Following the success of their first series together, reel and real-life sweethearts Elle Villanueva and Derrick Monasterio team up once again in the Kapuso revenge series "Makiling" which will premiere on Monday, Jan. 8.

During the grand media conference for the series held at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City recently, Elle and Derrick were bit emotional when they first saw the official trailer of the new television series.

"Ang dami kong na-invest na emotions sa project na ito. Halos araw-araw bugbog ako rito physically. Sobrang proud ako because ang ganda ng kinalabasan. Ang galing po nila," said Ellen when asked about being emotional after watching the trailer.

She added: "So yung feeling ko na finally it's here, and I didn't expect it to be so beautiful. I'm just so proud of everyone and the team behind it."

Elle and Derrick weighed in about being on the same project with a real-life partner.

"Mas madali sa amin at wala pa naman kaming nakikitang disadvantage except nag-aantayan kami kapag hindi pa tapos ang eksena," said Elle.

"Malaking advantage na we are open for each other. We are straightforward in terms of our work. So kapag may nakita kaming mali sa isa't isa, sasabihin namin kahit hurtful siya. So there's room for improvement," she said.

Derrick said: "Ang disadvantage lang talaga is kapag nakikita ko siyang nasasaktan. Halimbawa yung nakikita ko siyang bugbog at ganun ang hitsura niya. Ako, bilang protector niya in real life, masakit sa akin yun. Ibang klase po talaga ang show na ito. So dapat po ninyo talagang abangan para malaman ninyo kung ano talaga ang sinasabi ko."

Asked how he comforts Elle after a long day, Derrick said: "Puwede niya akong utusan kung ano ang gusto niyang ipagawa. I will cook for her in the morning. I try to make her life easier."

Elle also assessed which role is more difficult: the revenger or the oppressed.

"Hindi ko po masabi. Pero gustong-gusto ko yung pinagdaanan ko na parehas akong inaapi at gumanti. Kung hindi ko nadaanan yung part na inapi ako, hindi ko naman maibibigay yung emotion kung paano ako gumanti. I'm very hungry talaga na gusto ko ng sampalin si ganito. Please direk, ako naman! Pero parang madali manampal."

Derrick said he was impressed with Elle the first time they worked together in "Return to Paradise" in 2022.

"Nakasama ko si Elle sa 'Return to Paradise.' It was her first lead role. Sabi ko ang galing ng tao na ito. Nagawa na niya yung ibang bagay na hindi pa nagawa ng ibang artista na matagal na. I'm so proud of her and impressed dahil ang galing niya umarte," he said.

"Makiling" tells the story of Amira, a provincial lass struggling to pay off her family’s debts by working in Manila where she will find herself the unfortunate target of a group of rich, powerful, and sadistic bullies. She endures unspeakable suffering and adversities, including a near-death experience, but returns completely transformed and hell-bent on claiming the justice and revenge she believes she rightfully deserves.

“I am grateful to GMA Network na binibigyan nila ako ng project at hindi lang siya basta-basta project, napakaganda ng istorya na ito. At lalong lalo na revenge drama siya. Nung marinig ko pa lang ang title na Makiling, very interesting na siya para sa akin. Gusto kong bigyan ng justice ang karakter ni Amira. Challenging siya for me,” said Elle who was recently part of the live-action television adaptation of "Voltes V: Legacy."

"Makiling" is Elle and Derrick’s reunion project after their first team-up in Return to Paradise. In Makiling, Derrick portrays Amira’s childhood sweetheart and boyfriend Alex, a loving habal-habal driver who will vehemently protect the love of his life.

Said Derrick of Alex, “It’s very different from my previous character. Mas iba na ang atake since mas nag-mature na ako. Mas iba na ang tingin ko sa mundo kaya mas mabibigyan ng depth ‘yung karakter ko as Alex who is a protector na [may] maraming layers [sa pagkatao].”

"Makiling" also brings together a powerhouse cast that features this generation’s promising actors: Thea Tolentino, who plays Amira’s older sibling Rose; Kristoffer Martin, Myrtle Sarrosa, Royce Cabrera, Teejay Marquez, and Claire Castro, who make up Amira’s tormentors, collectively known as the “Crazy 5."

