ABS-CBN stars began shooting for the horror teleserye Florindaa year and a half ago. This Monday, September 7, viewers willfinally be able to see the return of the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano ontelevision.

The third installment of the Susan Roces Cinema Collection also stars JayManalo, Cherry Pie Picache, Nikki Gil and Roxanne Guinoo, William Martinez,Zanjoe Marudo, Carla Martinez and Aaron Juntas.

Florinda is adapted from the movie of the same title originally starredby Susan Roces in 1973.

Under the direction of Rahyan Carlos, the ABS-CBN remake tells the story ofFlorinda, the woman seeking for her one true love. She was supposed to bemarried to her fiancé (played by Jay Manalo) but her "happily ever after"doesn't happen since he suddenly disappears on the day of their wedding. Thisstory has elements of suspense and horror as created by the imaginations ofcharacters who are motivated by their selfish and selfless intentions.

Maricel shares in a statement, "Excited na rin ako saprimetime airing ng Florinda. Siyempre naman very ready ako...ready namuling mapanood ng mga Kapamilya natin sa telebisyon. We've poured out sweatand hard work sa project na ito. Kaya it's really about time na matunghayannaman ng mga taga-subaybay ang pinaghirapan naming lahat."

During the press conference, members of the media asked Direk Rahyan todescribe how similar the show is to the classic film.

"Actually, it's close to the movie," he said. "We tried our best to be faithfulto the original film of Tita Susan Roces po. Ang ginawa po namin, sometime, Ithink, December of 2007, kami po nung writer at head writer, pinanood po namingmabuti ng dalawa o tatlong beses yung original Florinda na nahanap ponamin sa baul ni Tita Susan, and from there, dun po namin in-extract. Sigurokung may nadagdag man po dun is in terms of the story, yung mas mabilis yungpaglalahad, yung pagkukwento. And in terms of direction naman po, dun na popumasok yung mga element na Asian horror and American horror."

The press also asked Nikki Gil and Roxanne Guinoo how it waslike working with Maricel Soriano.

For Roxanne, she candidly shared, "Ako yung naging pasawaynoon, super naging kontrobersyal ‘yan. Actually, masaya po yung feeling naDiamond Star yung katrabaho mo. Kailangan mong makipagsabayan sa acting pa langni Tita Marya. Ok lang, ang dami din naming natutunan kahit nahirapan kami nungmga taping days namin. Ang dami nilang itinuro in terms of acting. Lahat, kungpaano ka maging professional na artista, alam mo yun. So, siguro nahirapan kamisa isang part pero may kapalit naman na magaganda para sa amin."

In Florinda, Roxanne is cast as the sister of Maricel while Nikki iscast as the daughter of Cherry Pie Picache.

Nikki recalled a childhood memory that involved Ms. Maricel and Ms. Cherry Pie.

"Actually, hindi ko pa sinasabi to kahit kanino, mga close friends ko lang.When I was four years old, naisabak ako sa mga Coney Reyes on Camera,Maricel Drama special, at I was able to do an episode with Tita Marya and TitaCherry Pie. As in, silang dalawa po yung kasama ko, I even have pictures nanakakandong ako sa kanila.

"Ang sabi ko nga, very consistent yung role ko dun, tuod. Hahaha! Nakaganunlang ako, ‘yes, mommy.' Yun lang yung lines ko dun the whole time. So it alsoreal nice meeting them once again, si Miss Marya and Tita Pie."

She continues: "Sabi nga ni Roxanne, it was a learning experience for usbecause marami kang matututunan just by watching them, while waiting with themsa set. Sa mga conversations, marami kang matututunan, not just with acting.Ultimo yung anggulo ng mukha mo habang umiiyak ka, ituturo sa 'yo. Kung minsan,ginalaw ako ni Tita Maria, sabi ko, ‘bakit kaya? Lord, yung puso ko, anditona.' Yun pala, kasi, andito yung ilaw. Yun palang such things na you will notlearn unless sumabak ka sa mga ganung things. Not until you're nearly immersedwith that kind of environment and you're with people, with veterans. Talagangmarami kaming natutunan.

"When it comes to being professional, pagdating mo sa set, alam nila yunglinya, wala ng reading-reading. Pagkatapos magblocking, take na. And one takelang si Tita Marya. Wag kang magkakamali. So, yun yung mga natutunan namin nawe will forever bring with us, as we continue to improve our craft."

Direk Rahyan then described the time when he almost lost his temper as heworked with Jay Manalo.

"In fairness naman ho, maayos katrabaho si Jay. Kasi,si Jay is very reserved lang, e. Pupunta yun sa set, siguro may panahon lang naminsan, napakatahimik lang niya talaga. Siguro meron kaming isang scene na saospital, nalate siya ng isa, dalawang oras. Tapos siyempre meron akong cut-offkay Marya. So, aalis talaga si Marya ng ganung oras. So sabi ko, ‘nasan na?'Medyo nag-iinit na yung ulo ko. Pero ako naman ho, I'm one of the coolestdirectors. As much as possible, I do it for myself because I'm hypertensive.So, kinakausap ko siya and all that, parang wala lang. Nung una parang walasiya sa sarili niya. Tapos ako, ‘bahala ka ah, take one dapat yan.'

"In fairness naman sa kanya, magaling siya sa dramatic scene nila together withMaricel. Ang hirap hirap hulihin ng horror using three cameras. Kasi, tatlo poyung camera namin dun, all running at the same time. Hirap pong ma-achieve yungaura using three cameras. In fairness, nung in the moment, action, ‘san galingyun?' He was very, very good."

Prepare for suspense-filled weeknights as ABS-CBN gives Florinda a wholenew twist, starting this Monday, September 7, airing right after DahilMay Isang Ikaw.