For years, Korean dramas have dominated local streaming platforms, television lineups and programming, even inspiring actual remakes and adaptations.
While this global admiration is not inherently wrong, Coco Martin, one of the country’s most popular TV stars, raises an important question: “At what cost?”
Offering a rare, grounded perspective on how the overwhelming influence of Korean series may be overshadowing our own creative industry, Coco said, “Napakarami nating kwento, napakaganda ng kultura natin, ang dami pa nating pwedeng i-share sa buong mundo, bakit kailangan nating manghiram?”
And he walks his talk.
Coco revealed that he had been offered to star in a remake of a Korean drama but he declined outright.
“Hindi ko sinasabi na ano, sinabi ko lang na hindi ako fan ng Korean teleserye o telenovela.”
In declining what could have been a sure thing in terms of earnings, Coco made a powerful statement: That the Filipino story, told by Filipino talent, is more than enough.
Note that he has since entered into a partnership with Reality MM Studios to actually create new, original materials more reflective of Pinoy culture, stories born from our struggles, humor, and history that he said, will be told with deserved authenticity.
“Sabi ko, kung gagawa ako ng proyekto, gusto ko ‘yung gawang atin, ‘yung original. ‘Yung alam natin na maipagmamalaki natin. At kapag o sakaling tangkilikin siya at naging successful ‘yung pelikula o teleserye, alam natin na gawa natin ‘yun.”
Coco’s stance is both refreshing and necessary. In a landscape saturated with imported narratives, it is an apt reminder that our own stories still matter, and that true success begins when we dare to tell them ourselves.
“Kung gagawa na tayo, siguraduhin nating hindi lang dito sa bansa natin maipagmamalaki. Sisiguraduhin natin na maipagmamalaki ito kahit saan tayo pumunta,” added Coco.
