KathNiel believers

MANILA, Philippines - Got To Believe director Cathy Garcia-Molina has had handled different onscreen pairings, but taking charge of the loveteam of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla presented her a challenge like no other.

“(Prior to Got To Believe), I’ve heard stories about them, but I’ve seen very little of their work and they didn’t have that much experience, except Princess & I (their debut series) and one movie. So, natutuwa ako how very different they are because I couldn’t handle them the way I handled all my other actors in the past,” direk Cathy said of the lead stars, also known as KathNiel to fans, of the ABS-CBN primetime series about childhood friends turned star-crossed sweethearts Chichay and Joaquin. 

“They’re like babies. Kailangan mo timplahin. Otherwise, imbes gumaling sila, mas parang magtitiklop. So, they have taught me also that there’s another way of handling actors, and ako natutuwa na nakuha namin yun. And they have a lot of future. I told them that I want to direct them in a film because we can still bring out so much more from them, and there’s more to come.”

Asked to deconstruct the uniqueness of their tandem, direk Cathy said, “Maybe what’s unique is because Daniel is Daniel and Kathryn is Kathryn. Daniel is a different kind of mammal — different from all the actors I’ve handled. I’m shocked that he has dramatic sense. And he’s young, plays a lot and immature yet matured; he knows what he wants, alam niya kung papaano gusto patatakbuhin ang buhay niya. As for Kathryn, she’s very young but very professional maybe because at a very early age, artista na.”

She continued, “When you combine the two, there’s really a certain kind of magic na meron sila na di mo makikita sa iba precisely because they’re two different people and different from the loveteams I directed.”

Got To Believe, which is now down to its last two weeks, will end on March 7. Despite figures provided by ABS-CBN that the series is a winner in its timeslot, and fans online either protesting its near-finale or hankering for a Book 2, Got To Believe will not do a Be Careful with My Heart and enjoy several extensions.

Direk Cathy explained, “We’d rather end it while we still have something to tell because stretching it might not be helpful to the show. Manipis lang talaga ang kwento ng show.”

Asked if the next scenes between Chichay and Joaquin will level up with an onscreen kiss, Cathy said, “For me, there will be no kissing scene. Hanggang dito lang muna ang kaya ibigay ng dalawa bilang mga bata pa sila (Daniel is 19 while Kathryn is 17). There are more movies and shows to come. Maybe, in time. We were able to do it with John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo, right?” said the director, referring to the A Very Special Love film series that she megged and became a massive box-office success minus the usual love/kiss scene.  

For her part, Kathryn, who’s turning 18 this March via a vintage-themed debut with Daniel as escort, said, “I’m not ready myself. For me, it’s too early. I feel that once you’ve started it, you might have to do it in every succeeding show. Parang you can’t say no because you’ve already done it. Time will come for that.”

With Got To Believe confirming their strong audience draw, especially among youngsters, do they feel more pressured to act as role models, consequently, become more careful with their actions on and off-screen?

Daniel said, “For me, I don’t want to be pressured. Gusto ko mas maging happy nalang at ako naman, minahal nila kung ano ako dati pa. Di ako natatakot. At alam mo rin sa sarili mo kung mali yung ginagawa mo, di ba? From what I see, I’m not a bad person (laughs) just a little naughty.”

Message for bashers as well as their rabid fans who in turn bash their Got To Believe co-stars online “for coming in between” their favorite loveteam? Daniel said, “Kasama na yun (haters), pero kung pwede ‘wag ganun, although di talaga natin maiwasan. Pero sabi nga nila, kung di ka inaway, wala kang impact. Ganun talaga, napagdaanan ko rin yun.”

What’s next for KathNiel after Got To Believe? A movie to be helmed by direk Cathy, titled She’s Dating A Gangster, which is adapted from a Wattpad story.

Meanwhile, this Sunday, March 2, Got To Believe will hold the Best Fair Ever for “KathNiel believers” featuring a special concert, rides and games at the Makati Circuit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets to the event are priced at P500 each and sold at the ABS-CBN Center Road.