Judy Ann shares her secret to raising her kids
Aside from being an actress, Judy Ann Santos has made a name for herself as a chef.
She has successfully launched her own cooking vlog, “Judy Ann’s Kitchen.” She is also successful as a restaurateur with her business, Angrydobo.
But it was not an easy start as she also had naysayers at the time she planned to study Culinary Arts.
She reveals, “Siyempre, kapag artista ka, ‘tapos nag-culinary ka, ang unang-unang maririnig mo talaga agad, ‘Ah, kaya nag-culinary kasi may pera, artista.’”
Judy Ann is grateful to her endorsement, Maggi, for believing that she can be trusted when it comes to cooking.
She continues, “Naniwala sila doon sa pinanggalingan ko na I wanted to learn to cook because it was my passion and at the same time, I wanted to be an example to Yohan at that time na hindi ako nakapag-College but I wanted to prove to my daughter na may natapos ako na gusto kong kurso.
“Yun ang pinanghahawakang inspirasyon ng dalaga namin ngayon. She’s also doing a course, getting a course ngayon na passion din niya so I think, I took the right path in pursuing my dreams, not actually becoming a chef but being an inspiration to Yohan.”
Judy Ann shared this during the Q&A of the Nestle Trailblazers event at Blue Events Pavilion, Bonifacio Global City, on June 7, 2024.
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Judy Ann Santos as a mom, actress, and home cook
What does Judy Ann love cooking for herself and her family?
Smiling, she says, “Personal favorite ko kasi talaga, sinigang na ulo ng salmon, yung ulo talaga ng salmon, akin yun men! Di ba? Lalong kapag ganitong maulan, it is my comfort food.
“Kapag nagluluto ako, siyempre, iisipin ko, anong gusto ng mga anak ko. Pero siyempre, iisipin ko ano ba muna gusto ko and then doon magre-revolve yung magiging menu ko for the night.
“Dapat yung gusto ko muna. So, ‘pag nalulungkot ako, gusto ko maging masaya, sinigang na ulo ng salmon talaga ‘tapos meron akong patis na may sili na may kaunting calamansi ‘tapos may mainit na kanin? Excuse me po, kakain na ako!”
Despite her busy schedule as an actress and endorser, Judy Ann still manages to personally prepare meals for her family.
How does she balance all her duties?
Laughing, she answers, “I don’t know! Hahaha!”
She then explains, “Alam mo, sa totoo, kapag gusto mo kasi yung ginagawa mo, lahat ng ginagawa ko sa buhay ko ngayon, gusto ko, mahal ko. Yung passion, buong-buo binibigay ko, hindi ako nakakaramdam ng pagod.
“More so, time management, importante ang time management and yung support mo with your partner. Siyempre, sisiguraduhin mo you spend time with your kids, each one of them kasi ang mga anak namin, five years apart ang pagitan ng bawat isa sa kanila.
“So, iba-iba talaga sila ng level ng pag-iisip, iba-iba na sila ng problema sa buhay.
“So, [I] actually spend quality time. Si Ryan at saka si Lucho, nagde-date, si Ry at si Yohan, kami rin ni Yohan nagde-date kami. Those are memories na hindi mo mabibili sa Toy Kingdom na hindi mo rin mabibili sa mga apps, hindi sila online.
“It’s a memory that you create with your family na hindi mananakaw.”
As she integrates her work with her life, Judy Ann makes sure that her schedules are properly coordinated.
“Importante rin sa akin na properly scheduled ang bawat trabaho ko, meron akong at least pahinga na isang araw in between of my working days kasi kailangan kong i-reset ang sarili ko, at the same time, makapagbigay ako ng oras sa pamilya ko, mga anak ko.
“Pero I make it a point na kapag may pasok, ako yung gigising sa kanila, ako yung gagawa ng pagkain nila sa umaga, sasabayan ko sila sa almusal, ihahatid ko sila sa first days of school nila.
“I make little notes sa mga baon nila, same goes with my husband, lalagyan ko siya ng notes, little things of letting your family know that you think of them and how much you love them just makes me happy and hinahanap pala nila yung mga notes, nalulungkot sila kapag wala yung notes.
“So, nava-validate din yung puso ng pagiging nanay ko na meron naman pala yung paggising ko sa umaga, kahit dumadami na yung wrinkles ko at lumalalim na yung eyebags ko, basta para sa pamilya.
“And it’s a fun bonding activity na kailangan mong i-instill sa kanila kasi those are the things na ipa-pass din nila kapag nagkaroon na sila ng pamilya nila. Pero sana, hindi pa naman, di ba?!”
It’s okay to make mistakes
As someone who also had her humble beginnings as a chef, Judy Ann knows that it’s not an easy path to take.
That’s why whenever she’s asked to give a tip to aspiring chefs and cooks, she always stands by this belief: “Basta luto lang. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”
In fact, it is the reason why in “Judy Ann’s Kitchen,” she does not start over or cut the scenes where she makes mistakes.
She explains, “Okay lang magkamali kasi nakakain mo naman, e. Basta edible, kainin mo kasi doon ka matututo.
“When I did ‘Judy Ann’s Kitchen,’ in my mind, I want to inspire people na okay lang magkamali kasi nangyayari naman siya talaga—may nasusunog, nakakalimutan mong hindi pala bukas yung apoy ng kalan mo, na hindi na pala kumukulo yung baboy mo; nangyayari siya and it’s okay.
“It’s okay to make mistakes because matututo tayo diyan and before you knew it, nag-e-evolve ka na, nagta-try up ka na ng mas kumplikado pang recipes and decisions and hindi mo malalaman kung sino pa yung mga taong nai-inspire mo at kung sino pa yung mga taong napapasaya mo kasi ikaw yung nagluto.
“At saka skill siya, skill ang magkaroon ng kaalaman sa pagluluto at kahit magluto ka ng itlog, skill yun, e. Kasi yung iba nga, nakakasunog ng tubig, e. Tubig na lang yun, nasusunog pa.
“So, meron talaga na chance na maraming pagkakamali but it’s totally fine kasi we all learn from our mistakes.”
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