CANADA – Filipino singer Joey Albert now has another passion aside from singing—teaching and nurturing children.

Albert said it has been her dream to start a Catholic pre-school day care in Canada for years.

To fulfill that dream, Albert had to get her degree in early childhood education first.

“Going back to school was the best thing that I've ever done and I recommend it sa lahat ng ibang singers, sa lahat ng ibang artists,” Albert said

The market for Catholic day care centers in Canada is small. Albert said she feels that someone has to serve that minority.

“It's just teaching them to pray before eating, praying before sleeping, getting them familiar with the Catholic environment,” explained Albert.

Albert and her family moved to Canada in the 1990s. She and her husband had the children in mind when they decided to migrate.

“Dito, you can see medyo conservative pa sila. Courteous pa ang upbringing sa mga bata. Hindi pa masyado ang consumerism at materialism dito. Very strong pa ang family values nila dito,” she said

Albert, a cancer survivor, has also been faced with mortality since the death of her dad and sister from the illness. She now wants to leave a lasting legacy through her songs and charity works.

“I want to touch people's lives in the best way possible,” she said.

Albert recorded several hit songs in the Philippines including “Tell Me”, “I Remember the Boy” and “Iisa Pa Lamang”. Balitang America