Cover Joshua Garcia and Anne Curtis for ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’, now streaming on Netflix (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Joshua Garcia and Anne Curtis for ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’, now streaming on Netflix (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
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Anne Curtis and Joshua Garcia dive deep into mental illness, memory and meaning in the Philippine adaptation of ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’
In a room filled with industry executives, a dinner table conversation quietly became a turning point. It was there, as Anne Curtis recalls, that management first saw her and Joshua Garcia together—and where the idea of a Philippine adaptation of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay began to crystallise.
“It’s always been a project I wanted to do,” Curtis says. “But of course, there was pressure, because I loved the original so much.” The Korean drama, known for its unflinching look at mental health, gained international acclaim for its sensitivity, style and storytelling. For Curtis, taking on the role of Mia Hernandez—a successful children’s book author with antisocial personality disorder—meant not only stepping back into a teleserye after over a decade, but also accepting the emotional demands that came with the role.
Joshua Garcia, who plays psych ward caretaker Patrick “Patpat” Gonzales, agrees. “Every scene felt challenging,” he says. “But cathartic, too. My character’s story felt close to me, and even in the heavy scenes, there was a kind of emotional relief.”
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Above Anne Curtis as Emilia “Mia” Hernandez, a successful children’s book author diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Above Joshua Garcia as Patrick “Patpat” Gonzales, a compassionate psych ward caretaker, whose life revolves around taking care of his autistic older brother, Matmat (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Anne Curtis as Emilia “Mia” Hernandez, a successful children’s book author diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
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Above Joshua Garcia for ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’, now streaming on Netflix (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Above Anne Curtis for ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Joshua Garcia for ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’, now streaming on Netflix (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
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In the series, Patpat is the devoted younger brother of Matmat (played by Carlo Aquino), a creative autistic man who finds solace in Mia’s books—unaware of a deeper connection that binds them. Their narrative intertwines against the backdrop of trauma, care and healing. For the actors, preparation required a high degree of emotional discipline.
“I knew this role would take a toll mentally and emotionally,” Curtis says. “I had to learn a different method—how to let go of the character’s emotional weight. Playing someone with antisocial personality disorder is not something you want to bring home.” She immersed herself in research, not just about the condition, but also how to embody it while maintaining boundaries. “It was emotionally challenging for all of us on set. The story’s a whirlwind of emotions.”
Above Carlo Aquino as Mathew “Matmat” Gonzales, Patpat’s autistic older brother, whose world comes alive through art (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Carlo Aquino as Mathew “Matmat” Gonzales, Patpat’s autistic older brother, whose world comes alive through art (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
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Above Joshua Garcia and Anne Curtis as Patpat and Mia (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Joshua Garcia and Anne Curtis as Patpat and Mia (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
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The chemistry between the two leads was built over time. “There were a lot of conversations,” Garcia shares. “Being open on set helped. We were both giving everything, and we could sense when one of us needed space or support. The characters’ journey mirrored ours as actors.”
Curtis adds, “There was trust. That made the work easier.”
Unlike the Korean original, the Filipino adaptation makes cultural adjustments to ground the story locally. According to Curtis, Mia’s work as a children’s book author draws from Filipino folklore, while family dynamics and settings reflect the nuances of Filipino life. “Even our locations, the seasons, the emotions—they’re very Filipino,” she says.
Directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar and creatively led by Henry King Quitain, the series was filmed across various sites on the Negros Islands over the course of a year. The local adaptation remains faithful to the spirit of the source material while introducing new plot developments, characters and visual language tailored to its Philippine setting.
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Above Joshua Garcia and Anne Curtis as Patpat and Mia (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Joshua Garcia and Anne Curtis as Patpat and Mia (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
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Above Anne Curtis’s life’s work in the series aims to illustrate the darker themes surrounding mental health (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Above Devoted and selfless, Joshua Garcia’s Patpat finds purpose in his caregiving role, which extends beyond his home life (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
Anne Curtis’s life’s work in the series aims to illustrate the darker themes surrounding mental health (Photo: courtesy of Netflix and ABS-CBN)
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Mental health remains a sensitive topic in the country, where stigma often silences public conversation. For both Curtis and Garcia, the show offers a timely opportunity to shift the discourse. “It should be more spoken about,” Curtis says. “It’s not something to be ashamed of. These conversations should be normal—something we can talk about over dinner.”
Garcia echoes the sentiment. “The younger generation is more open now. This show is really for them—for anyone who’s going through something and needs to feel seen.”
More than a remake, the series aims to offer something new to Filipino audiences. “We’re bringing new soul to characters in a story that’s already been told,” Curtis says. “There are new twists, local designers, new music, and locations that showcase the beauty of the Philippines. It’s a fresh journey—one that’s still very much It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, but told in a way that feels ours.”
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is now streaming on Netflix.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