Some of the country’s most-sought-after character actors in both TV and film complete the Makiling cast: Mon Confiado, Bernadette Allyson-Estrada, Richard Quan, Cris Villanueva, Lui Manansala, Andrea Del Rosario, and Ms. Lotlot de Leon.

Amira (Elle) comes from a family of herbal healers who live at the foot of Mt. Makiling.  Desperate to help in their finances, Amira decides to work in a school in Manila. Here, she is terrorized by a group of infamous school bullies called the ‘Crazy 5’ led by the Terra siblings, Seb (Kristoffer) and Portia (Myrtle), scions of a giant pharmaceutical company. Amira’s life is transformed when she and Alex (Derrick) discover a mysterious flower with powerful healing properties in the forests of Makiling — the Mutya. Amira wants to develop the Mutya and formulate free medicine for all, but the Terras and their friends become Amira’s sworn enemies when they set out to steal the Mutya to make a fortune.

Myrtle cuts Elle's hair

Myrtle shared about accidentally cutting Elle's hair during a violent scene in the series. She admitted she got emotional and felt guilty when she realized she cut Elle's hair.

"I make sure that my co-actors don't get hurt, especially when the characters demand or require it. Minsan bibigyan kami ng mga scenes na hindi talaga siya kayang dayain like sampalan or sabunutan. Pero minsan nadudulas kami at naaksidenteng nasusugatan," Myrtle said.

"Unintentionally may nakasamang tunay na buhok na nagupit ko. After nun, nag-iyakan talaga kami ni Elle. Alam ko na napakahalaga ng hair niya but I accidentally cut her hair. Nakasama talaga siya sa hair extensions. 

"I really felt bad and mga two days talaga ako nag sorry sa kanya. So sabi niya, wag ka ngang magsorry wala yun! Minsan kasi napapanaginipan ko. Sabi ko, "Oh my God! Sobrang binigay ko yung 100 percent ko sa scene baka nasaktan ko siya. 

"But I appreciate na open lahat ng co-actors ko and we deliver what requires to be delivered. To shake it off, we hug each other. Then nag-uusap kami para walang samaan ng loob," said Myrtle.

Elle said she cried when she saw the actual hair that was cut during the scene.

"Noong nangyari yun, that was the day na kinunan naman na mabigat. Kaya masyadong heightened na yung emotions ko. 

"After that take, pinakita sa akin kung gaano na kaikli yung buhok ko. Nagulat ako sabi ko parang totoo na. Habang sinasampal ako ni Myrtle noon, sabi ko anong nangyayari? Feeling ko inaabuso na ako ng mga tao. 

"Kasi akala ko as an actor, napupunta na siya sa'yo. Parang masyado ng nae-embody yung role sa sarili mo. Minsan delikado yun. 

"Umiyak ako noon. Kinausap ko po sila ang mga boss ko. Nagmeeting po kami at sinabi ko yung na-experience ko at yung nilalaman ng loob ko. I'm so happy na nakinig po sila. Sa totoo lang, mahirap magsalita kapag bagong artista ka. I appreciate na they are very understanding. 

"After that, sinabi nila sa akin si Myrtle umiiyak. Then pumasok si Myrtle sa tent. Sabi ko, 'My gosh, bakit ka umiiyak? Tapos pareho na kaming umiiyak. Sabi ko, okay lang ito don't worry. 

"Sana hindi na lang kami nagkasakitan ng loob kasi baka masama rin ang loob niya sa akin. Pero kahit na nagkakasakitan na kami sa set, may concern pa rin talaga kami sa isa't isa," said Elle.

"Makiling" is produced by the award-winning team of GMA Public Affairs, which brought to life the hit TV series Lolong, The Write One, and Owe My Love.

This revenge drama is based on the original concept of Aeious Asin and the late Reign Loleng. Written by Carlos Palanca Memorial Awardee Clar Estuar-Navarro, the series is directed by Conrado Peru.

Also part of the creative team are Aya Anunciacion, RM Diamzon, Anthony Rodulfo, and Tin Gara.

Beginning Jan. 8, join Amira in her journey of resurgence and retribution in Makiling, weekdays, 4 pm after Stolen Life on GMA Afternoon Prime. Global Pinoys can catch it via GMA Pinoy TV.