Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina discusses the dynamics of a scene with Angel Locsin, who stars with John Lloyd Cruz in ‘Unofficially Yours’, Molina’s 13th film. Photo by ANDREW PAMORADA

MANILA, Philippines — One More Chance. Miss You Like Crazy. A Very Special Love. You Changed My Life.

Anybody with even a smidgen of interest in Pinoy pop culture knows of these romantic movies. Not only were they blockbuster hits, they were also a gold mine of memorable scenes and quotable quotes that scores of lovestruck Filipinos are probably quoting to each other right now as Valentine’s Day approaches.

Filipinos find it so easy to lose themselves in these films’ rose-colored glasses that it’s amusing to see how prickly director Cathy Garcia-Molina can get during the making of these mushy movies. While shooting her latest movie “Unofficially Yours” here at the Manila Bulletin offices, Direk Cathy was prone either to shouting at talents who missed their cues, or berating crew members who didn’t perform satisfactorily. Could these romantic films really have come from someone who’s so mataray?

Direk Cathy assures us that yes, it’s entirely possible. And while she acknowledges that she can be as catty as she seems to the casual observer, she’s as much a sucker for love stories with a happy ending as your everyday Filipino moviegoer — even if she has every reason to wallow.

The youngest of nine siblings, Cathy grew up being told that the family fortunes declined with the birth of her and the sibling that came before her. When her father died after she graduated from elementary school, her siblings told her that her failure to graduate a valedictorian was what caused her father’s heart attack.

“Binitbit ko ‘yun! I vowed na magiging first honor ako. Hindi din, hindi kinaya. Second honor lang inabot ko,” she says with a laugh. “Sabi naman nila hindi naman daw siguro totoong ganun ang tatay ko, na ako ang dahilan. Pero for a time binitbit ko ‘yun.”

There is also her husband Philip Molina’s death in 2009 in of a vehicular accident. A widow at 37, with two children to take care of, it would have been understandable if Cathy had chosen to take a break instead. But rather than take some time off, Cathy plunged back into work, tackling another romance project for ABS-CBN.

These romantic movies have even helped her deal with her husband’s death, in a way. Making these films, says Cathy, has helped her maintain a strong face for her children and have aided her in dealing with the depression that still sometimes strikes her when she thinks of her husband.

In this 60 Minutes conversation, the woman behind some of the country’s biggest-selling romantic movies dishes about her own stories. From how “One More Chance” was inspired by her own experiences, to her own aborted plans of “extreme” researching for “Unofficially Yours”, direk Cathy Garcia Molina gives us an all-access pass to what goes on behind the scenes in the movie of her life. (Ronald S. Lim)

STUDENTS AND CAMPUSES BULLETIN (SCB): When people speak of romantic-comedy Filipino films, the name Cathy Garcia-Molina stands out. How did you get to become the Queen of Rom-Coms, so to speak?

CATHY GARCIA-MOLINA (CGM): Maybe because that was the first project that was given to me. Second, in the history of Star Cinema, the ones that make money are either comedy or rom-com. Parang feeling ko, business lang. At this time in Star Cinema, only Direk Olive (Lamasan) and I do rom-coms.

SCB: And you don’t mind being stereotyped in this genre?

CGM: Ok naman ako but then again, you have these thoughts na sana payagan kang gumawa ng iba. “One More Chance” is not a rom-com, it’s romance. “Miss You Like Crazy” is a rom-dram. I really don’t mind. Kung saan ka magaling, eh di ‘yun, it doesn’t make you less of a person or less of a director if you continue doing what you know or what you enjoy doing.

SCB: Romantic comedies are formula movies. But why do some fail while others succeed?

CGM: That is a hard question. They ask me, Direk paano ka magpakilig? Sabi ko, hindi ko talaga alam. Direk Olive has been my mentor since 1993 so I think I imbibed lahat ng paniniwala niya. With my first few films, sinabi nila I was a copycat. Hiyang hiya ako kasi feeling ko baka sabihin ni Olivia, ginagaya ko siya. Eh magkaibigan naman kami. But she said, sooner or later, lalabas din ang style mo. Sabi ko how do you do that? You don’t, it just comes out.

SCB: But people can now actually recognize a movie made by you…

CGM: Mayroon na nga silang tinatawag ngayon na “Tatak Cathy Molina.’’ Ang tanging alam ko, ‘pag gumagawa ako ng pelikula, I should be able to watch it. Kung ako mandidiri sa eksenang yan, hindi ko gagawin ‘yan. Kung may ganun ka, paano mo ie-expect na magugustuhan ng mga tao. At ayokong masasabi ng mga manonood na nangyari ba ‘yan, imposible naman ‘yan! Kaya ako every film nag-reresearch. ‘Pag may narinig ako na may sinabing imposible ito, kaya kong ilaban. Kailangan totoo at kailangan nakakarelate ka.

