Cathy Garcia-Molina says she waited years to direct KC Concepcion; she's all praises for Sam Milby: "Dati si John Lloyd lang po talaga. Ngayon, mahal ko na rin siya."

Rose Garcia

Sunday, June 12, 2011
01:16 PM

Forever and a Day ang pinakabagong pelikula ni Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina under Star Cinema, shot on location sa Bukidnon.



The movie is one of her favorites, Direk Cathy told members of media including PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during a press conference held at the 14th Floor of ELJ Building.



"Ang peg po talaga nito, galing sa akin. Malapit po talaga sa puso ko ang kuwentong ito. The movie is not just about love, it's about life. It's about love for life.



"Ito rin po ang una kong pelikula na broader ang scope. It's more than just a love story and pakilig."



Hindi naman daw naisip ni Direk Cathy that her next movie with Star Cinema would pair KC Concepcion and Sam Milby.



"Hindi ko po talaga naisip na itong dalawa ay magsasama. I was supposed to do a movie with KC with another leading man and Sam with another leading lady. Nagulat ako na sila na ang mag-partner.



"And then, when I saw the kind of friendship they had—makulit po talaga ang dalawang 'yan—I said, puwede, puwede po."



During the first few shooting days, pinagbawalan nga raw niya sina KC at Sam mag-usap dahil sa kakulitan ng mga ito.



Everybody knows that KC and Piolo Pascual are a couple. So can Direk Cathy deliver a convincing KC and Sam love team?



She was able make the Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz tandem work; she was even more successful pairing Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd. Could she do the same with KC and Sam?



"Naging problem ko po talaga na magkaibigan sila. Even Sam and KC were telling me... sobra silang magkaibigan so they can't look at each other as lovers.



"It was a problem, yes, nahirapan ako. But I always believe po na hindi naman sila yung nai-in-love onscreen but rather yung character nila," ang sabi ni Direk Cathy.



"So, for as long as they become the character, it is possible for them to fall in love. Ganoon lang po talaga dahil kung aasahan ko po ang mga personal nilang buhay, baka po wala akong mapala.



"Ako po'y kumakapit na lang sa characterization nila and [worked] on making them them fall in love as Raffy and Eugene."



The movie was shot in Bukidnon. Why this particular location?



"Nang mag-occular inspection po kami, I fell in love with the place. Talagang pinilit ko na mag-shooting ako du'n. Kahit 438 steps to go down there and up. Ang crew ko po, lugmok na.



"But when you're there, it's worth it. And the people in Lanao del Norte, they are very accommodating, pati pag-akyat po ng gamit, tumutulong po sila.



"At si Sam, ang tapang po talaga, tumalon po talaga siya sa mga cliff. Tinulungan siya ng mga taga-ro'n, they showed him how to climb."



Dugtong pa ni Direk Cathy, "Pang-apat ko na po kay Samuel 'to. Sabi ko nga, ano pa ba ang meron sa taong ito? I was amazed. I said to Sam three days ago, 'Dito lang kita minahal.' Kasi, dito ko nakita kung gaano siya magmahal.



"He gave more than he could, more than what he has given in his past movies.

"Dito mahal ko na siya. Dati si John Lloyd lang po talaga. Ngayon, mahal ko na rin siya. Hindi po siya humugot sa personal experiences. In fact, ang liit ng ginagalawan ni Sam in terms of personal experiences.



"Nagulat po ako that they became my personal favorite scenes and I hope, they become yours. Ang galing. Sabi ko nga, si John Lloyd ba itong kaharap ko?" natatawang sabi pa niya.



On the other hand, noong mapanood pa lang daw ni Direk Cathy ang unang movie na ginawa ni KC, nakita na raw niya ang potential nito and wished that one day, magkaroon siya ng chance na maidirek ang Kapamilya star.



"I waited for her for ilang years," ang nakangiting pahayag naman ng director.