Renowned '80s singer Joey Albert will finally realize her dream of opening her own daycare center in Vancouver, Canada, on Feb. 1, 2010.

“I’ve always liked teaching and it’s always good to have other passions,” she said in an interview aired on “Umagang Kay Ganda,” Jan. 6.

However, Joey emphasizes that she will be the school’s director, and not one of its teachers.

Asked why she opts to be based in Canada despite having steady offers to record and hold concerts in the Philippines, Joey said “it’s because I like having the best of both worlds.”

“Canada is really a good place to live in and to enjoy a marriage. Anyway, I can still touch people with my music [from time to time when I visit Manila],” she said.

Fans of Joey will rejoice anew now that the singer is set to release her latest album titled “Songs From The Heart” featuring rehashes of new songs.

“I’m doing it the other way around,” she said. “I know that the norm is for new singers to sing old songs but this time, I’d like to give something back to the young ones who have kept the songs of my generation alive.”

She singled out pop/rock band Side A which remade her song, “Tell Me,” to great success a few years back.

“I think it’s time for me to return the favor,” said she.

Other tracks in “Songs From The Heart” are “Kung Ako Na Lang Sana” (a Bituin Escalante-original), “I Believe In Dreams” (Janno Gibbs), and the carrier single, “Rainbow” (Southborder).

Some of Joey’s hit songs that have been remade by other artists are “It’s Over Now” (refurbished by Kyla), “Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin” (Martin Nievera), “A Million Miles Away” (Jolina Magdangal), “Yakapin Mo Ako” (Manilyn Reynes), and “Without You” (Piolo Pascual).

Despite being semi-retired, Joey, who is also a cancer survivor, lends her voice to worthwhile causes.

According to Wikipedia, her advocacy include raising funds to provide decent housing for underprivileged communities in the Philippines through Gawad Kalinga, women and children’s rights, and cancer research.