SCB: Which of your own movies is your most favorite?

CGM: Mahirap sagutin, pero the closest to my heart is of course, “One More Chance”, kasi it’s almost my story. ‘Yung bidang si Popoy, he’s a real person, he’s my ex. Lumabas ‘yung “The Break Up” ni Vince Vaughn, doon ko nakuha ‘yung idea. What if you start the movie with a break up and the movie is the anatomy of a break up? Batuhan ng kuwento, research kami, mga friend ni friend ni friend. Especially the men, kasi ang bida ko doon, lalaki. Paano mag-isip, paano mag-break? Sa batuhang ganon, nakuwento ko ‘yung buhay ko, nagustuhan nila.

Hinanap ko number ng ex ko. We broke up in 1992, I did the movie in 2007. It was a long time. So tinawagan ko. “Hello, sino ‘to?” “Si Cathy” “Oh! It’s been a long time!” “Hello, kamusta ka na?” sabi ko (laughs)! “Ok naman. Kasi meron akong ginagawang pelikula, eh about break up. Tanungin lang kita, how did you feel when I broke up with you?” Pregnant pause (laughs)! Tapos sabi niya, “Wow, ang tagal na nun. Kinalimutan ko na ‘yun.” Tinanong ko if he hated me, what he went through, did he feel angry, sinisi niya ba sarili niya? Kinuwento naman niya (laughs).

SCB: What are the important elements of a rom-com for you?

CGM: Lagi kong binabantayan huwag ko mabore ‘yung audience. Kaya ako I’m not into art films, kasi para ‘yan sa mga nag-iisip na tao, hindi ako nag-iisip. Jologs lang talaga ako. Ang utak ko ‘yung average lang at hindi ako magprepretend to make films na hindi kaya ng utak ko abutin.

I also make sure pag nahahabaan ako sa eksena, grabe ako mag putol. Tapos ‘pag nag edit pa ko, grabe din. But of course there are times in the movie that you need to rest, kailangan mo na ‘yun. At saka lagi talaga kahit konti naglalagay ako ng nakakatawa kasi masayahing tao ako.

FROM FUTURE TEACHER TO FILMMAKER

SCB: Did you really dream of becoming a filmmaker?

CGM: No. My father used to say when I was a kid that I’d be a good journalist. Sabi ko, how could that be, I don’t know how to write, lagi akong bagsak sa theme writing! Sa UST, I took up Education pero di ko talaga gusto, ayokong maging teacher. So lumipat ako sa UP. Ang majors — Broadcasting, hindi naman ako pang on cam; Journalism, hindi naman ako marunong magsulat; Research, I hate research! Isa ang natira, Film.

And then I met Marilou Diaz Abaya, my teacher in Directing. Siya ang nagbukas ng mundo ko sa filmmaking. Meron siyang project na bibigyan niya kami ng pictures taken from a magazine, tapos meron siyang sentence, ‘yun ang i-create mo. That’s where I learned na each image is a word to complete a sentence. Dun ‘yung power ng editing na once pinagpalit mo ‘yung two images, nag-iiba ‘yung ibig sabihin. Na-excite ako sa feeling na ‘yun.

Another teacher, the late Hammy Sotto, also inspired me. And Chito Roño is a genius from whom I learned that a script is just a script, at depende sa direktor ang magbibigay ng buhay dito. Doon nagsimula ‘yung love ko for it. I think in any work, nagkataon na nandun ako, bigay todo, dugo’t pawis talaga. Walang hindi gagawin.

SCB: Everybody, they say, starts at the bottom. So you started as what?

CGM: As a script continuity, ang pinakamababang trabaho sa creative side ng production. After I graduated, I got a call that Direk Chito Roño needed a script con. Sige po, sige po. Ni hindi ko alam kung anong trabaho ng script con. Hindi naman tinuro ‘yun sa school.

So pagdating doon, culture shock. Naka culottes ako and sleeveless blouse. Pagpasok ko sa Viva, sabi ng production manager, bakit ganyan ang suot mo. Mare-rape ka dito. (laughs) Hindi dapat ganyan, dapat parang one of the boys!

