Direk Cathy says sorry to readers of 'She's Dating The Gangster'

Director Cathy Garcia-Molina

MANILA - Director Cathy Garcia-Molina apologized to the readers of the book "She's Dating the Gangster," which has been turned into a movie starring the hit love team of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

Garcia-Molina explained that they had to make changes for the movie version of "She's Dating the Gangster," which meant taking out certain scenes from the popular book.

"Marami po kasing followers ng libro na medyo hindi amenable to change and to revisions. I did apologize that we had to do it. Kahit naman pong anong novel na in-adapt to a movie ay mayroong pagbabago na kailangan," she said during a press conference for the film.

The director added that the changes were approved by the book's author, Bianca Bernardino, and its publisher.

"With Ms. Bianca's permission and Summit also, mayroon kaming parang go signal to make it mas palatable to the audience of the movie. 'Yun lang po. Maraming salamat sa suporta at manonood," she said.

Bernardino, for her part, said she understands the need for revisions to the original material.

"Actually, kinonsult naman nila ako at nag-meet kami regarding the book kung anong pwedeng gawin, ano ang dapat ayusin. Ang akin lang kasi, 'yun kasing mga readers ko ay may certain scenes na gustong mapanood, mayroon silang favorite scenes na ayaw nilang matagnggal. So ang akin, okay lang kung i-cut nila or baguhin nila, basta 'yung gustong scenes ng readers ko ay nandoon at nakikita nila.

"So okay naman, masaya ako sa outcome. Masaya ako sa pagbabago, sa mga nadagdag," she added.

Meanwhile, Garcia-Molina said she is proud of her lead stars in "She's Dating the Gangster," Padilla and Bernardo, saying that she has seen how they did their best to give justice to the main characters of the book.

"I am so proud of these two na nagawa nilang gampanan at pangatawanan nang tama sina Athena at Kenji," she said.

"She's Dating The Gangster" will hit cinemas on July 16.