LUMAGDA ng panibagong 5-year contract ang singer-actress na si Crsitine Reyes (34) sa Viva Artists Agency, her talent management company for the last 15 years.

“Forever ang contract ko sa Viva,” biro niya sa harap ng ilang entertainment media sa board room ng Viva Communications, Inc. last Friday afternoon in the presence of VAA’s president na si Veronique del Rosario-Corpus, daughter ng Viva’s top honcho na si Boss Vic del Rosario.

Cristine was teary-eyed sa kanyang muling pagpirma ng kontratasa Viva.

“I’m so blessed dahil after 15 years ay nariyan pa rin ang tiwala at suporta sa akin ng Viva kahit anuman ang mga pinagdaanan ko in the past,” aniya.

When asked kung willing pa rin siyang bumalik sa kanyang original home studio, ang GMA, sinabi ni Cristine na she will always be grateful to the Kapuso Network dahil ito umano ang nagbigay sa kanya ng break sa showbiz. Naging bahagi rin ng kanyang karera ang ABS-CBN where she stayed for 12 years hanggang mawalan ito ng prangkisa nung May 2020.

“GMA, ABS-CBN, ang Viva at mga supporters, lahat sila ay bahagi ng aking career at pagkatao because they honed me into the person that I am today,” pag-amin niya.

Along the way, marami ring bumpy roads ang pinagdaanan ni Cristine hindi lamang sa kanyang karera kundi maging sa kanyang personal na buhay.

“At hindi sila bumitaw sa akin,” aniya.

Si Cristine ay produkto ng talent reality search ng GMA, ang Starstruck Season 1 kung niya nakapanabayan sina Jennylyn Mercado at Mark Herras na siyang tinanghal na Ultimate Survivors nung February 1, 2004.

Although isa lamang sa finalists si Cristine, she was signed up for talent management ng GMA Artists Center and started doing bit and support roles tulad ng “Mulawin” in 2004, “Darna” in 2005, “Marimar” in 2007 at iba.

But in 2008, she moved to ABS-CBN where she was given her launching project, ang “Eva Fonda” in 2008, “Tubig at Langis” at marami pang iba. This is where she was able to develop herself doing mature roles.

In 2011, she co-starred with co-Viva star na si Anne Curtis in the movie “No Other Woman” with Derek Ramsay. Said movie was the highest-grossing film that year.

Nang mawalan ng prangkisa ang ABS-CBN, she did a project with GMA, her first time since she left her original home studio to move to the Kapamilya network.

Since nasa pangangalaga siya ng Viva, she can work with any TV network including TV5.

Last year, Cristine played the role of Sen. Imee Marcos in the top-grossing film (the biggest since the pandemic) “Maid in Malacanang” mula sa panulat at direksyon ni Daryl Yap and produced by Viva Films. She is reprising her role as Sen. Imee in the sequel movie “Martyr or Murderer” which will hit the big screen on March 1, 2023.

“It was a different experience playing the role of Sen. Imee,” aniya.

“Ang mapasama sa proyekto and play an important role ay napakalaking bagay nasa akin,” dugtong pa niya.

Ngayong naghihintay na lamang ng playdate ng “Martyr or Murderer,” may mga proyekto nang nakalatag para sa singer-actress at kasama na rito ang isang comedy project which she actually requested.

“Para maiba naman,” aniya.

Inamin din ng nakababatang kapatid ni Ara Mina na malaki na umano ang kanyang ipinagbago as a person laluna nang siya’y maging ganap na ina sa kanyang unica hija na si Amarah Khatibi (8).

She gave birth to Amarah nung February 8, 2015, got engaged to mixed martial arts artist na si Ali Khatibi nung September 14, 2015 and married on January 27, 2016 sa Balesin Island, Polilio, Quezon. But in 2019 both confirmed their separation.

“Lahat ng mga pinagdaanan ko including my failed marriage ay nakatulong na mag-mature at maging stronger person,” pahayag niya.

“I am what I am today dahil sa lessons na natutunan ko in life,” aniya.

Isa sa mga hinahangaan niyang actress na gusto niyang makatrabaho ay ang Star for All Seaosns at dating politician na si Vilma Santos.

“Gusto ko rin siyempre makatrabaho si John Lloyd (Cruz),” pahabol pa niya.

“Marami ps akong gusting makatrabaho,” dugtong pa niya.