SA lahat ng miyembro ng pamilya Barretto ay si Claudia Barretto, 20, lang ang wala sa planong pasukin ang pag-arte sa harap ng kamera dahil mas gusto niyang maging singer.

“I think I just grew up to just love music like ever since I looked up to singers and I’ve enjoyed this kind of music. It was just natural for me but it tool a while for me to be confident enough to perform with anybody because I was very shy. So, I’m working really hard to be better to all of this,” aniya.

Hindi kaya ang dahilan kaya ayaw ni Claudia ang showbiz ay dahil sa mga intriga na minsan ay below the belt pa.

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“No naman! You know, staying away from acting wasn’t a conscious decision. I wasn’t like na ‘I don’t wanna act’ it was never like that! It was always just because I’ve always love singing, I like writing songs, I like writing down my feelings and being expressive. It’s just a natural path for me all organic. It wasn’t because I want to avoid anything when it comes to showbiz, yeah it’s really my dream to be a singer,” paliwanag ng dalaga.

Pero hindi naman isinasarado ni Claudia ang pinto na posibleng isang araw ay pasukin din niya ang showbiz.

“I’d never say never, I’m open to all possibilities it’s just that as of right now my biggest passion is music and I’d like to do my best at that,” saad ng kapatid ni Julia Barretto.

Anyway, regular student ngayon si Claudia sa isang unibersidad at AB Psychology ang kursong kinukuha niya dahil gusto niyang makatulong sa mga taong nakikipaglaban sa mental health issues at sa katunayan ay may online campaign siya para rito.

“It’s called Mind Games and people can follow me on social media, called Mind Games Claudia.

“Mind Games is a mental health awareness campaign. It’s online. It’s gonna be promoted through the use of art, specifically, music. So, we’ve been working on content that will bring together and marry the two, music and bringing awareness on mental health,” kuwento ng dalaga ni Marjorie Barretto.

Bakit nga ba ito ang pinili ng baguhang singer, “I’m just really passionate about mental health. I want to be a voice to the people who are going through their own personal mental battles. So, I just want to raise awareness on that so that I can reach out to these people.”

Hindi naman itinanggi ng dalaga na may experience siya kaya interesado siya sa mga may mental health illness.

“I’ve had my own experiences. People will hear more about it when we release more content. First and foremost, I think, what’s really important is to build a community because, I think, when you are around the people who support you and understand what you’re going through, it’s very helpful in managing to whatever you’re going through.

“So that’s why I decided to put together a community, hopefully, of artists that share the same passion of raising awareness about mental health.

“Well, it really takes sacrifice. There are things that I have to sacrifice. There are weekends I can’t go see my friends. But it’s all about balance. I try my best to be really organized and manage my time well. I’m committing myself so many things. I’m a student at first. Singer second and recently I just launched a mental health.”

Alam daw ng pamilya ni Claudia ang pinagdaanan niya.

“Of course, they’re very involved. They’re very supportive. They just listen to me. They’re just there for me. But, more than anything, because I’m putting something like this, it’s only starting to be talked about here in the country, my family has been very supportive. And they’re willing to do anything that it takes to the project.”

Nahirapan ba siyang maka-recover?

“You know, everyone, mental health is a very personal experience. Everyone goes through it differently. It’s just a different experience for everyone.

“So, what I’m actually doing is not just, you know, much broader than just the disorder and the illnesses that come along with it.

“The mental health that I actually am launching reaches further than that. We’re hoping to target not only people with mental illnesses, but even people who just want to be a part of it.

“Everyone has a mental health. We all want to be mentally well. We all want to achieve well-being in that area.

“So, it’s for everyone. It’s really is. It’s really about bring together a community of artists, because I want to utilize the art in promoting the cause.”

Kumunsulta na rin daw si Julia sa espesyalista .

“Yes, I think, if you are at that point in your life, you shouldn’t be ashamed of seeking help. It’s really, really important,” saad niya.

At dahil mental health issue ang pinag-uusapan ay natanong ang dalaga tungkol sa kanyang tita Claudine Barretto na dumaan din sa ganitong pagsubok pero hindi niya ito sinagot, bagkus ay tumingin siya sa kanyang handler (Cornerstone).

Ang nasabing handler na ang nakiusap sa mga nag-i-interbyu kay Claudia na mag-concentrate na lang muna sa music niya ang pag-usapan.

Pero magalang na sinagot ng dalaga pa rin ang tanong, “If she opens up, of course, but I don’t know about that, actually. Well, I don’t really know much about her condition. So I don’t really have a comment on that.”

‘Yan naman ang maganda sa mga anak ni Marjorie na kahit ayaw nilang sagutin ang tanong ay nice pa rin sila sa reporters.

At dahil singer si Claudia kaya kabilang siya sa kinuha ng 6SK para sa unang Las Islas Musik Festival na gaganapin sa Bacolod Panaad Stadium (October 25); Iloilo Barotac Nuevo Plaza (October 26) at sa Aklan Sports Complex (October 27).

Kasama rin ang ibang performers na sina Daryl Ong, Ken San Jose, Jade Riccio, 1NEBAZE (Haidez, Sor, Joong and Baby G) at Bugoy Drillon.

Layunin ng Las Islas Musik Festival na i-promote ang Original Pilipino Music o OPM sa buong Pilipinas.

Sabi nga ng Singaporean producer na si Sora Ng, “The goal is I want to promote OPM music in Philippine provinces and get in touch with the people in the province. I think very limited ‘yung concerts sa provinces compared dito sa Manila. Best way to connect as well.”