Cathy Garcia-Sampana facts for kids

Catherine Rosales Garcia-Sampana (born November 28, 1971), also known as Cathy Garcia-Molina, is a famous film director from the Philippines. A director is like the captain of a movie, guiding the actors and the crew to bring a story to life on screen.

She is best known for directing popular romantic comedy and family drama movies for Star Cinema. She has also directed many TV shows for the ABS-CBN network. Many of her films have been huge hits, becoming the highest-earning Filipino movies of the year. Six of her movies have even broken records to become the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time.

Famous Films

Direk Cathy, as she is often called, has directed many movies that people love. Here are a few of her most well-known films.

One More Chance (2007)

In 2007, Direk Cathy worked with actors John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo on the movie One More Chance. This movie was different from her usual romantic comedies. It was a more serious and mature love story.

The movie starts with the main couple breaking up, which was unusual for a romance film at the time. It showed a more realistic side of relationships. Critics praised the movie and the acting of Cruz and Alonzo. The film was a box-office success, becoming the highest-earning Filipino movie of 2007. For this film, Direk Cathy won the Movie Director of the Year award.

A Very Special Love (2008)

The next year, Direk Cathy directed A Very Special Love. This film starred Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz. It tells the story of Laida (played by Geronimo), a cheerful young woman who gets a job working for the serious and wealthy Miggy (played by Cruz).

The movie is a fun romantic comedy about how two very different people can fall in love. It was the first time Geronimo and Cruz starred in a movie together. The film was a huge hit, earning more money than any other Filipino film in 2008. It became one of the highest-grossing Filipino movies ever made at the time.

You Changed My Life (2009)

Because A Very Special Love was so popular, a sequel called You Changed My Life was released in 2009. Direk Cathy returned to direct, and Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz came back to play Laida and Miggy.

The story follows the couple as they face new challenges in their relationship. Miggy gets a new job far away, and they struggle to find time for each other. The movie was even more successful than the first one. It was the first Filipino film to earn over ₱200 million and became the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time when it was released.

Miss You Like Crazy (2010)

In 2010, Direk Cathy teamed up with John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo again for Miss You Like Crazy. This movie is a romantic drama about two people who meet by chance and feel an instant connection. However, they face many obstacles that keep them apart.

Part of the movie was filmed in Malaysia. While some critics had mixed feelings about the story's ending, audiences loved it. The movie was another commercial success and became one of the top-earning Filipino films of 2010.

Personal Life

Catherine Rosales Garcia was born on November 28, 1971, in Quezon City, Philippines. She was married to Philip "Epoy" Molina, and they had two children together. He passed away in 2009.

In 2023, she married cinematographer Louie Sampana.

Working with Actors

Direk Cathy often works with the same actors in many of her movies. She has a great working relationship with stars like John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo, Sarah Geronimo, Kathryn Bernardo, and Daniel Padilla. This helps create amazing chemistry on screen that audiences enjoy.

Filmography

Here is a list of some of the movies and TV shows directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana.

Film

Television