Acclaimed Korean drama "It’s Okay To Not Be Okay" brought us a story that feels like a fairytale laced with real-life scars and healing. Now imagine that same magic, but with a Filipino heartbeat. The much-anticipated Pinoy adaptation is finally here and it promises to remain faithful to the original plot which tackles mental health.
“Lahat tayo may pinagdadaanan. Lahat tayo may tumatakbo sa utak, so ngayon, finally, mas ma-e-educate somehow ang ating audiences,” shared cast member Enchong Dee, who emphasized how the series serves as both a mirror and an eye-opener for viewers navigating their own inner battles.
Playing Vincent Romulo aka Boss V, the publicist and trusted friend of Mia Hernandez, portrayed by lead star Anne Curtis, Enchong noted how much preparation went into giving life to his character, adding that the entire cast really poured their hearts into the adaptation, each of them understanding their assignment.
To prepare for his role, Enchong looked for a person he personally knows and could use as a peg, "Para 'pag nagsabi ang director ng 'action,' 'yung galaw ng character magiging gano'n sa tao, the way he talks, the way he does the expression will be that person."
He ended up choosing director and ABS-CBN Executive Ruel Bayani as his reference, "Nag-isip lang ako, sino ba 'yong taong kakilala ko. So, siya nga ang napili ko," he shared in an episode of Kapamilya Chat. "And then you watch the nuances, 'yong mga galaw na siya lang mismo ang gumagawa."
Looking for a peg is one of Enchong's go-to strategies as an actor because part of their job is really observing people, "'Pag sobrang distinct ng personality ng tao, gustong-gusto kong nakaka-meet ng gano'n. 'Yong mga weird people, sila ang ine-embrace ko talaga kasi sila ang may mga galaw ng sila lang ang nakakagawa.”
When he can’t find someone he personally knows to base the role on, his next step is to research, watch movies or find other materials to explore creatively, although sometimes it's too impossible to be done. Enchong compares teleserye-making in the Philippines to Hollywood productions that give actors months or even a full year to prepare, saying local productions sometimes only give actors two days before they're already on set, "So may mga gano'ng experience na whatever timeline ang ibinigay sa'yo, kailangan mong makapag-perform."
Thankfully, that setup works well for him too. "I really prefer to jump into the scene and let go of the character easily," he pondered, acknowledging that every artist has their own process and he fully respects that, but personally, he hasn’t experienced what some actors describe as difficulty in letting go of a role even after the project ends. He understand, though, what it feels like to need to recover from heavy scenes, as there are times it takes him around 30 minutes to fully relax after an intense take, but separating from the character itself has never been difficult for him.
Enchong shared that they’ve been working on the series for nine months, and in that time, they’ve built many memories and had a lot of fun behind the scenes. When asked about his favorite moments, he said there were too many to mention, but one thing he'd like to share is how Anne never complains on set, which made him realize why she is the superstar that she is.
It was also a dream come true for him to work with Carlo Aquino, who portrays Matmat, a character with autism. "You have to watch his performance. It's admirable seeing this actor na ang tagal-tagal mo nang pinapanood. It's a joke sometimes 'yung, 'Bata pa lang ako pinapanood na kita,' pero mararamdaman mo 'yong body of work ni Carlo Aquino doon sa role niya to the point na minsan kahit hindi pa kami nagte-take, nagsi-switch siya sa voice, even the modulation, look, movement. Sabi ko, iba talaga 'yong equipped ka as an actor because of the experience you've been through," said Enchong about Carlo, who plays the brother of Joshua Garcia.
Speaking of Joshua, Enchong said that one of the first things you notice about him is his eyes—how expressive they are, and how he uses them to pull you into the scene without needing to say much.
It’s this skill that shows why Joshua is praised the way he is, just like former child star Xyriel Manabat, who may be jolly and playful off-cam but completely transforms once the scene starts, "The reason why scenes with her are working so well is because she is so good."
“Parang OJT,” that’s how Enchong described the vibe on set for him, "Parang pumasok ako sa isang show para ma-experience ulit kung paano mahalin ang isang serye." For him, "It’s Okay To Not Be Okay" offers a bit of everything—light-hearted comedy and drama that’s not exaggerated.
When asked what he likes about his character, he said Vincent is dependable, the kind of manager who will protect his friend, someone loyal who will do anything for Mia, and energetic in a way that can be tiring but also makes him someone people are naturally drawn to.
But that same energy is both what Enchong likes and finds difficult about Vincent. "Nakakapagod siyang tao," he remarked. "Sobra siyang nakakapagod na tao kasi galaw siya nang galaw. Ang dami niyang expressions sa mukha. Ang dami niyang gustong sabihin. Tapos lahat ng gusto niyang sabihin, ang tataas, ang lalaki."
If the series is meant to be healing for the viewers, it’s also been healing for Enchong as an actor because, through this project, he felt that passion and drive again—the spark he hadn’t felt in a long time. "I love everything I've done," he clarified, "Pero ito kasi, wala akong pinalampas na eksena, na dapat magugustuhan ng audience kung anuman ang gagawin ko."
"There's a part that it healed me also, na after this project, I'm inspired to take on different roles afterwards."
In line with the series’ message, Enchong was asked when it’s okay to not be okay, and he answered, "Anytime." He believes everyone goes through something, and it’s important not to bottle up emotions because keeping it all inside only makes the pain heavier and affects the people around you.
And no one wants to bring that kind of energy to others, "We want to be that light. We want to be that energy that lifts everyone up." He added, "I always perform better when my environment is light. So I make sure that the people around me are having a good time also."
Also joining the powerhouse cast are industry legends and rising stars alike—Michael De Mesa, Rio Locsin, Maricel Laxa, Agot Isidro, Kaori Oinuma, Bodjie Pascua, Ana Abad Santos, Sharmaine Suarez, Louise Abuel, Francis Magundayao, Alora Sasam, Alyssa Muhlach, Aljon Mendoza, and Mark Oblea.
"It’s Okay To Not Be Okay" is led by the brilliant tandem of directors Mae Cruz-Alviar and Raymond Ocampo.
Catch the most-awaited Philippine adaptation of “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay,” starting July 21 on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, and TV5, weeknights at 8:45 PM. Watch it 48 hours in advance on iWant.