TV talent on director’s interview: Some questions weren’t asked

“I AM NOT EVIL.” An emotional Cathy Garcia-Molina breaks her silence in an interview published online on Friday following the complaint of two bit actors that they were humiliated by the director on the set of the 2014 TV series “Forevermore.” SCREEN GRAB FROM ABS-CBN’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The professor and former television talent who had filed a complaint against director Cathy Garcia-Molina on Saturday reacted to statements she had issued in an interview.

In a Facebook post, Alvin Campomanes answered point by point the issues raised by Molina during her emotional interview with ABS-CBN TV host Boy Abunda on Friday.

Campomanes said that while Abunda’s way of questioning was good, some questions had not been asked due to its implications on ABS-CBN and the show biz industry in general.

“Bagamat maayos ang pagtatanong ni Boy Abunda, may mga detalye ang open letter na halatang mahirap gawan ng tanong dahil sa implikasyon nito hindi lamang sa network kundi sa buong industriya,” Campomanes said.

READ: Director Cathy Garcia-Molina: ‘I am not an evil person’

Despite Molina’s claim that she did not intend to verbally abuse her actors, the former “Forevermore” talent said the humiliation he received from the director had created a deep impression on him.

“Hindi maaring ihiwalay ang karakter sa taong gumaganap nito. Ang pagpapahiya sa isang tao ay tatatak sa kanyang pagkatao, hindi lamang sa ginagampanan niyang papel sa set,” Campomanes said.

‘Bear the pain’

Quoting an elder talent who had sent a message of sympathy, Campomanes said he and the other bit players in the hit 2014 ABS-CBN drama who had received the same maltreatment would bear the pain as they grow old.

“Sabi nga ng isang matandang talent na nagpadala ng mensahe sa akin, dala nila ang sakit hanggang pagtanda dahil hindi nila nagawang tumindig at lumaban,” he said.

The professor said Molina shouted at him, “alam mo, ikaw, inutil ka! (You know, you are useless!)”

He said the director didn’t stop her crew from laughing, unlike when big stars committed mistakes in delivering their lines.

READ: Top director under fire for alleged abuses vs bit player

Contrary to Molina’s claim that he had made several errors, Campomanes said he had only two or three mistakes in blocking.

“Puro blocking lang ang naging pagkakamali ko, napakadali sanang itama kung maayos lamang ang pagbibigay ng instruction,” he said.

“Hindi naman mahina ang ulo ko para umunawa ng simpleng instruction, lalo na kung blocking lang.”

In the interview, which was published by ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel, Molina said she treated her talents equally.

Campomanes, however, refuted this statement. “Ang aking tanong, bakit hindi siya bastos sa ‘malalaking’ artista?”

No threats

He also said Molina’s claim of security threats was just a way to get the public’s sympathy.

“Sa aming dalawa, sino kaya ang mas lantad sa panganib? Ni wala akong kotse at sumasakay lang ako sa jeep sa pagpasok at paglabas sa UP. Tahasang sinabi sa akin ng isang prominenteng abogado na mapanganib ang aking ginagawang paglaban, na maari ko itong ikamatay,” he said.

Molina in the interview asked for her family to be spared from the issue, said Campomanes, but his own kin, friends, students, and colleagues had also been hurt.

“Hindi lamang kami ang nasaktan sa kanilang ginawa sa amin. Hindi ba nasaktan ang aming pamilya? Halimbawa, sa akin, hindi ba nasaktan ang mga aking mga naging estudyante at mga kaibigan, lalo na ang mga kapwa ko guro?” he said.

Campomanes said they had been seeking justice for a year from ABS-CBN, citing the letter he sent to the network’s management in 2014.

READ: Talent, boyfriend seek justice after ‘cursing, humiliation’ from director Cathy Molina

“Bakit inilabas ang sulat sa social media? Lampas sa isang taon kaming naghintay ng hustisya mula sa ABS-CBN.”

They were only asking for an apology and disciplinary action, he said. “Ang tanging hiningi namin noon ay pagharapin kami, pahingiin sila ng paumanhin at patawan sila ng disciplinary action.”

He said they sent several emails to ABS-CBN executives Cory Vidanes and Lauren Dyogi, who both promised to act on the issue immediately.

Management inaction

But Campomanes said nothing happened.

“Pareho silang nangako ng agarang aksyon ngunit walang nangyari. Maari rin nating itanong, kung ito kaya ay hindi naging viral, umaksyon pa kaya ang network? Malamang hindi na,” he said.

Campomanes also answered Molina’s question on why the issue came out after the run of “Forevermore” and the blockbuster film “A Second Chance,” which she also directed.

“Delicadeza. Nasagot na ito sa open letter. Sa kabila ng kaapihang dinanas namin, pinili namin na huwag ilabas ang sulat noong tumatakbo pa ang teleserye at nasa mga sinehan pa ang pelikula upang hindi masabi ng network na ito’y paninira lamang o propaganda,” he said.

He said rival television networks had requested to air his side but he declined.

“Ayaw naming gamitin ng mga karibal na network ang isyu laban sa ABS-CBN,” Campomanes said.

“Ito ba’y hindi pa rin nila kayang ipagpasalamat?” he added. RC