Kapamilya star Coco Martin revealed he was approached to do local adaptations of Korean dramas, but turned such opportunities down.
During the announcement of his recent partnership with filmmaker Erik Matti and film producer Dondon Monteverde, Coco shared he wasn’t a fan of K-dramas and rather take on projects with Filipino themes.
“Ang nasa isip namin ay buhayin ang pelikulang Pilipino. alam niyo po ba merong projects na ino-offer sa’kin na bakit hindi ka mag-remake ng Korean [drama], sabi ko, hindi ko sinasabi na [ayaw ko], hindi lang ako fan. Nanghihinayang kasi ako sa talento ng mga Pilipino,” Coco said.
The actor-director pointed out there were many Filipino stories to tell and share with the world.
“Kung gagawa akong proyekto, dapat gawang akin, ‘yung orihinal, ‘yung ipagmamalaki. Kasi kung sakaling sumikat ang teleserye, alam nating gawang atin ‘yun,” he added.
Several Philippine K-drama adaptations have found success like “Descendants of the Sun,” “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim,” and most recently “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.”
Coco, who will play Andres Bonifacio in an upcoming 2027 movie, shared his happiness for the success of “Quezon.”
“Dapat natin ginugunita ito. Dapat lahat ng mga bata, pinag-aaralan ang history at kultura natin. Minsan nakakaligtaan na ito, kung paano na tayo bilang Pilipino,” Coco said.
“Kailangan natin malaman ang ating history at kung paano tayo nagsimula, sino ang mga bayani natin, lalo na sa nangyayari ngayon, sa politics natin ngayon,” he ended.