Filipinos expressed dissatisfaction with the idea of banning Kdramas in the Philippines, and stressed that Philippine government officials should focus more on national issues instead.
This was after Senator Jinggoy Estrada admitted that he mulled the ban just so Filipinos could support the local entertainment industry as much as they support the Kdrama series.
“Ang aking obserbasyon pagpatuloy tayo nagpapalabas ng Korean telenovela, ang hinahangaan ng ating mga kababayan ay itong mga Koreano at nawawalan ng trabaho at kita yung ating mga artistang Pilipino. Kaya minsan pumapasok sa aking isipan na i-ban na itong mga telenovela ng mga foreigners at dapat ang mga artista nating Pilipino talagang may angking galing sa pag-arte ay ‘yun naman dapat ang ipalabas natin sa sariling bansa natin,” said Sen. Estrada.
Ching Balasote highlighted that Sen. Estrada should instead put his focus on national issues, instead of spending his time thinking about banning Kdrama.
“Ang problema sa Pilipinas ang pagtu-unan nyo ng pansin: Kriminalidad, gasolina, mga bilihing mahal, ekonomiya at kurapsyon. Hinde iyang mga walang kwentang problema na hinde naman nakaka epekto sa bansa natin,” said Balasote.
Prof. Karen Lee Viudez-Panela stated that Filipinos need a form of escapist entertainment that Kdrama fulfills.
“We, Filipinos, need escapist entertainment to momentarily forget about the woes of the country and escape from the economic problems you and the government have failed to manage all these years. Watching Korean dramas doesn’t make us less nationalistic. Admiring them doesn’t make us less supportive of our local content,” said Viudez-Panela.
“Mr. Senator, K-drama is doing you and the government a favor for making life in the Philippines bearable. So stop these shenanigans and allow us to escape from the harshness of governance plagued by decades of corruption and economic mismanagement,” she added.
This sentiment was echoed by Carol Teope who said that senators should find ways to revitalize Philippine economy instead of focusing on Filipinos’ choice of pastimes.
“Iniluklok ka po dyan Mr. Senator Jinggoy Estrada sa senado para gumawa o makatulong buhayin ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Hindi po para pakialaman ang aming kasiyahan at stress reliever! Tulungan nyong palakasin ang sariling atin kung gusto nyong makatulong – hindi yung pakialaman ang ibang bansa at gumawa ng commotion,” said Teope.
For Nino Magabo, this should be a clear sign for the Philippines’ entertainment industry to learn from the success of Korean dramas, instead of rehashing old tropes that Filipinos are already used to.
“Gandahan nyo kasi kwento niyo. Hindi puro kabitan, nagkapalit na anak, tunay na ina tunay na anak, nawawalang anak o ina. Dios mio panahon pa ni Mara Clara iyan e,” said Magabo.
Sen. Estrada already clarified his position that he isn’t pushing the ban, and that he only aired his frustration about the matter.
“I wish that the zealousness of our kababayans in patronizing foreign artists can be replicated to support our homegrown talents who I strongly believe are likewise world-class. I have nothing against South Korea’s successes in the entertainment field and admittedly, we have much to learn from them,” said Sen. Estrada.
“Pero huwag naman nating kalimutan at balewalain ang trabaho, ang mga pinaghirapan at angking likha ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino. South Korea’s phenomenal success is rooted in their love of country. It is high time that we follow their example and do the same for our own entertainment industry that is at best, barely surviving,” he added.
