Star Diva Carol Banawa is back. 

She is the voice in the theme song of the family-oriented movie Tanging Yaman. She lulled hopelessly romantic listeners with Stay, which she composed, among other ballads rendered in a clear angelic voice that the local music industry knew to be pure talent.

Some of her popular songs include Iingatan Ka (composed by Marizen Yaneza), Muntik na Kitang Minahal (by Babsie Molina), Sana ay Ikaw na Nga, and her rendition of Ocean Deep and Get Here.

For her very first album Carol garnered a Gold. Her three succeeding albums—Carol Repackaged, Transition, and Follow your Heart—are all Platinum holders.

Now the Star Diva—as she was called in her heyday—is back, if only for a limited time.

Last Friday, September 24, at the 14^th Floor of the ELJ Bldg in the ABS-CBN complex in Quezon City, she signed a contract with Star Records. (CLICK HERE to watch Carol singing a portion of the song Stay)

Present were Malou Santos, ABS-CBN Senior Vice President and Head of Star Cinema and Star Records; Annabelle Regalado Borja, Vice President and Managing Director of Star Records; and Biboy Arboleda, Carol's manager.

Carol is set to record an album of songs that "would somehow connect to (her) experiences," as she puts it, two of which are original songs.

Her career was at its peak in the early years of this decade. But she left the music scene in 2003 to accompany her father, formerly an engineer in Saudi Arabia, for his medical treatment.

Tragically, he met an accident while on vacation here in the Philippines and suffered disabling injuries. Her elder and only brother died in that accident.  

She returned to the country for a two-month visit with her ailing father, and thought of doing an album during her stay here.

"Tinawagan ko lang si Ate Annabelle [Regalado], ako yung nag-suggest. Na-miss ko kasi na kumanta, mag-record, ganyan.

"Yung reason kasi ng pag-uwi ko, nag-visit ako, yung papa ko kasi nandito pa din sila ng mama ko, and you know he is not really well. Matagal din siyang may sakit.

"So gusto ko ma-meet niya yung apo niya. Yung anak ko, hindi pa kasi niya name-meet. Si mama kasi, you know, she's flying back and forth.

"Kaya gusto kong iuwi para ma-meet niya, tapos nung nandito na ako, naisip ko, kasi puwede naman ako mag-stay ng one or two months, bakit hindi gumawa ng album para makapagsaya. Tinawagan ko si Ate Annabelle, natuwa naman sila sa idea."