Nikki Valdez back in showbiz

CEBU, Philippines - Even if she was far away in Toronto, Canada for the past two years, Star Cinema didn't forget actress-singer Nikki Valdez and the film arm of ABS-CBN paved the way for her comeback via the Vilma Santos' starrer "In My Life". It was her dream to finally settle down and build her own family, yet the yearning to act again led her back to the big screen, proving to herself that once an actress, always an actress.

And what a comeback,  to star alongside  Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, her son Luis Manzano and Box Office King John Lloyd Cruz, plus being able to shoot in New York. Here, she plays the wife to the character of Rafael Rosell, who together with Vice Ganda, helps Vilma's character around New York.

"Hopefully, I'll be here for a while because I really miss my job. Napaka-blessed ko nga kasi sa panahon ngayon na maraming walang trabaho, and I was so far away, yet naalala pa ako ng Star Cinema. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako to have a job right away. It's a good comeback to be with seasoned actors," says Nikki, who even in her late 20's, can still pass up as a teenager. "I want to be able to show my craft kasi biglang naputol eh nung nagpakasal ako. Hindi ko sinasabing nagsisisi ako na umalis ako because when I left, naka-set na yung mind ko that this will be my life for now. But I guess when you're in it, you're in it."

She got married in Manila last July 2007 and left the country on the same month to live in Toronto with her Fil-Canadian husband, Chris Lina. Since then, she became a full-time housewife and mom because they were right away blessed with a daughter, named Olivia.

Before tying the knot, Nikki recorded an album and appeared in a few movies such as "Got To Believe", "Now That I Have You" and "Ang Tanging Ina". Her last show before leaving the Philippines was the primetime series "Walang Kapalit" with Claudine Barreto and Piolo Pascual.

Her first few months in Toronto was filled with adjustments. "Mahirap talaga because I was used to staying up late for tapings so when I got to Toronto biglang boom!, when I woke up, suddenly I had nowhere to go, just in my house. But it was really want I wanted, to have kids, have my own family."

She arrived here last July with her baby, while her husband, a sales manager for high-end car dealership, remains in Toronto. "I wouldn't leave my daughter with anyone else. My husband works from Monday to Saturday in Toronto so he wouldn't be able to take care of her. Nandito yung family ko sa Pilipinas so I feel secure na may nag-aalaga sa kanya while I'm at work," she says.

Nikki admits it was a very long discussion with Chris when she decided to come back and reprise her showbiz career. "Syempre iba yung magkakasama kami sa isang lugar but I had to assure him that everything will be okay and we communicate naman all the time so he knows how our daughter is doing."

In her recent Cebu visit, she got emotional when asked what lessons she took away in doing "In My Life".

"More than my character, I can say I learned much from their characters, mostly kay Ate Vi. Having stayed in North America for two years, alam ko na hindi biro mabuhay sa ibang bansa ang mga Pilipino. Akala nila it's really easy to earn money but yung iba, nagdo-double jobs, yun yung naging roles namin sa movie. Totoo palang nangyayari yun. It's greener pastures but katapat nun eh, kung hindi doble, tripleng trabaho, para mabuhay talaga at matulungan ang pamilya nila. Plus, it's sad to be away from your family."

At this point, her voice began to crack and she was misty-eyed.

"Kasi sa movie naka-relate ako. Kasi nagsa-Skype sila di ba. Yun lang yung parang bumuhay sa akin, to be able to connect with friends, and most especially my family, because that was the first time that I was ever away from my family."

Nikki has no reason to be sad now though because she is back, albeit temporarily, and projects won't be hard to find for a natural talent like her. No details were divulged but Nikki also revealed that she is set to take part in a new TV show.