Tapos dumating si Chito Roño. Direk, eto na po ang bago mong script con. Sabi ko, good morning po. Gumanun lang si Direk (raises eyebrow). Sabi ko, Diyos ko Lord! Kapag nakikita ko si Chito Roño, nakita ko na ‘yung dulo ng kotse niya, tatayo na ako. Hindi mo na ako mapapaupo sa takot ko. I’m always on the go. Walang production assistant at that time. Script/production assistant ako for the movie “Narito Ang Puso Ko” where Lorna Tolentino won a grand slam.

After the film sabi niya, may gagawin akong pelikula kay Vilma Santos, gusto mong sumama. Opo. Eh fan ako ni Vilma Santos. After nun, may ginawa ulit siyang pelikula na bitbit na niya ulit ako.

SCB: What was your first big break?

CGM: Sa ABS-CBN kasi, you’re not a director until you directed one MMK (Maalala Mo Kaya) episode. I finally did “Lollipop” starring Vina Morales and Ian De Leon in 1999.

OUT OF THE BOX

SCB: The movie “Unofficially Yours” is your own premise?

CGM: When we say premise, sabi ko I just wanted the movie that begins with a one night stand. One More Chance was medyo out of the box because it started with a break-up so sabi ko, gusto ko naman ng movie na parang one night stand ‘yung una. Sinong artista? Naku bagay ito kina John Lloyd (Cruz) and Angel (Locsin). Sila lang talaga ang naisip ko. This was four years ago, even before movies like “No Strings Attached” and “Friends with Benefits.” We did not copy. Although, kahit kopyahin ko, iba pa rin kasi iba ang kilig ng Pinoy. Ibang magkwento ng love story ang Pinoy than Hollywood love stories.

SCB: Did you expect that the topic on one-night stand will be accepted by the Filipino audience? Sabi mo kinakatay ang film mo to conform to the R-13 rating. Do you think may bias sa foreign films when it comes to rating and classification?

CGM: Meron (laughs). Una, hindi natin kilala ‘yung mga taong ‘yun, so wala kang pinoprotektahan. Culture wise, normal sa kanila ganon. Kung liberated man tayo in a way, mas marami pa rin ang konserbatibo. Alam ko naman ‘yan eh.

Pero wala naman akong pinakita eh! Alam ko rin naman kung sinong dapat kong protektahan. Gusto ko rin namang R-13 itong pelikulang ito, kasi if I have children below 13, I wouldn’t want them to watch this movie kasi baka iba ang intindi nila. Maybe they’re not mature enough to get what I want to say, at ang makuha lang nila ay ‘yung sex.

Pero nung kinakatay na? Nadudurog na ang puso ko, pero tama rin naman ang Star Cinema, kasi ayaw nilang ma turn off ‘yung core audience nila na mommies, kasi may tendency talaga ang mga mommies na kapag pinanood ito, ma turn off at hindi ipanood sa mga anak nila kasi slightly edgy.

SCB: Do you have a dream rom-com and who are the actors you’d like to cast?

CGM: Wala talaga. Kapag tinatanong ako ng dream project, wala talaga. Except that I always want to work with John Lloyd. Ang actors, tool mo as a director in telling your story. But there are scenes some actors cannot do or portray kasi limited ang kapasidad when it comes to acting or performance. Si John Lloyd, laging sinasabi ng writers na ang sarap-sarap isulat kasi alam nilang madedeliver ni John Lloyd ‘yung kailangan nilang emotion.

Kay John Lloyd, mas may freedom ka. Kaya favorite ko siya. ‘Yung scene sa park na nakita niya ulit si Bea after a long time. Sabi ko, Lloydie, eto kailangan ko, kapag nakita mo na, parang lahat ng pagmamahal mo na naipon mo two years back, ilalabas mo na. Ready? Go! Pagkita ko, ay Diyos ko Lord! Aminin mo, hindi lahat ng artista kaya ang ganoong eksena. Walang sinasabi? Performance lang, ramdam? Sabi nung Malaysian guy na nag-process, “Who’s this actor?” Sorry sila (laughs)!

LOVING, LOSING, AND LOVING AGAIN

SCB: You have been making people happy with your movies, but behind the scene, you suffered the loss of a husband in 2009?

CGM: When my husband died, I never said why God, why him? Kasi kung ako si God, sasabihin ko why not? (laughs) Ang special ba ng asawa mo para hindi mamatay? Anyone can die. But it really just made me realize that anytime you can go. At any age, you can go. After that niready ko sarili ko talaga. My kids can die anytime. It broke my heart na isipin ko pa lang na mamamatay anak ko, pero that’s life eh. I grieved but I have to move on for my kids. Dapat hindi nila makitang mahina akong tao. Eh sila ang buhay, doon ka sa buhay, huwag ka na sa patay.

