WATCH: Cindy Kurleto reacts to being called ‘Cindy Cornetto’

MANILA, Philippines — Summer and the comeback of a Filipina actress from the ‘90s, Cindy Kurleto, reminds Filipinos of only one thing: ice cream!

In a recent interview with Philstar.com, Cindy expressed what she feels about the Filipino joke “Cindy Cornetto,” a mash-up of her name with an ice cream brand.

“You know what, there are worse things than an ice cream. I mean, masarap naman ang Cornetto, ‘di ba?” she enthused.

The joke is nothing new for her.

“Of course! I don’t mind it at all. I think, as long as things are positive, and I think an ice cream is pretty positive, I’m okay with it,” she beamed.

Cindy was in the country as the new ambassador of beauty brand Myra Ultimate.

“Coming home to the Philippines pulls at our heartstrings,” the Filipino-Austrian beauty said of her and her fellow half-Filipinos who have always been longing to come home to the Philippines.

She said she has been absent in showbiz since she has been putting her family first.

“I left showbiz in 2007 in December because I fell in love and I fell in love here in the Philippines. He used to live here, he used to work here, and he was offered a different position in South America. So, I was born in Europe, and I lived 10 years in Asia, and then I was offered to go and explore South America. I cannot say ‘no’ to that. I have a very strong sense of adventure and I love new experiences,” she shared.

“So, if you ask me if I had a hard time leaving, yes. I do feel at home here and of course, it was so hard to leave. At the same time, I was so eager to experience new things and I did. I was there for nine years. I gave birth to my first daughter there. I started my new family there.”

Cindy was in Manila only for a vacation and an endorsement, but she is also considering bringing her family here.

“If I can bring my kids here and if I can see a really good future for them here, safety, education, if I can look after them the same way I can look after them in Vienna, of course.”

She is also considering a showbiz comeback to set an example for her daughters that women can strike a balance between family and career.

“I also believe that if they see their mom only at home then they would think they can only be either or, but we believe it’s not true. With good planning and good organization, you can actually have both. I want to show them and empower them to make decisions like that.”

Born Cynthia Kristina Kurleto, Cindy was a former MTV video jockey and host of noontime show “Eat Bulaga!” and Sunday variety show “ASAP.”

She also starred opposite Vic Sotto in the sitcom “Daddy Di Do Du.” Among her most popular roles is as the fairy Cassiopea in the GMA fantasy series, “Encantadia” and “Etheria.”  — Video by Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo, editing by Kat Leandicho