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Metro Exclusive: In Conversation With "Meet, Greet, and Bye" Director Cathy Garcia-Sampana

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"Meet, Greet, and Bye" Cast

<p>There is magic in the extraordinary career of film director <strong>Cathy Garcia-Sampana</strong><strong></strong>, who is now at the helm of the upcoming <strong>Star Cinema</strong> movie, <strong><em>Meet, Greet, and Bye</em></strong>.<strong></strong></p><p>She found immense box-office and critical success in directing memorable romance-themed projects such as <em>One More Chance</em>, <em>A Very Special Love</em>, <em>She’s Dating the Gangster</em>, <em></em>and record-breaking films <em>Hello, Love, Goodbye</em> and <em>Hello, Love, Again</em>. However, <em>Direk</em> Cathy’s expertise isn’t <span style="margin:0px;padding:0px">confined to the romance genre—she is also the filmmaker behind beloved family-oriented films such as<em> Seven Sundays </em>and <em>Four Sisters and a Wedding,</em> which are now considered</span> iconic classics in Filipino pop culture.</p><p>With her latest film project, <em>Meet, Greet and Bye</em>, <em>Direk</em> Cathy returns to familiar territory and hopes to win the hearts of Filipino viewers and families anew.</p><p>Star Cinema’s <em>Meet, Greet and Bye </em>centers on the Facundo family, whose lives are turned upside down when their mother’s cancer returns. The film prides itself on a stellar cast, which includes Diamond Star <strong>Maricel Soriano </strong>as the family matriarch, while well-loved <em>Kapamilya</em> artists <strong>Piolo Pascual</strong>, <strong>Joshua Garcia</strong>, <strong>Belle Mariano</strong>, and <strong>Juan Karlos</strong> team up to play the Facundo siblings.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1762674775443cathy garcia moline meet greet and bye director.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A delicate balance</strong></div><p>Though comparisons to her earlier family dramas are inevitable, the director says <em>Meet, Greet, and Bye </em>is her most grounded work yet.</p><p>“<em>Siguro ito ‘yung pinaka</em>-grounded amongst the others <em>na nagawa ko na</em>. In fact, <em>nahirapan akong ipa</em>-lighten <em>siya kasi</em> <em>ang </em>premise <em>ng kwento</em>, we&#x27;re talking about the Big C (cancer). We are talking about losing someone, and you can&#x27;t help but feel dramatic over it,” <em>Direk</em> Cathy declared.</p><p>With the plot revolving around terminal illness, the director found it very challenging to push the plot forward without making the entire movie a melodrama.</p><p>“So <em>medyo naging </em>challenge<em> sa akin na pagaanin ng kaunti </em>to the best of our abilities <em>at maikwento nang hindi naman </em>[<em>ganoon</em>] <em>ka</em>-sad. <em>Kasi sa lahat ng ginawa kong pelikula</em>, <em>isa ‘yun sa iniiwasan ko</em>—<em>iyong lumabas ka ng sinehan nang bitbit mo pa ‘yung bigat ng pelikula</em>,” she confessed.</p><p>Coming from that delicate balancing act of showcasing heavy emotions and putting in lighthearted moments, the director could only wish for a satisfying viewer experience.</p><p>“<em>Sana naikwento ko siya ng totoo</em>, sincere, and at the same time, <em>lalabas kang magaan ang pakiramdam</em>,” <em>Direk</em> Cathy fervently expressed her hopes.</p><p>It wasn’t hard for Direk Cathy to say yes to the film project. “Who would say no to the casting behind me? <em>Alam kong mabibigyan nila ng kulay ang mga</em> characters<em> ng pelikula at ang kwentong ito</em>. I immediately said yes, of course. <em>Kahit takot na takot ako kay</em> Ms. Maricel Soriano,” she said in jest.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vAT2bQxDyVM?si=OeXvv6bWhkj9jhmp" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>One can’t help but note the way <em>Direk</em> Cathy&#x27;s face lit up with excitement as she shared on-set experiences of working with the cast.  </p><p>To begin with, the director’s experience working with veteran stars Piolo and Maricel shared a common denominator: “They hate me. <em>Kasi ayaw ko silang paiyakin e</em>.”</p><p><em>Direk</em> Cathy insisted on subtle emotional expressions rather than for the actors to openly and freely cry in certain scenes. Her “<em>Bawal umiyak</em>” rule was met with “<em>Bakit mo ako pinapahirapan nang ganito</em>?” and “<em>Seryoso ka ba</em>?” as Piolo and Maricel challenged her directorial decisions.</p><p>“<em>Ako kasi ‘yung </em>director <em>na hindi naniniwalang kailangang mag</em>-monologue <em>ka at kailangan umarya ka para masabi kitang magaling</em>. In the silent portions or in the silent shots that I gave you, and in those quiet moments, that&#x27;s where I appreciate actors most,” the director stated.</p><p>As expected, the director was impressed with Joshua, who delivered with his excellent dramatic flair. Though he’s more well-known as a singer, Juan Karlos surprised <em>Direk</em> Cathy with his impeccable comedic timing and charming side. With Belle, she made a good impression as she departed from her usual romantic roles and showcased authenticity and quiet strength with her role (“I did not see Belle. I saw her character, Geri.”).