SCB: Less than a month after you were widowed, you went back to work at once…

CGM: My husband died 29th of March, he was cremated April 2nd. I was supposed to have a taping April 6. I begged off, baka naman sabihin ng anak ko nawalan sila ng tatay iiwan ko sila agad.

After one week, sabi ko hindi ko kakayanin ito. My husband was everywhere in the house, everything that’s there reminded me of him. Sabi ko this is not gonna help, I needed to move out of this house. Nagtrabaho agad ako and it helped a lot. Although sabi ng iba, I did not allow myself to grieve. I don’t know. But so far it’s working for me. Pero ‘pag may lull times, babalik at babalik ‘yung depression. Tapos iyak ka lang nang iyak at marerealize mo mga kaibigan mo andiyan but not all the time.

SCB: How is it being both mom and dad to your kids now?

CGM: ‘Yung mga anak ko would say, “Mom, I miss my Dad.” Three months ago, sabi ng anak ko nagpe-pray kami “God thank you for my Daddy that he will wake up again.” Sabi ko “Anak, hindi na, hindi na siya magwe-wake up.” Umiyak ‘yung bunso ko ‘yung babae. Sabi ko “Why, didn’t I explain it to you he will never wake up?” “Why?” “Because he’s dead na.” “Okay. God, can I have another daddy?” (Laughs) Kaya pag may mga ganun siyempre susundot sa iyo. But I’m perfectly fine.

SCB: Did you try dating other guys?

CGM: P***ng ina, wala eh! (Laughs) Nakakainis nga eh. Kasi naman the men of my age are either married or bading! Di ba! I’m 40 na so kung magku-cougar naman ako, parang nakakahiya naman. Mayroon sa internet.

SCB: Internet dating?

CGM: Oo nagsimula ‘yan sa Skype. I started chatting and learned about dating sites. I met Peter, naging kami actually, pero online. He is German-American.

SCB: Long-distance love affair!

CGM: We Skype everytime tapos nakikita ng mga anak ko. Pinagpre-pray na nila that “I hope Peter will be my daddy.’’ May ganyan na sila. And then, things got sour. Lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin, you’re halfway around the world and it’s so hard, you just cannot give up what you have there and I just cannot give up mine. I understood it naman. Pero ako I’m ready to drop everything. Ganun ako eh, abuso sa pag-ibig. Kaya ko ‘yan isurrender lahat for love. Ang feeling niya hindi ko kayang pantayan ‘yan. So we broke up, it was a sad ending kasi I really liked him. I thought there was something going on eh.

SCB: How long was the relationship?

CGM: Two months.

SCB: Ano o sino ang nagpapakilig sa iyo?

CGM: Guwapong lalaki. I’m a hopeless romantic. Abuso ako talaga, sadsad magmahal at minsan tanga na.

SCB: Have you ever fallen in love with an actor?

CGM: Mayroon pero hindi puwedeng sabihin.

SCB: Was it mutual?

CGM: Sabi niya pero sabi ko, asan na, bakit hindi tayo? Bagets eh.

HAPPY ENDINGS

SCB: Most of your movies have happy endings. Is this a conscious effort?

CGM: I always have the right to suggest. But at the end of the day, this is not my movie because this is not my money. I’m an employee and I need to follow. It’s not that I always want happy endings. There are stories na mas magandang open-ended lang. Ang turo ni Direk Marilou, you make movies to entertain, and then to give hope and inspiration that life is still worth it. So bakit ako gagawa ng pelikula na para ‘pag lumabas ang mga manonood ko eh lugmok na lugmok sila at sabihin na ang buhay ay pangit. So you always want to make them feel better, ‘yun lagi ang goal mo na ‘pag labas nila ng sinehan sasabihin nila kaya ko pa magmahal uli.

SCB: How do you bring out the best in your actors? Kasi may mga nagsasabing actors na magaling kayo mag-motivate.

CGM: Galing ‘yan kay Olivia Lamasan. I’ve watched her bring out the best in her actors. Nakita ko na ang difference na kapag hinahawakan na niya at hinahawakan ng iba, nakikita ko kung paano siya humugot ng emotion from an actor.

Tinandaan ko ‘yun. Ang artista somehow nakadepende rin sa director kung paano niya gusto tirahin ‘yung isang eksena. Ako buwisit na buwisit ako sa artistang bobo. Ano ba naman yang performance na ‘yan. So I always make sure na ‘pag sumalang ka sa akin, kunin natin ‘yung best mo para walang ganung reaction.

