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It's Okay to Not Be Okay

Reyma Deveza

ABS-CBN News

<p>The much-awaited Philippine adaptation of the hit South Korean drama &quot;It&#x27;s Okay To Not Be Okay&quot; aired its pilot episode on free TV Monday, July 21, highlighting themes about family duty, trauma and mental health.</p><p>The debut episode introduced the show&#x27;s main characters Mia Hernandez (Anne Curtis), a popular antisocial and fierce children&#x27;s book author; hospital worker Patrick &quot;Pat-Pat&quot; Gonzales (Joshua Garcia), the quiet, patient and gentle younger brother of Matthew &quot;Mat-Mat&quot; Gonzales (Carlo Aquino), who is on the autism spectrum, and who&#x27;s afraid of butterflies. In the first episode, it showed that all three main characters were struggling from their past trauma.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:911px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753078160119animated.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="YOUTUBE/ABS-CBN Entertainment"/><span class="fr-inner"><em style="text-align:left">Screen grab: YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment</em></span></span></span>The first episode titled &quot;Once Upon A Same Day,&quot; opened with an animated story of the book &quot;Ang Prinsesa at ang Anino ng Kadiliman (The Princess and The Shadow of Darkness),&quot; which was written by Mia. </div><p>Narrated by Pat-Pat for his brother Mat-Mat, the story follows a lonely princess who is rejected by others and soon manifests a dark shadow — her &quot;twin.&quot; In a fit of rage, the princess throws stones and accidentally hits something in the river, unknowingly saving a boy. </p><p>The shadow fades as the boy begins to follow her, but after witnessing her kill butterflies, he flees. The shadow returns and whispers: “Tandaan mo, walang magmamahal sa’yo dahil kakaiba ka. Isa kang halimaw.” (&quot;Remember, no one will ever love you because you&#x27;re different. You&#x27;re a monster.&quot;) </p><p>“Opo, Mama,” the princess replies, as it cuts to Mia, standing alone on a balcony.</p><p>The next scenes weave between dream and reality. A young Pat-Pat calms a distressed Mat-Mat after a nightmare about butterflies. In the morning, Mat-Mat, excited to go to work, suffers a meltdown upon seeing a butterfly hair clip.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:911px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753078262699PatpatMatmat.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:911px" alt="YOUTUBE/ABS-CBN Entertainment"/><span class="fr-inner"><em style="text-align:left">Screen grab: YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment</em></span></span></span>Meanwhile, Mia is seen savoring a rare steak at a restaurant, delighting in its red, bloody juice. When approached by a young fan, she unsettles the girl by whispering that the prettiest character in all her stories is not the princess — but the witch. Before leaving, she slides the steak knife into her bag.</div><p>Outside, Mia crosses paths with Pat-Pat, who soon receives a call from Mat-Mat’s boss: Mat-Mat has been fired after damaging company property. Pat-Pat reassures his brother, saying they’ll find a new job — one that makes him happy.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:912px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753078941699Matmatmeldown.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="YOUTUBE/ABS-CBN Entertainment"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Screen grab: YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment</em></span></span></span></div><p>At the hospital where Pat-Pat works in the psychiatric ward, he is shown to be both empathetic and composed under pressure. Through coworkers, we learn that he has worked in several hospitals but never lasted more than a year.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:914px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753078514342Mia.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="YOUTUBE/ABS-CBN Entertainment"/><span class="fr-inner">Screen grab: YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment</span></span></span></div><p>Mia then arrives at the hospital where Pat-Pat is working for book reading and signing event. Pat-Pat calls Mat-Mat to share the news, but instead of bringing him, promises to get Mia’s autograph.</p><p>As the episode nears its end, Pat-Pat meets Mia and reminds her that smoking is not allowed.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:915px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753078321158PatpatMia.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="YOUTUBE/ABS-CBN Entertainment"/><span class="fr-inner">Screen grab: YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment</span></span></span></div><p>Flashbacks hint at a past connection between the two. Intrigued, Mia asks him, “Do you believe in destiny?”</p><p>The final scene cuts to a haunting memory: young Pat-Pat and Mat-Mat crying over their mother’s death, with Pat-Pat repeating, “Paru-paro, babalik ’yung paru-paro.” (&quot;The butterfly will return.&quot;)</p><p>Directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar under Star Creatives, &quot;It&#x27;s Okay To Not Be Okay&quot; airs on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, Jeepney TV, A2Z, and TV5. It&#x27;s also streaming on Netflix and <a href="https://web.iwanttfc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iWant.</a>  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/7/1/carlo-aquino-had-second-thoughts-before-accepting-it-s-okay-to-not-be-okay-1221" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Carlo Aquino had second thoughts before accepting &#x27;It&#x27;s Okay To Not Be Okay&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/7/8/enchong-dee-feels-lucky-to-be-part-of-local-it-s-okay-to-not-be-okay-1108" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enchong Dee feels lucky to be part of local &#x27;It&#x27;s Okay To Not Be Okay&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/6/30/anne-curtis-admits-first-day-jitters-at-launch-of-her-teleserye-comeback-2003" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Anne Curtis admits first-day jitters at launch of her teleserye comeback</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpM4S4_GfD8?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HvM_AR6jixk?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/njNBFlX54J4?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kcU3KDugoG4?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The wait is over! The Philippine adaptation of ‘It’s Okay To Not Be Okay’ kicked off with a gripping, emotional pilot — complete with fairy tale feels, killer lines, and chemistry that hits hard. If you’re not watching yet… you’re missing out! 🦋💔📖</p>

The wait is over! The Philippine adaptation of ‘It’s Okay To Not Be Okay’ kicked off with a gripping, emotional pilot — complete with fairy tale feels, killer lines, and chemistry that hits hard. If you’re not watching yet… you’re missing out! 🦋💔📖

PH's 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' pilot highlights family duty, trauma, mental health

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PH's 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' pilot highlights family duty, trauma, mental health

Reyma Deveza,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 22, 2025 07:58 AM PHT

Read More:

Anne Curtis

Carlo Aquino

Joshua Garcia

It's Okay To Not Be Okay

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