Barbie Almalbis On How Is It To Be The Daughter In Law Of Sen. Gringo

BARBIE ALMALBIS started as a member of such bands as Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle, churning out such hits as “Torpe”, “Firewoman”, “Tabing Ilog”, “Langit na Naman” and “Independence Day”. She went solo in 2006 with the album “Parade” and won the PARI Award for best female performance that year and Favorite Female Artist in Meg’s Teen Choice Awards.

She also became in demand as a jingle writer-singer, like in Nescafe ‘Good Day’ campaign, “Just a Smile” for Close Up and “You’re My Number One” for Nido. She had a successful live solo concert at the Big Dome in 2007. She then married Martin Honasan, the second of the four children of Sen. Gringo Honasan, and they now have two kids, Christina, 7 years old, and Liam, 4, who appear with her and Sharon Cuneta in the latest Nido TV ad.

How is she as a mom? “Martin and I are both hands on parents kasi we both work at home. Martin is a painter, with acrylic and water color as his medium. Ako naman, I record my own songs at home, while the kids are in school. Pag-uwi nila, back to mommy duties ako.”

How is Sen. Gringo as a grandpa? “Oh, he’s a doting Lolo to his apos. Aside from our kids, he has three other apos. We live near their place in Marikina at busy talaga siya sa pag-aasikaso sa kanyang mga apo.”

At 37, Barbie, the alternative rock icon, still looks like a “dalaga”. She now releases her new album recorded at her own home, “My New Heart”, produced by 12 Stone Records and distributed by Universal Records but now also available for downloading through iTunes and Spotify. It has eight cuts and two singles are now playing on radio: “Say Goodbye” and “Run for Cover”. The other tracks are “Secrets”, “Joyful Joyful” (the only revival as all the other songs are originals), “Emmanuel”, “We are Slaves”, “On This Train, “Ostrich Cowboy” and the title track, “My New Heart”. She considers it her most personal and most adventurous album yet, so get a copy now.