Director Maryo J. delos Reyes, who’s at the helm of the Philippine version of the hit Mexican soap opera “Rosalinda” and whose movies had been remade on TV, said that the remake trend should be balanced with original materials.

“Para naman hindi tayo totally mapunta sa idiocy,” he told Manila Bulletin Online in a recent interview. “‘Pag ganyan na lang ang mangyayari, napupurol ang mga tao at puro kabobohan [ang kakahinatnan]. We need balance para ma-cater ang lahat ng klase ng audience at saka para lumaki ang market.”

Reyes lamented that television has become too personality-oriented. He singled out the repeated adaptation of the Mars Ravelo-created Pinay superhero “Darna” as example, noting that the material has taken a backseat to the actresses who have played the title role.

Aside from “Rosalinda,” Reyes had remade ‘80s hits “Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin,” “Magdusa Ka” and his own “Saan Darating ang Umaga” into recent top-rating daily drama series for GMA-7.

Reyes was already a multi-awarded movie director in 1999 when he directed his first soap opera “‘Di Ba’t Ikaw,” an original material starring Jessa Zaragoza, Jao Mapa and Jomari Yllana.

“I don’t believe in the non-capacity of Filipino writers to create. I just believe that they have to be more challenged in a sense that we have to be more open to the idea of not being stereotyped in terms of approach. Kasi parang minsan ang mga writers natin ay napipilit o na-o-oblige ng producers to keep on churning out the same materials and the same themes. They should be more explorative, not extremely commercial,” he explained.

Reyes cited Philippine literature as a good source of original materials that can be adapted for the small and big screens.

“Dapat lang hindi masyadong stiff na parang very academic na ang dating,” he pointed out. “It should still be entertaining at maraming novels ng writers natin ang p’wedeng i-adapt para d’yan. It’s just a matter of presentation.”

Reyes’ call for original materials comes at the heels of the National Artist controversy that has touched on diverse issues including elitism. He said that compared to the works of Carlo J. Caparas, whose presidential anointment as National Artist for Film and Visual Arts remains contestable, the masterpieces of most awardees of the highest artistic award in the country are less known to the public.

“So dapat may move din ang ibang artists to make their works more popular para mas madaming maka-enjoy at makakilala sa trabaho nila,” he said. “A work is not complete until it is produced on stage or put on film. ‘Yung literature dapat mag-transform into another medium.”

Reyes recently wrapped up work on a light comedy-drama movie featuring Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal. Before that, he directed the heavy drama “Kamoteng Kahoy” under APT Entertainment.

Reyes is on the lookout for projects that will merit his full participation just like his unforgettable works, “Tagos ng Dugo” -- which created a stir when shown in 1987-- and “Magnifico.”