MANILA, Philippines – Seventeen years since her last album, ’90s singer Donna Cruz is back in the music scene – she’s announced she will launch a new album.

During the contract signing with Star Music Tuesday, January 19, Donna, known for her classic pop song “Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso,” shared that she’s very happy to back doing what she loves to do – music. 

“Sobrang happy and excited. I’m looking forward to promoting my album and my songs. And yung sa mga TV guestings, sa pagkanta, excited na rin ako marinig sa radio ulit na may bagong kanta, and sobrang thankful and grateful,” she said. 

(I so happy and excited. I’m looking forward to promoting my album and my songs. And the TV guestings, singing, I’m so excited to hear the new songs again on the radio. I’m just thankful and grateful.)

Now based in Cebu with her husband Yong Larrazabal, a doctor, and her 3 children Belle, Cian, and Gio, Donna said that her family was very supportive of her comeback and that they were the ones who even pushed her to perform again.

From our family to yours, happy new year!!!  God bless! #2016 #happynewyear #muchlove ❤️, #TheLarrazabals – Yong, Donna, Belle, Cian and Gio

A photo posted by Donna Cruz Y. Larrazabal (@donnacruzyl) on Jan 1, 2016 at 1:03am PST

“Actually, excited sila for me and ramdam na ramdam ko na yung mga kids ko proud sa akin. So nakakatuwa and happy ako na nakikita ko yung support and yung happiness nila for me and sila yung actually excited talaga for me,” she said.

(Actually, all of them are excited for me and I really feel that my kids are proud of me. So I feel so happy that I see their support and their happiness for me, and they are the ones who are really excited.)

Donna also shared that it helped that her eldest child Belle, 16, is ready to help take care of her siblings. 

“Yun din actually mismo. Alam ko na build up na, na establish na yung samahan namin na hindi ko na kailangan yung – ayaw ko kasi iasa sa yayas so baka mas maging close pa yung mga kids ko na mas bata pa sila, maliliit pa sila. Mahuhurt ako, magseselos ako sa ganun. Ngayon hindi, mas confident din ako. Sila din gusto nila ako kumanta and ini-explain ko din naman sa kanila na yung singing hindi naman kailangan ko sa Manila ng matagal na matagal,” she said.  

(That actually also was the reason. I know I was able to build up, establish the bond that I don’t need to you know – leave with the nannies because they’ll be close to my kids when they’re young and small. I’d get hurt, I’d be jealous for sure. Now, I’m more confident about it. They’re the ones who also want me to sing again and I explained to them that I won’t be in Manila very often for it.)

According to Donna, she has two original songs in the album and the rest are revivals of her favorite Filipino songs, which includes a version of “Hanggang” by Wency Cornejo, whose song “Habang May Buhay” was revived by Donna in one of her previous albums.

Aside from “Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso” and “Habang May Buhay,” her other singles include “Wish” with Jason Everly, and “Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot.” She also appeared in flims such as Kadenang Bulaklak (1994), Campus Girls (1995), Muling Umawit Ang Puso (1995), and DoReMi (1996). 

Asked how she felt about recording again, Donna said: “Grabe. Nanumbalik lahat nung nasa showbiz pa ako, pero positive na pakiradam kasi na miss ko. First love ko ang pagkanta.” (Grabe. It all came back to me when I was still active in showbiz, but in a positive way that I felt I miss it. Singing is really my first love)

Yehey!!!! 2 songs na lang po!!!  #starmusic #DonnaCruz #recording #recordingartist @starmusicph

A photo posted by Donna Cruz Y. Larrazabal (@donnacruzyl) on Nov 26, 2015 at 2:05am PST

Donna’s fans are also excited for her comeback. Donna said that she has been giving updates through Facebook and Instagram.

“Super excited sila. Kahit yung pagpost sa Instagram, very active ako sa Instagram and sa fanpage ko sa Facebook, grabe, nakakatuwa. Nakakataba ng puso na sobrang daming nag-lolook forward sa album and madaming nagpapasalamat sa Star Music kasi pinakinggan nila yung request nila,” she said.

(They’re very excited. Even when I post on Instagram because I’m very active posting, and also on my fanpage on Facebook, it’s very heartwarming. I’m touched that many are looking forward to the album and many of them are actually thanking Star Music because they listened to their request.)

While she laid low from showbiz, Donna said that being a mother took all of her time. She also does running, and graduated with a degree in Computer Science in Cebu.

“Ang nagpapabusy sa akin doon is pagiging tutor mom ko. Ako talaga ang tututor sa mga kids. And yon, ako rin nag build ng website para sa husband ko. Nakatapos ako ng Bachelor of Science Computers Science sa Cebu Doctors University. So iyon sa Internet, sa paggawa ng website, yon naging busy din ako. And siguro yung running talaga. Kumbaga, kung meron akong ginagawa yung me time ko na outside showbiz, and hindi lang yung sa family lang, yung running,” she said. 

(What realy kept me busy was being a ‘tutor mom’ to my kids. I was really hands on on tutoring my kids. And I also build a website for my husband. I was able to finish a bachelors of Science, Computer Science in Cebu Doctors University. So the Internet, making websites, that really kept me busy. And of course running. In other words if I had time for myself outside of showbiz and aside from my fmaily, it was for running.)

#flashback #Cebu Marathon 2009… My 2nd #marathon #runnergirl #runnermom #runlikeagirl #42k #run #cebumarathon #rundonnarun #throwback #justdoit

A photo posted by Donna Cruz Y. Larrazabal (@donnacruzyl) on May 22, 2015 at 3:38am PDT

Meanwhile, Donna said that she’s very flattered that a number of songs have been recorded by today’s young artists. She even heard from her cousin Sunshine Cruz about Janella Salvador’s version of “Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso.”

“Kinanta nila sa teleserye. Nakakatawa pa kasi si Sunshine yung cousin ko kasama nila. Nahirapan siya kantahin yung ‘Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso’ – ang taas pala noon. Nakakatuwa naman kasi napipili nila yung mga kanta include sa album,” she said. 

(The sang it in the teleserye. It’s funny because Sunshine, my cousin, was with them. She had a hard time singing “Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso” – because it was very high. It’s very flattering because they choose the song to be part of the album.)

#familyvacation #TheLarrazabals #2016 #royalcaribbean #quantumoftheseas

A photo posted by Donna Cruz Y. Larrazabal (@donnacruzyl) on Jan 1, 2016 at 10:18pm PST

Now that’s she’s back in the music scene, Donna thanked her fans and supporters for the warm welcome.

” Thank you. Maraming maraming salamat  sa pagkamiss nyo sa akin at hindi nyo ako nakalimutan. Sana asahan ko uli ang inyong suporta para sa darating na bagong album para meron ulit kasunod Thank and abangan n’yo po under Star Music,” she said.

(Thank you. Thank you so much for missing me and that you’ve never forgotten me. I hope to have your support for the upcoming album so there will be a nother one. Thank you and watch out for it under Star Music.) – Rappler.com