Claudine Barreto: I’m Back; Confirms Star Cinema Project

After a controversy-plagued two-year hiatus from showbiz, Claudine Barretto is finally coming back.

The 33-year-old actress invited ABS-CBN News to the birthday party of her daughter, Sabina, held Saturday afternoon at Blue Water Day Spa in Quezon City, where she made the announcement.

“Nag-pe-prepare na ako. Puspusan na ang pagpe-prepare. Actually mga one week palang ako nakakapag-prepare. I’m very excited. I’m very, very excited,” she told ABS-CBN News and other members of the press.

Barretto confirmed an earlier report of ABS-CBN News that she is set to star in two films — one under Viva Films, where she is under contract, and the other, a project involving Star Cinema.

Star Cinema is the film production outfit of ABS-CBN, where Barretto was an exclusive talent for 17 years, before she signed with GMA-7 in 2009.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mauuna [sa dalawang pelikula], magmi-meeting palang kami. Mag-mi-mieet palang kami hopefully this week, and doon ko malalaman,” she said.

Barretto’s last regular role in a TV series was “Iglot” in 2011. Her last film, a co-production of Viva Films and GMA Films, “In Your Eyes,” was released in 2010.

“So now finally, sa lahat ng mga Claudinians, malapit na malapit na po. Magpapa-kundisyon lang, dahil medyo maraming pinagdaanan, pero eto na. Eto na rin. Malapit na malapit na,” she said.

Despite her being inactive as an actress in recent years, Barretto has continued to be the subject of headlines, most recently due to a feud among her family members and her separation from husband Raymart Santiago.

The birthday celebration of Barretto’s daughter on Saturday was the first time the actress had an on-camera interview since both issues erupted.