K-Dramas

Do you love watching K-Dramas? If yes, well were the same. Many of you might
ask, what benefit did I get from watching those? It's simple, Korean dramas gave me
hope. K-Dramas made us feel that we are not alone and that’s the only thing that
remains constant. Plus, K-Drama fans we're sweet, loving, motivated, dedicated,
inspired, jolly we should know because we’re part of the K-Drama loving crew. There is
a good and a bad side of being a fangirl, but for me, it brought me good things. Aside
from eating nutritious food and working out regularly, I take care of my physical health
during this pandemic by taking a daily dose of vitamins. In the absence of a vaccine, I
drink vitamins not to get rid of an illness but to strengthen my immune system.
Nowadays, I find myself availing of a different form of vitamin, one that boosts my well-
being and keeps me from going stir-crazy and that is watching Korean dramas.

Most people would argue that Korean actors, with their glass skin and trendy
fashion styles, immediately draw you to the screen. I vehemently agree, they are
indeed God’s gift to mankind. But lately, I’m starting to believe that more than the
visual appeal, the impact of K-dramas runs deeper than our craving for soju and
samgyupsal. Amid the pandemic that has gripped the world, K-dramas give us hope
that, like any other show, the storms in our lives will end and a new season awaits.
When people were forced to walk great lengths due to limited public transportation, I
was reminded of that scene in “Kingdom” when the people rushed for any possible ride.
Despite its harrowing premise, the Joseon-era series paints a rather realistic picture of
the reality that we’re in now dealing with a virus deadlier than flesh-eating zombies.
When many workers lost their jobs, I thought we should be inspired by the character of
Park Saeroyi in “Itaewon Class,” whose determination was unwavering despite the
many challenges thrown at him. The past few months have been difficult, but may we
always have the resilience to go on, adapt, and bounce back. “Hospital Playlist”
somehow gave me a glimpse of the realities of our medical front liners, except perhaps
that our situation is more worst and heartbreaking. Doctors, nurses, and other medical
practitioners go through a lot each day, risking their safety, and some even sacrificing
their lives. As much as we take care of our physical well-being, this pandemic has also
taught me the value of mental health. This year is not the best for most of us, but it is
teaching us a lot of lessons. Life sometimes throws us into somewhere altogether
unfamiliar, without us knowing it could lead to something meaningful. We must hold on
to the hope that one day everything will make sense. This was the premise of the hit
drama “Crash Landing on You.” Imagine Seri’s life had she landed somewhere else and
not in Captain Ri’s arms! A drama is only as good as its impact on its viewers. Perhaps
the most important takeaway I got from watching all these dramas while on lockdown
is the importance of empathy. Whenever a character laughed over something mundane
or cried over a sad separation, I often found myself doing the same, as if I was
experiencing the same emotions. This made me realize that empathy should go beyond
the screen and must be expressed in action. Now, more than ever, the world needs us
to be empathetic. Empathy not just for a few, but for every front liner risking their lives;
empathy toward fellow Filipinos struggling to make ends meet; or simply empathy
toward anyone battling a fight.

They say dramas reflect life. But isn’t it the other way around? Our lives are
composed of different genres comedy when things go smoothly, drama when it’s the
opposite, action when we decide to be brave, and fantasy when we dare to dream. We
encounter a number of villains, but there are also heroes in our midst. Today, our
heroes are out there in the hospitals, donned not in capes but in PPE. This horrific
pandemic has taken over most of this year, and we continue to hope for a glorious
resolution soon.