Just a little over a year after Elle Villanueva and Derrick Monasterio wrapped up their first team-up, Return to Paradise (August to November 2022), the GMA-7 homegrown talents reunite in another afternoon series, titled Makiling.

Elle and Derrick still play lovers in Makiling, which premieres today, 8 January, but its story essentially revolves around Elle's character, Amira, a young woman who leaves behind the place she grew up in the midst of the mystical Mount Makiling to find work in the city and earn enough money to pay off her family's debts. Amira unfortunately becomes the target of bullies that endanger her life, but she soon finds a protector in Alex, a habal-habal (motorcycle) driver played by Derrick, as she plots her revenge.

The Makiling lead stars agreed during the show's recent presscon that their current pairing offers "a different kind of init (heat)" compared to their sexy scenes in Return to Paradise. Elle pointed out that the heat in Makiling refers instead from the "heightened emotions" of all the characters. Derrick made it clear, though, they'll still show sexiness with added "flavor" by their director Conrado Peru.

"Super proud po ako na sobrang ganda ng kinalabasan (I'm super proud of the very beautiful result)," Elle said. "I'm just so proud of everyone and especially the team behind it." She's especially grateful to the producers of the show, which is under GMA's News and Public Affairs. "Malaki po talaga ang utang na loob ko sa kanila. Pinagkatiwalaan po nila ako sa project na ito. (I'm so indebted to them. They trusted me in this project.)"

Real-life partners
Elle and Derrick, who officially became a couple in mid-2023, weighed on working together now that they're in a relationship: "Fortunately mas madali po sa amin," Elle said. "Wala naman po kaming disadvantage na nakikita.' Yun lang po naghihintayan kami pag di pa tapos ang eksena ng isa. (Fortunately, it's easier for us. We don't see any disadvantages, except for when we have to wait for each other finish our respective scenes.)

"I think malaki (big) pong advantage because we are open to each other. We're very straight forward in terms of our work, so pag may nakita kaming mali isa isa't-isa, sasabihin namin kahit hurtful s'ya (if we see a mistake in each other, we say it even it it's hurtful. So there's room for improvement for us."

Derrick offered, "'Yung disadvantage lang po is siguro 'yung naaapektuhan ako pag nakikita ko s'ya na nasasaktan. Halimbawa pag pauwi kami, 'tapos galing s'ya sa binugbog s'ya. Makikita sa mukha, umiiyak, magulo ang hair n'ya. Ako, as a protector sa show and in real life, masakit sa 'kin. (The disadvantage is getting affected when I see her get hurt. For example, when we drive home, and she had just been beat up in a scene. I'd see in her face that she just cried, her hair disheveled. As a protector in the show and in real life, it hurts.)

He then shared how he comfort his leading lady, on-and-off-screen: "Unli-utos." Meaning, he'll do anything and everything she will ask from him. Additionally, he'll cook for her and "try to make her life easier."

Derrick admitted relishing his role of a protector because in real life, he looks after his three sisters and is also now taking care of Elle. On the set, for instance, he checks on the monitor if he feels that Elle's scenes are delikado (delicate) and makes sure she's comfortable.

Elle, in turn, expressed her gratitude to her boyfriend: "Kung wala dito si Derrick, nabaliw na talaga ako. Kasi nadadala ko talaga ang eksena. He makes sure na okay ako. Hindi kasi kami masyadong gumagamit ng double. Si Derrick, nagbabantay sa monitor. (If Derrick is not part of the show, I'd definitely go crazy. Because I really get carried away in the scene. He makes sure I'm okay. We don't usually use a double in the show. Derrick stands guard at the monitor.)

"It's really nice to have someone who supports and cares for you. Iba pa rin 'yung partner mo, and'yan lang sa tabi mo na kino-comfort ka, makes sure na hindi ka nasasaktan. Iba pa rin 'yung pauwi kayo, na after all the heavy scenes, napagu-usapan n'yo. How do you feel about it? Are you okay now? Minsan kasi hindi mo rin agad-agad mabibitawan ang emosyon. He's always there to support me, talk to me and listen. (It's different when your partner is just beside you, comforting you, making sure you're not hurt. It's different when you go home together after doing all the heavy scenes, you get to talk about your work. Sometimes you can't easily let go of the emotions.)