ABS-CBN stars began shooting for the horror teleserye Florinda
a year and a half ago. This Monday, September 7, viewers will
finally be able to see the return of the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano on
television.
The third installment of the Susan Roces Cinema Collection also stars Jay
Manalo, 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 starred
by Susan Roces in 1973.
Under the direction of Rahyan Carlos, the ABS-CBN remake tells the story of
Florinda, the woman seeking for her one true love. She was supposed to be
married 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. This
story has elements of suspense and horror as created by the imaginations of
characters who are motivated by their selfish and selfless intentions.
Maricel shares in a statement, "Excited na rin ako sa
primetime airing ng Florinda. Siyempre naman very ready ako...ready na
muling mapanood ng mga Kapamilya natin sa telebisyon. We've poured out sweat
and hard work sa project na ito. Kaya it's really about time na matunghayan
naman ng mga taga-subaybay ang pinaghirapan naming lahat."
During the press conference, members of the media asked Direk Rahyan to
describe how similar the show is to the classic film.
"Actually, it's close to the movie," he said. "We tried our best to be faithful
to the original film of Tita Susan Roces po. Ang ginawa po namin, sometime, I
think, December of 2007, kami po nung writer at head writer, pinanood po naming
mabuti ng dalawa o tatlong beses yung original Florinda na nahanap po
namin sa baul ni Tita Susan, and from there, dun po namin in-extract. Siguro
kung may nadagdag man po dun is in terms of the story, yung mas mabilis yung
paglalahad, yung pagkukwento. And in terms of direction naman po, dun na po
pumasok yung mga element na Asian horror and American horror."
The press also asked Nikki Gil and Roxanne Guinoo how it was
like working with Maricel Soriano.
For Roxanne, she candidly shared, "Ako yung naging pasaway
noon, super naging kontrobersyal ‘yan. Actually, masaya po yung feeling na
Diamond Star yung katrabaho mo. Kailangan mong makipagsabayan sa acting pa lang
ni Tita Marya. Ok lang, ang dami din naming natutunan kahit nahirapan kami nung
mga taping days namin. Ang dami nilang itinuro in terms of acting. Lahat, kung
paano ka maging professional na artista, alam mo yun. So, siguro nahirapan kami
sa isang part pero may kapalit naman na magaganda para sa amin."
In Florinda, Roxanne is cast as the sister of Maricel while Nikki is
cast 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 Tita
Cherry Pie. As in, silang dalawa po yung kasama ko, I even have pictures na
nakakandong ako sa kanila.
"Ang sabi ko nga, very consistent yung role ko dun, tuod. Hahaha! Nakaganun
lang ako, ‘yes, mommy.' Yun lang yung lines ko dun the whole time. So it also
real nice meeting them once again, si Miss Marya and Tita Pie."
She continues: "Sabi nga ni Roxanne, it was a learning experience for us
because marami kang matututunan just by watching them, while waiting with them
sa 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, andito
na.' Yun pala, kasi, andito yung ilaw. Yun palang such things na you will not
learn unless sumabak ka sa mga ganung things. Not until you're nearly immersed
with that kind of environment and you're with people, with veterans. Talagang
marami kaming natutunan.
"When it comes to being professional, pagdating mo sa set, alam nila yung
linya, wala ng reading-reading. Pagkatapos magblocking, take na. And one take
lang si Tita Marya. Wag kang magkakamali. So, yun yung mga natutunan namin na
we 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 he
worked with Jay Manalo.
"In fairness naman sa kanya, magaling siya sa dramatic scene nila together with Maricel. Ang hirap hirap hulihin ng horror using three cameras. Kasi, tatlo po yung camera namin dun, all running at the same time. Hirap pong ma-achieve yung aura using three cameras. In fairness, nung in the moment, action, ‘san galing yun?' He was very, very good."
Prepare for suspense-filled weeknights as ABS-CBN gives Florinda a whole new twist, starting this Monday, September 7, airing right after Dahil May Isang Ikaw.
