Jo

Personality
Jo is the tomboy of the duo: loud, impulsive, chaotic, adventurous, fiercely loyal, and with a free and genki (energetic and carefree) spirit. She's a dreamer, passionate about Filipino stories and mythology, artistic (she ends up becoming a comic book/graphic novel artist), and unafraid to use a knife or get into trouble. She has a rough and somewhat profane side, but she's also vulnerable: she hates being alone, has abandonment issues due to her father's absence and the loss of her grandmother, and acts selfishly for fear of Raissa leaving (hiding the sand dollar). She's "ride or die" with her friend and capable of heroic sacrifices.

Appearance
Black/short messy hair in a high, spiky ponytail (often with a red scrunchie and a purple pom-pom).

Tomboy style and colorful: wide and short blue denim overalls, often with colorful graphics or doodles and a ripped strap; orange-red ribbed t-shirt/tank top.
Multicolored padded high-top sneakers with yellow laces, striped socks.

Many friendship bracelets with charms/souvenirs.

An energetic and carefree appearance that reflects his carefree personality.

History
Jo grows up in the Philippines during the 1990s. She's a dreamy girl who tells stories in class about the forgotten island of Nakali (or Nakalimutan) and creatures like the Manananggal, based on tales told by her grandmother Lola Fatima (Dolly de Leon). When a classmate bullies her, Jo attacks him and is sent to the principal's office, where she meets Raissa Molina. Raissa defends her, and from that moment on, they become inseparable best friends.
Wikipedia
Her father abandons her (she said he would come for her to move to California, but he never did), and she is raised primarily by her grandmother. After Lola Fatima's death, Jo feels even more alone and clings to Raissa. She works at a fried chicken restaurant (sometimes in a chicken costume). Upon graduating from high school, Raissa reveals that she will be attending Caltech in the United States, which devastates Jo due to her fear of being abandoned.
Tvtropes
On their last night together, they find a magical sand dollar that transports them to Nakali. They awaken with no memory of the previous night (Jo with a new tattoo). There, they face mythical creatures, befriend the man-dog Raww, and discover that staying too long erases their memories. Jo, afraid of losing Raissa, hides the sand dollar. Later, she makes a heroic sacrifice: she gives her friendship bracelet (and the associated memories) to Batiba so Raissa can return home. Raissa comes back for her, they save their friendship, and escape. Years later, Jo becomes a successful graphic novelist who publishes a book inspired by their adventures and visits Raissa; together they reopen the portal to return to Nakali.