Kapamilya actress Janella Salvador as she renews her contract with ABS-CBN on February, 2024. Camille Naredo, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA -- Though she has already established her name in the industry, Kapamilya star Janella Salvador knows she has so much more to offer.

And after signing a contract extension with ABS-CBN on Friday, February 23, Salvador is determined to further showcase her talents and develop as an artist and a performer.

READ: Janella Salvador renews contract with ABS-CBN

"I feel like I lack the urge to improve myself. For a very long time, feeling ko na-stuck ako sa potential," Salvador told MJ Felipe of ABS-CBN News on "On Cue," shortly after signing an exclusive contract with the Kapamilya network.

"Kaya kong gawin 'to, kaya kong gawin 'to. But I never really thought of really like, mastering it, going for it, improving myself constantly," she admitted. "I think that's a personal goal for me. I wanna brush up on the things that I can do."

"I wanna be able to write a song, 'cause I know I can do these things. I don't wanna be stuck on potential. 'Yun ang personal goals ko."

By her own admission, Salvador had felt somewhat impatient about how 2023 played out for her. She was not idle -- she filmed the movie "Under Parallel Skies" with Thai star Win Metawin, and appeared in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry "Mallari" with Piolo Pascual, for which she garnered a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

However, Salvador revealed that there was so much more she wanted to do last year -- including releasing new music, holding a concert and appearing in a sapphic film with "Darna" co-star Jane de Leon. Those projects had to be put on hold, however, for various reasons.

"Laging hindi natutuloy ang mga projects. But I understood naman why, there's a reason naman. But I was just getting so impatient, and I wanted to do something," she told Felipe.

This is why in 2024, Salvador is determined to push through with those projects. Already, she has lined up a concert for April and is filming a movie with de Leon, titled "How To Be A Good Wife."

"It's gonna be super exciting for me. Lahat ng hindi natuloy noong 2023, itutuloy ko ngayong 2024, and I won't allow na hindi siya matuloy," Salvador vowed.

-- Pushing for a sapphic project --

She is especially excited for "How To Be A Good Wife," which reunites her with de Leon as well as director Jun Robles Lana, whom she worked with in her very first movie in 2015, "Haunted Mansion."

"It's nice to be working with him again, and this time, on a dark comedy thriller kind of genre," Salvador said.

Salvador said she is well aware that there is still a demand for her and de Leon to appear in a "girls' love" or GL project, after their unexpected chemistry in "Darna" created plenty of new fans. The actress said she herself is still hoping that their long-awaited GL will push through at some point.

READ: Jane de Leon, Janella Salvador to reunite in new film

READ: 'Why not?' Jane de Leon, Janella Salvador welcome possible 'GL' project

"Pati ako nagre-request. Wala pa rin," said Salvador, who added that she and de Leon were supposed to work on a GL in 2023. "There were a little bumps along the way … But in the end, we both said yes na, pero hindi siya nag-move past that. I don't know. Siguro hindi lang pa siya natutuloy, so na-sad ako."

"Pero na-happy ako noong in-offer itong 'How to Be A Good Wife' after. Pero of course, I'm aware that everyone's waiting for the GL. Trust me, we're both waiting," she added.

It gives Salvador great pride to see other actresses express their willingness to do sapphic projects. Recently, "Senior High" stars Xyriel Manabat and Andrea Brillantes said they are open to working on a GL together; Sigrid Andrea Bernardo -- who directed "Under Parallel Skies" -- has pitched a GL project for Nadine Lustre and Kathryn Bernardo.

READ: Xyriel Manabat, Andrea Brillantes open to work in girls' love series together

The demand for GLs from local audiences appears to be on the rise, too. In the 2023 Cinemalaya, Samantha Lee's sapphic volleyball movie "Rookie" won the Audience Award, and its star, first time actress Pat Tingjuy, won Best Actress honors.

READ: Sapphic romcom 'Rookie' brings the kilig

READ: Why audience award 'matters most' for 'Rookie' director Samantha Lee

"Nakaka-proud siguro na siguro some people were brave enough, hopefully, because we were also brave enough, and I like how people are more confident now in expressing na they want to do a GL," said Salvador in a separate interview.

Asked if she will consider doing a GL with some of the other actresses who are open to such a project, Salvador said: "Yeah. Why not? I really wanna experience making one din. So I'm down."

 -- Renewed focus on music --

Kapamilya singer-actress Janella Salvador. IG/superjanella

But if there's one aspect of her career that Salvador is determined to elevate in 2024, it's her music.

"I want to make it a point that my music doesn't disappear, 'cause it's really a part of me. It's actually where I started," she told Felipe. "Before I even fell in love with acting, music talaga 'yung No. 1 ko. I've been singing since I was three, so hindi pwedeng mawala sa akin 'yun."

Salvador has released multiple teasers on social media of her in the recording studio, and she plans to drop new music before her concert that is scheduled in April. She also told ABS-CBN News that she is open to collaborating with other artists.

"I actually messaged [R&B artist] Denise Julia. I told her I would love to collaborate with her," said Salvador. "I'd love to collaborate with others… BINI is really doing well right now. I think they're great. I feel like they have so much more potential. And I would love to collaborate with them, yeah."

BINI, the P-pop act known as the Nation's Girl Group, is excited about the possibility. BINI Stacey said that she is "super excited" if a collaboration with Salvador happens. "Pinapanood ko na si Miss Janella [sa] 'Be Careful With My Heart' pa lang," she said.

READ: BINI to release first EP

Interestingly, Salvador's 2020 single "Blanko" and some of BINI's songs -- namely "Na Na Na," "Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi" and "Karera" -- were all written by Nica del Rosario, who is also excited for a potential collaboration. "[It's] always an honor to write for talented artists, what more pa talented artists who are collaborating," she said in a message to ABS-CBN News.

In the meantime, Salvador will be busy in the upcoming months as she is set to resume shooting "How To Be A Good Wife" while also promoting "Under Parallel Skies." But she is keeping in mind the promise she made to herself and to ABS-CBN executives when she signed her new contract with the company.

"I believe that as artists, we go at our own pace… As for mine, I know that there's so much more that I want to accomplish. My work is not yet done, it's far from over, and I know deep down that my story hasn't even reached its best part yet," she said.

"I will always, always be proud to call myself a solid Kapamilya. 'Cause you guys don't just breed celebrities, you breed artists. You make us want to strive harder and be actors, actresses, performers, and because of that I'm so proud to be a part of this company. You make us somehow want to dream bigger," she added.

"I realize that there is so much more of me that you need to get to know, and the same goes for me with you. And as I sign this contract, I am making it my goal -- for us to get to know each other better, and to grow together."

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