Cathy Garcia-Sampana facts for kids

Catherine Rosales Garcia-Sampana, born on November 28, 1971, is a famous Filipino film and television director. She is best known for directing many popular romantic comedy and family drama movies. These films are often made by Star Cinema. She has also directed several TV shows for ABS-CBN, where she is a main director. Her movies have been the highest-earning Filipino films of the year nine times! Six of her films have even become the highest-earning Filipino films of all time.

Popular Movies She Directed

One More Chance (2007)

In 2007, Cathy Garcia-Sampana directed One More Chance. This movie starred John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. It was different from her earlier films because it was a romantic drama with a more serious feel. She said it was special because the story starts with the couple breaking up.

Critics praised the actors, saying they had grown into serious performers. The movie was a big hit at the box office, earning over ₱152 million. It became the highest-earning Filipino film of 2007. Cathy Garcia-Sampana also won the Movie Director of the Year award for this film.

A Very Special Love (2008)

In 2008, Cathy Garcia-Sampana directed A Very Special Love. This romantic comedy starred Sarah Geronimo as Laida Magtalas and John Lloyd Cruz as Miggy Montenegro. Laida is a simple girl who gets a job at a magazine company owned by the rich Miggy. The movie shows how two people from different worlds can fall in love.

This was the first time Cruz and Geronimo worked together in a movie. Critics loved the film's fun and innocent style. It earned over ₱179 million, making it the highest-earning Filipino film of 2008. It even became one of the highest-earning Filipino films ever at that time.

You Changed My Life (2009)

In 2009, a sequel to A Very Special Love was released, called You Changed My Life. Cathy Garcia-Sampana directed it again, with John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo returning as Miggy and Laida. The story follows their relationship as it grows. Things get difficult when Miggy has to manage a business far from Laida.

The movie was a huge success, earning over ₱230 million. It set a new record for the highest-earning Filipino film at the time. It was also the first Filipino movie to earn more than ₱200 million. Critics praised the film, calling it "entertaining and engaging."

Miss You Like Crazy (2010)

In 2010, Cathy Garcia-Sampana directed Miss You Like Crazy, starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo again. This was a romantic drama about two people, Alan and Mia, who meet by chance. They are instantly attracted, but timing seems to be against them. The movie was filmed in both the Philippines and Malaysia.

While critics liked the actors' performances, some felt the ending was not very realistic. Despite this, the movie was a commercial success, earning over ₱138 million. It became the second highest-earning Filipino film of 2010.

About Cathy Garcia-Sampana

Catherine Rosales Garcia was born on November 28, 1971, in Quezon City, Philippines. She is the youngest child of Sikatuna Antonio Garcia and Luisa Rosales Garcia.

She was married to Philip Rey "Epoy" Molina, an engineer, who passed away in 2009. They had two children together. She later married Louie Sampana in 2023.

Actors She Often Works With

Cathy Garcia-Sampana often works with the same actors in her films. Some of the actors she has directed many times include Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards, Bea Alonzo, Sarah Geronimo, Toni Gonzaga, Daniel Padilla, Sam Milby, and John Lloyd Cruz. This shows that she enjoys working with them and they often create successful movies together!

Movies and TV Shows She Directed

Cathy Garcia-Sampana has directed many popular films and television series throughout her career. She started as an assistant director in 1993 before becoming a full director.

Film

She has directed many well-known films, including:

• Bcuz of U (2004)
• Close to You (2006)
• You Are the One (2006)
• You Got Me! (2007)
• One More Chance (2007)
• A Very Special Love (2008)
• My Only Ü (2008)
• You Changed My Life (2009)
• Miss You Like Crazy (2010)
• My Amnesia Girl (2010)
• Forever and a Day (2011)
• ÜnOfficially Yours (2012)
• It Takes A Man And A Woman (2013)
• Four Sisters and a Wedding (2013)
• She's Dating the Gangster (2014)
• A Second Chance (2015)
• Just the 3 of Us (2016)
• My Ex and Whys (2017)
• Seven Sundays (2017)
• Unexpectedly Yours (2017)
• My Perfect You (2018)
• The Hows of Us (2018)
• Three Words to Forever (2018)
• Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019)
• Love at First Stream (2021)
• Partners in Crime (2022)
• Hello, Love, Again (2024)

Television

She has also directed many popular TV shows, including:

• Maalaala Mo Kaya (2002–2009)
• Lobo (2008)
• Got to Believe (2013–2014)
• Forevermore (2014–2015)
• Pangako Sa 'Yo (2015)
• Dolce Amore (2016)
• The Story of Us (2016)
• La Luna Sangre (2017)
• My Papa Pi (2022)
• Can’t Buy Me Love (2023)

Awards and Nominations

Cathy Garcia-Sampana has won many awards for her directing work. Some of her notable wins include:

• Most Popular Film Director from the GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards for One More Chance (2008)
• Movie Director of the Year from the PMPC Star Awards for Movies for One More Chance (2008)
• Most Popular Film Director from the GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards for A Very Special Love (2009)
• Most Popular Film Director from the GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards for You Changed My Life (2010)
• Most Popular Director from the GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards for A Second Chance (2016)
• Most Popular Film Director from the GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards for The Hows of Us (2019)
• Best Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay at the 2020 Asian Academy Creative Awards for Hello, Love, Goodbye (2020)
• Movie of the Year, Best Director, and Movie Screenwriter of the Year from the PMPC Star Awards for Hello, Love, Goodbye (2020)