Arzen Rose Dulzura

5 brilliant, creative Pinoy twists in “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” Philippine adaptation

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760944062458New Project (9).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Beyond their entertainment value, K-dramas are crafted to showcase Korean culture, reflecting its food, fashion, and way of life through stories that travel far beyond their borders.  </p><p>And so, adapting a Korean drama such as &quot;It&#x27;s Okay to Not Be Okay&quot; for a Filipino audience meant bridging two different worlds. The Philippine version stayed faithful to the original, almost recreating it frame by frame, while weaving in nuances that made it feel authentically Filipino. The story remained the same but was spoken in a language and emotion we know by heart. </p><p>Following the finale of the Philippine iteration led by Joshua Garcia, Anne Curtis, and Carlo Aquino, let’s do a quick comparison to see how the adaptation sprinkled in that unmistakable Pinoy flavor into the globally beloved series. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Food elements  </strong></div><p>In any society, food is one of the most distinct expressions of identity, as it encompasses history, tradition, and feelings served on a plate. It’s no surprise that Korean dramas have long used food as a storytelling device, with &quot;It’s Okay to Not Be Okay&quot; being no exception. </p><p>First on the list is jjampong, the Moon brothers’ ultimate comfort food. As kids, their mother would bring them to a small eatery that served what they believed to be the best jjampong in town, a memory that made the dish Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun)&#x27;s favorite. This Korean-Chinese noodle soup is a staple in South Korea&#x27;s dining scene, loved for its rich red broth and spice.  </p><p>In the remake, jjampong was transformed into batchoy, also a noodle dish that exudes comfort and is said to have originated from Chinese influence. In Iloilo, where parts of the series were filmed, La Paz batchoy is a well-known specialty made with a rich chicken-and-pork soup poured over thick noodles and topped with strips of pork and chicken along with fried garlic, onions, and crushed chicharon. Some even add a whole raw egg, which gently cooks in the steaming broth.  </p><p>There were also subtle differences in how the scene played out. In the original, when the brothers brought Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji) to their favorite jjampong place, she noticed Gang-tae tearing up while remembering his mother. The sadness was broken by laughter when Moon-young struggled with the spiciness of the dish, prompting Moon Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se) to react that Moon-young just tasted the capsaicin, which he joked would make their next &#x27;bathroom trip&#x27; painful.  </p><p>Meanwhile, in the Filipino version, Patrick and Mia shared a laugh when Matmat quipped that the garlic in the batchoy would cause bad breath, teasing them to brush their teeth afterward. </p><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wjX9-_gSMo8" title="Mia goes out to eat with Matmat and Patrick | It&#x27;s Okay To Not Be Okay (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Another trademark dish from the original drama is the braised quail egg, which Moon-young loved but could never manage to pick up with her chopsticks, so Gang-tae would patiently help her pick up the eggs from the bowl each time. In the Philippine version, the counterpart was still egg-based, and it doesn’t get any more Pinoy than this: salted egg with tomato. Of course, instead of using chopsticks, Patrick would crush the egg and tomato for Mia using his hands. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760943044117Screenshot 2025-10-20 144943.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Screengrab from Netflix K-Content YouTube </span></span></span></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JlHSUw1gNMU" title="Mia likes the food Patrick prepared | It&#x27;s Okay To Not be Okay (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div><div><strong>No cherry blossoms? No problem!</strong></div><p><strong></strong>The local execution was widely praised for its creativity and inventive cinematography, finding ways to match the original’s aesthetic despite the absence of certain natural elements. One of the most iconic &#x27;kilig&#x27; scenes in the K-drama is the cherry blossom sequence. The delicate flowers, celebrated in Korean art and literature for their sweet yet fleeting beauty, symbolized the heart-fluttering excitement of something new as Gang-tae and Moon-young met for the first time since their childhood.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17609431411191760943140301.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Screengrab from Netflix Philippines YouTube <br/></span></span></span><strong></strong></div><p>Their world turned pink as cherry blossoms rained around them. The rosy palette was a striking contrast to the darkness of their lives, yet hinted at the possibility that their hearts could bloom again. </p><p>But in a country without cherry blossoms, how did director Mae Cruz-Alviar and her team recreate the same visual imagery? Bougainvillea! To its credit, the Philippine adaptation didn’t fall short in the scene&#x27;s cinematography, capturing the same cinematic poetry through a lens steeped in local color. Plus, the use of slow motion heightened the scene, paired with the mellow &quot;feels&quot; of “Kathang Isip” playing in the background.  </p><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2hUtOmwL5s" title="Patpat and Mia reunite | It&#x27;s Okay To Not be Okay (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>The deer and the goat </strong></div><p>Added to the list of unforgettable moments from the original &quot;It’s Okay to Not Be Okay&quot; was the unexpected appearance of a deer, first when Moon-young was driving home at night and got startled by a deer standing right in the middle of the road. Instead of backing away, she challenged the animal by mimicking its loud bray until it finally moved aside. