Isa Briones honored her heritage in the Emmy-winning medical drama The Pitt by singing the Hiligaynon lullaby “Ili-Ili, Tulog Anay” in one memorable scene.
In the HBO Max series, Isa portrays Dr. Trinity Santos, a second-year resident juggling the demanding responsibilities of hospital life.
Episode 7, which aired on February 19, 2026, Dr. Santos struggles to keep her focus on her charting because of a baby's constant crying.
The newborn baby is an abandoned infant and referred to as “Baby Jane Doe.”
Left alone with the baby, Dr. Santos shares a tender moment as she softly sings the traditional lullaby from Iloilo, gently soothing the child to sleep.
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A SUGGESTION FROM THE SHOW'S WRITER
The idea for Isa to sing “Ili-Ili, Tulog Anay” came from Isa's father, Filipino Broadway actor Jon Jon Briones.
As Isa told Vogue, The Pitt writer Scott Gemmill wrote to her by email suggesting that she sing a lullaby for the particular scene.
Scott broached the possibility of singing a Filipino bedtime song.
Isa then called her father to ask for his suggestion, with Jon Jon recommending “Ili-Ili, Tulog Anay" as a suitable song for the scene.
After all, the lullaby is traditionally sung by an older sister or an aunt to comfort a child longing for their mother.
"It fit perfectly, especially for the context of this baby being left there,” said Isa.
“It was a really cool chance to show a softer side and also sprinkle a little culture in there.”
Filipinos who saw the episode were surprised initially, but soon were overcome by pride upon hearing a beloved Filipino lullaby used in the show.
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DISPLAYING HER FILIPINO ROOTS
This isn't the first time Isa has flexed her Filipino background in the characters that she played.
Isa had a say in the name of her role in The Pitt, suggesting a Filipino-sounding name to reflect the background of her character.
She was delighted with how the show favorably portrays Filipino health practitioners, particularly nurses, as hardworking.
When she was doing Hadestown, Isa, who played the character of Eurydice, used scraps of traditional Filipino fabric and stitched them onto her coat.
Born in London, England, the 27-year-old actress is of Filipino, Swedish, and Irish descent.
Her family moved to the United States when she was very young, first settling in New York City before eventually relocating to Los Angeles.
Isa holds both British and American citizenship.
She started her showbiz career in commercials before bagging supporting roles in movies.
Isa also acted in theater and was seen in the stage productions Miracle on 34th Street, Evita, and Grease, among others.
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