MANILA, Philippines- Young superstar Judy Ann Santos said she shares the "Queen of All Teleserye" tag with her colleague Claudine Barretto, who is now a contract star of a rival network.

Santos, the face of the ABS-CBN’s 60th Year of Pinoy Soap Opera, believes that the "teleserye queen" tag also belongs to Barretto, who made various television series for the Kapamilya network.

The young superstar believes that she is able to stay in the industry for a long time because she had a healthy competition with Barretto.

"Ako I believe na if it weren't from Claudine na magkasabay kaming gumagawa din ng teleserye....Dalawa kami, I believe, dalawa kami [Queens of All Teleserye]. Nagkataon lang na umibang bakod siya. Kaya naman dumarami ang projects ko kasi madami din siyang ginagawang project. So always 'yan, kung napapansin niyo, it's always Claudine and Judai na magkadugtong ng timeslot. Thank you ABS-CBN, nakilala ako dahil nandiyan si Claudine at mayroon kaming healthy competition," Santos said during the press conference of her upcoming series "Habang May Buhay."

In the interview, Santos also defended Barretto on her decision to move to GMA. Santos said that she fully understood the reason why Barretto decided to leave.

Santos said that it is the right of every star to go to a network or management that would give them projects so they could earn and save money for their future, especially for their family.

"Huwag na sanang magsabi ng kung ano pa man kasi hindi naman nila alam kung ano ang pinagdaanan ng taong lumipat. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang pinagdaanan niyo, so intindihin na lang natin. Wala tayong puwedeng gawing kung hindi ang umintindi at mag-wish na sana it's for all the best," she said.

Santos believes that she and Barretto can still do a project together even though they do not belong to the same network.

The actress hopes that she could still do a movie project with Barretto under a different movie outfit like Viva Films or Regal Films.

"Ako sana ay hoping pa din ako na sana ay matuloy 'yon," Santos said.

Unknown to the public, Santos said that she and Barretto are actually friends.

"Kapag nagkikita kami nag-uusap kami, malaki din ang utang na loob ko sa kanya pagdating sa anak ko (Yohan). So, looking forward ako to work with Claudine," Santos said.

Film with Sarah

In the interview, Santos also bared her excitement as she is set to shoot her first movie with Pop Star Princess and Box Office Queen Sarah Geronimo.

"Exciting na mayroon akong ibang makakasama na bagets. Friends naman kami ni Sarah pero mahiyain kasi yong bata, sobrang mahiyain. I'm sure may panganganay na magaganap pero maganda 'yan I'm sure maayos 'yan," Santos said.

Report said that Santos and Geronimo will have their first shooting day on Tuesday, January 12.

It also said that Santos' and the singer's project, with a working title "Hating Magkapatid," will be concluded as early as possible since Geronimo is set to do shows abroad, and Santos will be having a 1-month break with her husband actor-host Ryan Agoncillo.

Aside from the movie with Geronimo, reports also said that the children of the late former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino want Santos to play the life of their mom for an upcoming biopic.

Currently, Santos is finishing the last remaining scenes of her series "Habang May Buhay" with Derek Ramsay as her leading man.