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760943409496Screenshot 2025-10-20 144943 (1).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Screengrab from Netflix K-Content YouTube </span></span></span></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5KBTz6hP0XE" title="Mia tries scaring a goat off the road | It&#x27;s Okay To Not be Okay (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The deer made another appearance later on, during one of the drama’s most romantic almost-kiss scenes. As Moon-young and Gang-tae stood on the balcony of her mansion and slowly leaned closer, a deer wandering outside suddenly let out a cry and interrupted the moment. Moon-young was so irritated she swore she wanted to twist the animal&#x27;s neck.  </p><p>The Philippine adaptation recreated these same scenarios almost shot for shot, but with a distinctly Filipino touch. In place of the deer, the team chose a more local counterpart—the kambing (goat).  </p><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yy9TmCzWfic" title="Patrick and Mia are about to kiss | It&#x27;s Okay To Not Be Okay (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>First trip together  </strong></div><p>In Episode 9 of the Korean drama, we saw Gang-tae and Moon-young finally take a quick trip together, their mini adventure leading them to a hanging bridge. The scene was filmed at the Geumsan Suspension Bridge, the longest and largest pedestrian bridge in South Korea and a popular attraction in Gangwon Province. Stretching 200 meters in length and suspended 100 meters high, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.  </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760943607056Screenshot 2025-10-20 144943 (3).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Screengrab from Netflix K-Content YouTube</span></span></span></div><p>While the Korean drama set the couple&#x27;s first getaway amid mountains and fields, the Philippine version took Patrick and Mia somewhere closer to home—the beach in the fictional town of Montanesa. The sequence was filmed at a stunning resort in Negros Oriental, with the production team clearly making the most of their location by showcasing the natural beauty of the Visayan coastline. </p><p>Though different in setting, the remake kept the essence of the original, particularly the part where the female lead faced her fear of heights, which played out through a cliff diving scene where Patrick invited Mia to jump with him. In the Korean version, though, Gang-tae asked Moon-young to sing so she wouldn’t get too nervous. Wouldn’t it have been just as entertaining if Anne had sung in that scene too? </p><div><iframe width="928" height="522" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4lmidZv6LI" title="&#x27;Protecting You&#x27; Episode | It&#x27;s Okay To Not Be Okay Trending Scenes" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Butterfly reveal  </strong></div><p>One of the most anticipated parts of the Philippine iteration was the killer reveal, or, more specifically, the actress who would portray the mother of the female lead. Viewers who had seen the original already knew that the head nurse at OK Hospital would eventually be unmasked as the “butterfly” or the murderer of the brothers’ mom. But the local version kept everyone guessing for much longer. </p><p>Instead of following the same straightforward path, the Philippine team cleverly introduced two head nurses—Eden (Agot Isidro) and Olivia (Maricel Laxa)—whose personalities and storylines were sketched so precisely that both could easily be the prime suspect, Ingrid. It was a good decision, as it not only built suspense but also gave the remake its own distinct flavor of intrigue. </p><div><iframe width="928" height="522" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ee9M4FWOSG8" title="It’s Okay to Not Be Okay | Episode 60 Teaser | October 10, 2025" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Therefore, the scenes surrounding Ingrid’s true identity were slightly tweaked to sustain the mystery. For instance, in the original, Park Haeng-ja (Jang Young-nam) was the one who gave Sang-tae a dinosaur stuffed toy called Mama Dinosaur. In the adaptation, however, the script was altered so that it was Olivia who brought the toy to OK Hospital but because she was busy with an errand and couldn’t hand it to Matmat personally, she instead let Eden give it to him—a clever adjustment that subtly redirected viewers&#x27; suspicion. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17609436949191760943693722.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>In the scene where Gang-tae and Director Oh Ji-wang (Kim Chang-wan) reviewed the security footage of the hospital mess hall to find out who had vandalized Sang-tae’s mural with a black butterfly, the Korean version showed Haeng-ja’s face clearly on camera, leaving no room for doubt. But in the Philippine counterpart, Patrick and Doc Anok (Bobot Mortiz) initially failed to identify the woman, as her back was turned to the camera. It took several days and a series of clues before Patrick finally pieced together that Eden was the murderer. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760943844757Screenshot 2025-10-20 144943 (5).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17609438666761760943865632.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><br/>In the end, the Philippine adaptation of “<a href="http://iotnbo.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>It’s Okay to Not Be Okay</u></strong></a>” stayed true to the essence of the Korean masterpiece, yet found beauty in the subtle differences that made it more Filipino, which is exactly why it captured the hearts of local viewers.</div>

<p>Following the finale of the Philippine adaptation starring Joshua Garcia, Anne Curtis, and Carlo Aquino, here’s a look at the elements that gave "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" a distinctly local heart.</p>

Following the finale of the Philippine adaptation starring Joshua Garcia, Anne Curtis, and Carlo Aquino, here’s a look at the elements that gave "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" a distinctly local heart.