Why the World Fell in Love with It’s Okay to Not Be Okay—And Why the PH Remake Is Worth Watching Too

 

-Premiered in South Korea from June to August 2020, the original starred Kim Soo‑hyun (Moon Gang‑tae), Seo Yea‑ji (Ko Moon‑young), and Oh Jung‑se (Moon Sang‑tae)  .

-Blended genres—a romantic comedy, psychological drama, and dark comedy—woven around trauma, mental health, and emotional healing .

-Critically acclaimed and award‑winning, it earned international praise, including recognition from The New York Times and wins at the Baeksang Arts Awards  .

-Deep character arcs and visually stunning storytelling helped it become a poignant and unforgettable experience.

Why It’s Okay to Not Be Okay PH needs a chance (and should be on your Netflix queue)

🎭 A Fil‑adaptation rooted in authenticity and culture

The PH adaptation, directed by Mae Cruz‑Alviar (with Raymond Ocampo), approaches the storyline with Filipino sensibilities—swapping snowy landscapes for our wet or dry seasons, incorporating local lore, extended families, and caregiving dynamics that resonate here  .

It retains the emotional soul of the original while carving out its own identity—casting new souls, not replicas.

🌟 The cast: familiar faces, deeper interpretations

photo: rappler

Anne Curtis as Mia (Emilia Hernandez) — essentially a Filipina reimagining of Ko Moon‑young. Anne returned to teleserye acting after a long hiatus for this role. She described the part as personal, pushing her to confront her own anxiety and giving it her all emotionally  .

Joshua Garcia as Pat‑Pat (Patrick Gonzales) — the silent, compassionate psychiatric caregiver, akin to Moon Gang‑tae. Joshua underwent immersive preparation to ground the role in realism and empathy  .

Carlo Aquino as Mat‑Mat (Matthew Gonzales) — Pat‑Pat’s older autistic brother. Carlo spent time training in a special‑needs school and attending workshops to portray autism authentically and respectfully  .

The supporting cast is rich with veterans like Rio Locsin, Michael De Mesa, Agot Isidro, Enchong Dee, and younger talents including Xyriel Manabat and Kaori Oinuma bolstering the depth of this remake  .

🧠 Tackling mental health with empathy and care

Mental health in the Philippines remains stigmatized. This series consciously aims to open up discussions with support from mental health professionals, careful tone-setting, and gradual storytelling to avoid overwhelming viewers  .

The show brings early awareness to emotional issues, the struggles of caregivers, and autism ...all grounded in Filipino norms and context.

🎥 Creative vision and narrative expansion

Unlike the Korean version’s concise 16 episodes (70+ minutes each), the PH adaptation spans 65 half‑hour episodes. That allows more space for character backstories, side arcs, and culturally specific storytelling...taking a deliberate detour from being a literal remake and ensuring it delivers something new  .

The pilot’s opening, even the animated sequences..were reimagined in Filipino imagery, such as local jungles, karinderya scenes, and Filipiniana styling for Mia, giving a fresh visual identity early on  .

🚀 Early buzz and strong reception

Since its release on Netflix Philippines on July 18 (with staggered releases on iWantTFC and broadcast TV afterward), the pilot episode became a top‑trending show online and hit #1 in Netflix PH rankings  .

Viewership numbers exceeded expectations—with nearly 609,000 live streams on Kapamilya Online Live—and social media users praised the animation, acting, and emotional depth  .

Final Thoughts 🧡

This adaptation isn’t just a copy—it’s a transformation. It marries the universal themes of healing and love from the original with Filipino culture’s textures, family norms, and mental health realities. With an emotionally driven cast, strong creative team, and the freedom to stretch into deeper arcs over 65 episodes, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay PH has the potential to become not just a hit remake—but a milestone in Philippine storytelling.

So whether you loved the Korean hit or are just discovering it, give this adaptation a shot. It’s heartfelt, culturally resonant—and streaming now on Netflix Philippines. 🎬