</p><p>For the cast to understand and get to know their characters better, <em>Direk</em> Cathy—for the first time in her two-decade career—asked the actors to create detailed backstories. These personal background stories of the characters may not have been explicitly shown on screen, but the practice helped the actors get into their roles more effectively and with depth.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPv8GqwDOpa/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=971&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A5915640%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQffYM9kl8U/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=971&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A6063258.099999994%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>The story of us for us</strong></div><p><em>Direk</em> <em></em>Cathy<em></em>’s craft demands her to pay meticulous attention to every detail and every aspect of the film, including costume colors, camera movements, set design, dialogue, music, and more.</p><p>“Almost everything that you see on screen and what you don&#x27;t see on screen are planned along with my production designer, writers, DOP (Director of Photography) [and other staff members],” she said. The director also hinted at hidden metaphors and symbolism throughout the film, inviting viewers to interpret the story in their own way.</p><p>“<em>Siyempre ako naman</em>, <em>ayokong idikta sa manonood kung ano ‘yung dapat niyong maramdaman </em>after the film. <em>Naniniwala ako</em>, <em>tulad ng turo sa akin ng</em> mentor <em>ko</em>, <em>na ang pelikula kapag ipinalabas ko</em>, that&#x27;s yours already,” <em>Direk</em> Cathy smiled.</p><p>“It&#x27;s up to you <em>kung ano ‘yung</em> interpretation <em>niyo sa pelikula namin</em>. <em>Pero sana ang maramdaman ninyo</em> after is<em> mas mahalin ang pamilya niny</em><em>o</em>. <em>Halikan mo nanay mo</em>,<em> tatay mo</em>, <em>kapatid mo</em>, <em>ngayon</em>. <em>Bukas</em>,” she said.</p><p>Asked by <strong>Metro.Style </strong><em></em>if the film feels personal to her, she responded quickly and passionately. “All of my films are personal,” <em>Direk</em> Cathy declared.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mtou4LuxFrg?si=oPbE30i3UgHT2SHQ" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center">[[PHOTO ALBUM]]</div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>“In fact, <em>hindi mo maalis iyon</em>. A part of me is always in my films. That&#x27;s why, <em>ako naman po</em>, <em>hindi ko naman po sinasadya ‘yung tinatawag ‘yung</em> very me, CGS, or whatever [<em>iyong</em> movie.] <em>Lumalabas sa naturaleza na</em> a part of me is there,” she continued.</p><p>“One of the characters is me. <em>Madalas,</em> <em>mahahanap ninyo ako doon</em>. I don&#x27;t think you can direct a movie <em>na hindi lalabas ang pagkatao mo doon</em> so you&#x27;ll see every bit of [me in] them. <em>Pero pinakamalakas ako siguro kay</em> Belle, <em>kay</em> Geri, <em>kay</em> Leo, <em>kay</em> Baby—<em>lahat ng</em> characters! But yeah, I think I am everywhere in the film,” <em>Direk</em> Cathy smiled, referring to the film’s characters.</p><p>At its core, <em>Meet, Greet, and Bye</em> is not just a celebration of Filipino familial love but also ably captures the resilience and warm dynamics of families even in the face of adversity, pain, and loss.</p><p>“It’s your story. It’s a story about Filipino families and how we love our parents and how parents love their children,” the box-office director concluded.</p><p>With its blend of drama and lightness, heartfelt performances, and universal themes, <em>Meet, Greet, and Bye </em>promises to be another unforgettable title in Cathy Garcia-Sampana’s colorful filmography. </p><p>As <em>Direk</em> Cathy puts it, “It’s your story. It’s our story. Let’s watch ourselves.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1762684386567565371212_18532550470003451_7701865491724214607_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><em><strong>Catch Meet, Greet &amp; Bye in cinemas worldwide beginning in the Philippines on November 12, 2025. Get your tickets in advance: </strong></em><a href="https://meetgreetandbye.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>meetgreetandbye.com</em></strong></a></div>

<p>The acclaimed box-office director returns to family drama, following the success of her romance-themed films. In this exclusive, Cathy Garcia-Sampana opens up about her approach to directing in "Meet, Greet, and Bye."</p>

The acclaimed box-office director returns to family drama, following the success of her romance-themed films. In this exclusive, Cathy Garcia-Sampana opens up about her approach to directing in "Meet, Greet, and Bye."

What Director Cathy Garcia-Sampana Found Challenging in Bringing the Story of ‘Meet, Greet, and Bye’ to Life

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What Director Cathy Garcia-Sampana Found Challenging in Bringing the Story of ‘Meet, Greet, and Bye’ to Life

Grace Diez

Published Nov 09, 2025 06:50 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 10, 2025 03:41 PM PHT

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