Kaya nung first film ko “Bcoz of U’’ with Sandara Park and Hero Angeles, wala namang acting experience ‘yan at hindi marunong mag-Tagalog. Hindi rin naman kagalingan mag-English! San ka pupunta? So hahanapin mo ‘yung strength nung artista. Tapos binigay sa akin si Sam Milby, isa na namang hindi marunong umarte at hindi marunong mag-Tagalog! Ano ba naman itong mga artistang ito! Pero pipilitin mong ilabas kung ano mang kaya nila kasi para rin naman sa kanila at para sa pelikula mo para huwag sila ma turn-off. Ganun talaga, makakakuha ka ng hindi pa nakikita sa iba.

SCB: Familiarity breeds contempt. Isn’t this happening between you and John Lloyd with whom you have done seven films already?

CGM: More than half of John Lloyd’s filmography is with me. Half of mine is with him. Mahirap kasi nandoon ‘yung want sa amin na maiba every time.

SCB: A love story is a love story is a love story. What makes a Cathy Garcia Molina love story different?

CGM: Pare-pareho nga naman ang kinukwento niyan, iisa lang ang arc ng love stories eh. It’s the characters that make it different. It’s how you tell your story.

Ang favorite part ko sa pelikula eh kapag nalilito na ako, kapag naiiyak na ako kasi hindi ko na alam kung saan dadalhin kuwento ko. But for as long as I have options, I know I can still tell love stories that will be different.

SCB: If your life was a rom-com, what would be the story and the title?

CGM: Ang hirap naman sagutin niyan, parang kailangan ng brainstorming (laughs)! In all of my films, ganon naman ata, me mga characters na lalabas pagkatao mo. Pero I know that in my heart, in every film, I become one of the characters.

SCB: What do you advise young people who want to do what you do?

CGM: Start from the bottom. Nothing beats experience. Experience is one of the best teachers. You have theory, backed up by experience, you can’t go wrong. Pero theories walang experience, maliligaw ka. Experience without theory, maliligaw ka din. It’s a combination.

But first and foremost is the love for the craft. Hindi madaling trabaho ito, hindi siya well-compensating. It takes so much time and energy from you that you’d think at the end of the day if it’s worth it. If you don’t love what you do, aalisan mo.

SCB: Of the rom-coms you’ve watched, do you have a favorite?

CGM: This is the irony, I’m not a fan of romantic films. I would always choose action or fantasy over romantic films.

Fan ako ni Meg Ryan, so ang una talagang tumatak sa utak ko, “When Harry Met Sally”. Then “You’ve Got Mail”. I wonder why napaiyak ako ng pelikulang ‘yun, hindi naman nakakaiyak. There was one scene there na talaga namang naiyak ako, tapos tinatanong ko sarili ko kung bakit. Gusto kong ginagawa ‘yun sa pelikula. ‘Yung hindi naman umiiyak ‘yung artista pero umiiyak ka for them. Late ko na napanood “Pretty Woman”, but I liked it. “Mangarap Ka” is not a love story, starring Mark Anthony Fernandez and Claudine Barreto, pero gustong-gusto ko.

SCB: What is your favorite love story?

CGM: Tignan mo wala akong masabi, hindi ako fan ng love stories eh. Sabihin mo sa akin ano ang favorite action film ko.

SCB: So what is your favorite action film?

CGM: Face-off! (Laughs)

‘I’m Happy With Who I Am’

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Ano (laughs)?! Self-pity.

Where would you like to live?

Anywhere with my kids.

What’s your idea of earthly happiness?

Living without being dictated by others.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent?

Oo, carnal desires. Ang honest lang (laughs)!

Your favorite heroes in fiction.

First that comes to mind is Wonder Woman.

The quality you most admire in a person.

Kabaitan.

Your favorite virtue?

I always live by the Golden Rule.

Who would you have liked to be?

I’m happy with who I am.

Your most marked characteristic?

Sasabihin ko sana masungit (laughs). Alam ko kapag nagmahal ako buo, todo, bongga.

What do you most value in your friends?

Time.

Your principal defect?

Too trusting.

Your favorite preoccupation?

Cellphone (laughs)!

Your dream of happiness?

Seeing my kids become good people. As a mother, my greatest fear is hindi maging mabuting mamamayan ang mga anak ko.

What to your mind is the greatest misfortune?

Mamatay ako bago ang anak ko. Which is most likely to happen.

How would you like to die?

Huwag lang disfigured. Sana ‘yung may time ako para makapag-prepare, rather than magulat pamilya ko. I’d rather die with time to prepare and ready myself.

Your present state of mind?

Live one day at a time.