How the Philippine adaptation of 'Start-Up' will showcase Filipino culture

The K-Drama “Start-Up” became an international hit when it first came out in 2020.

Seo Dal-mi’s journey of being a bright young woman with big dreams and Nam Do-San’s quest to prove himself — among other plot lines which included those of the supporting characters — resonated with global audiences for its portrayal of humble beginnings, hard work, romance, and heartbreak.

And now that "Start-Up Philippines" will be premiering soon on GMA Network — with a star-studded cast top-billed by Bea Alonzo and Alden Richards — the directors Jerry Sineneng and Dominic Zapata are making sure that even the smallest details are super Pinoy.

“The little touches like pagmamano, the way you respect the elderly, like the way we show our love for the elderly. Iba — magkaiba kasi tayo sa Korea sa ganung bagay,” Direk Jerry said in a press conference.

He added that the Filipinos' customs and values will be relatable for local audiences. This new version will not have any big changes to the story apart from  these.

Direk Dom also said they made adjustments so that Pinoy audiences won't be "weirded out" by the characters' behavior.

"Kunwari ni [Han Ji-Pyeong or] Good Boy sa harap ni lola. Nung pinanood ko originally yung ‘Start-Up,’ [I thought,] ‘kaya niyang sungitan ng ganun yung lola? Matitiis niya nang ganun?'" he said.

“Sa Pilipino, baka hindi ka na kayang patawarin. Mapapatawad natin si Good Boy nung bata siya kasi alam nating hindi siya Pilipino. Pero pag makakita ka ng Pilipino na ganun ang pagtrato sa nakakatanda sa kanya, medyo issue yun. So you kind of temper that," he added.

Direk Dom said that Filipinos naturally have a warmer culture and are a lot more emotional, which are factors that the series will present.

“Kapag may dinadala, mas makikita mong may emotions ang Pilipino. I don't think Filipinos should be embarrassed about our culture being more melodramatic. The reason why you find it in our teleseryes is because we are like that as a culture,” he said. “So I think as Filipinos, we embrace that. Alam kong mahilig tayo sa mga foreign [content], but there are things that are really just inherent and you can’t take that out. Yun ang emosyon ng Pilipino. We wear our hearts on our sleeves."

“That's why kami when we direct, we also direct with our hearts and that's going to come out in the product," he added.

On that note, Direk Jerry told the press that the main lesson “Start-Up” hopes to give Filipinos would be, “Hindi po masamang mangarap."

"Dapat pagtrabahuan natin ang mga pangarap pero ‘wag nating kakalimutan yung ating pamilya. ‘Wag nating i-sa-sacrifice yung ating pamilya para sa ‘ting mga pangarap. And I’m sure maiintindihan niyo pag pinanood ninyo yung show," he added.

Aside from Alden and Bea, GMA’s “Start-Up” also stars Gina Alajar, Yasmien Kurdi, Jeric Gonzales, Lovely Rivero, Gabby Eigenmann, Ayen Munji-Laurel, Jackie Lou Blanco, Kevin Santos, and Jojo Alejar, among other actors.

Shooting for the drama began in April. —JCB, GMA News