By Bernie Franco
The drama princess discovers her passion for food and cooking.
Taken from Starstudio magazine: Judy Ann Santos special issueHer interest in cooking was born at the same time that she started acting. Early in her showbiz career, she would often hitch a ride with the catering service bound for wherever they were shooting. "Wala akong sasakyan at sumasabay ako sa catering. Nagigising ako sa amoy ng ginigisang gulay at sa tunog ng mga kutsilyo hanggang sa nagkaroon na ako ng urge na tumulong," she shares.
In between takes, she would help the cooks with their work. "Ako yung naglalagay ng rekado at eight years old, ah!" she relates. "Hanggang sa natututo na ako. Nakikihalo na rin ako, tumutulong. Iba ang nararamdaman kong sense of achievement." Slowly--and despite her young age--Judai was seriously developing her interest in cooking that, years later, would turn into a full-blown passion.
It also runs in the blood. Her parents know how to cook. "Si Daddy, marunong magluto kasi Kapampangan siya. Ang mommy, magaling talagang magluto," she reveals.
Her helper and relative, Ate Binay--a good cook herself--has been a very big influence on her too. Judai saw how Ate Binay managed the kitchen. "Sumasama ako sa kanya sa palengke. Kaya hanggang ngayon, nare-relax ako kapag nasa palengke ako," she says. "Kasi bumabalik ako sa pagkabata."
As her showbiz career took shape, so did her love for cooking. It was therapy for her, a relief from the pressures of showbiz work. "Napansin ko sa sarili ko na kapag nagluluto ako, wala akong ibang iniisip. Hindi ako nasi-stress," the actress enthuses. "Pag humawak na ako ng kutsilyo at humarap sa kalan, wala nang puwedeng umistorbo sa akin."
Even when the demands of work have doubled, Judai never lost her zeal for cooking. "I would always find time. Kahit madaling-araw pa 'yan, magluluto ako. Kakailanganin kong magluto talaga," she emphasizes.
It was also in cooking that Judai found comfort in times of trouble. As a result, "Mas lalo akong na-in-love sa pagluluto 'nung time na nagkaka-problema ako."
Judai has friends in the industry who helped fuel this passion. "Kay Mother Biboy Arboleda (StarStudio Philippines Editor-in-Chief) ako tumatakbo pag may problema ako." Judai goes to Biboy's house where he prepares "comfort food" for her. "Ipagluluto lang niya ako ng pasta. Kinabukasan, lulutuin ko na yun."
Mylene Dizon introduced her to herbal ingredients for healthy eating. Maricel Soriano taught her
a secret recipe for roast chicken. "Na-introduce ako sa malaking mundo ng pagluluto dahil sa kanila," she exclaims.
Judai's specialty is Japanese fried rice. It served to introduce her passion to her colleagues in ABS-CBN. "Nilako siya. Nagkaroon na ako ng buffet nito para sa ibang tao," she jokes. Among them were Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino and Star Cinema Managing Director Malou N. Santos. "Pagkatapos n'on, nagkaroon na ng request for me to cook Japanese fried rice, kaya tuwang-tuwa ako. It's another part of me which I could share with people." Some friends even request her to cook it for them when they're sick.
Judai's cooking charms work even on her fiance, actor Ryan Agoncillo. In their case, the cliché holds true: the way to a man's heart is his stomach. "Nagkaroon kami ng sukiyaki tapa with fried rice at nag-come up ako ng sarili kong recipe ng salpicao na nagustuhan niya. Puwede na nga akong mag-come up ng sarili kong cookbook dahil sa kakaluto ko."
And like the way she excels in acting, Judai has never settled for mediocrity in her cooking. She is now on her second course at the Center for Culinary Asian Studies. "I'm taking up Asian Cooking. Ito yung Asian introduction to everything: Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese. 'Yung puspusang pag-aaral talaga on how they do it sa country nila."
Her first few attempts at cooking did not always turn out perfectly, but she struggled-- and is still struggling-- to excel. Learning how to cook is a process. "Of course, may mga palpak pa rin. hindi naman porke't nag-culinary ka, perfect na lahat. Ang dami kong moments na hindi ko puwedeng ma-satisfy sa ginagawa ko kasi ako, bini-beat ko pa rin ang sariling time ko, eh," she explains. "Gagawin ko yung best ko na ma-beat yung nauna kong record time."
Judai intends to go abroad to further her culinary studies so she become a full-fledged chef. "Ito lang ang matatapos kong kurso if ever. Not everybody has a passion for cooking. Pero ako, ito naman talaga ang passion ko, eh. Many people want to cook but not everybody has the talent."
In between takes, she would help the cooks with their work. "Ako yung naglalagay ng rekado at eight years old, ah!" she relates. "Hanggang sa natututo na ako. Nakikihalo na rin ako, tumutulong. Iba ang nararamdaman kong sense of achievement." Slowly--and despite her young age--Judai was seriously developing her interest in cooking that, years later, would turn into a full-blown passion.
It also runs in the blood. Her parents know how to cook. "Si Daddy, marunong magluto kasi Kapampangan siya. Ang mommy, magaling talagang magluto," she reveals.
Her helper and relative, Ate Binay--a good cook herself--has been a very big influence on her too. Judai saw how Ate Binay managed the kitchen. "Sumasama ako sa kanya sa palengke. Kaya hanggang ngayon, nare-relax ako kapag nasa palengke ako," she says. "Kasi bumabalik ako sa pagkabata."
As her showbiz career took shape, so did her love for cooking. It was therapy for her, a relief from the pressures of showbiz work. "Napansin ko sa sarili ko na kapag nagluluto ako, wala akong ibang iniisip. Hindi ako nasi-stress," the actress enthuses. "Pag humawak na ako ng kutsilyo at humarap sa kalan, wala nang puwedeng umistorbo sa akin."
Even when the demands of work have doubled, Judai never lost her zeal for cooking. "I would always find time. Kahit madaling-araw pa 'yan, magluluto ako. Kakailanganin kong magluto talaga," she emphasizes.
It was also in cooking that Judai found comfort in times of trouble. As a result, "Mas lalo akong na-in-love sa pagluluto 'nung time na nagkaka-problema ako."
Judai has friends in the industry who helped fuel this passion. "Kay Mother Biboy Arboleda (StarStudio Philippines Editor-in-Chief) ako tumatakbo pag may problema ako." Judai goes to Biboy's house where he prepares "comfort food" for her. "Ipagluluto lang niya ako ng pasta. Kinabukasan, lulutuin ko na yun."
Mylene Dizon introduced her to herbal ingredients for healthy eating. Maricel Soriano taught her
a secret recipe for roast chicken. "Na-introduce ako sa malaking mundo ng pagluluto dahil sa kanila," she exclaims.Judai's specialty is Japanese fried rice. It served to introduce her passion to her colleagues in ABS-CBN. "Nilako siya. Nagkaroon na ako ng buffet nito para sa ibang tao," she jokes. Among them were Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino and Star Cinema Managing Director Malou N. Santos. "Pagkatapos n'on, nagkaroon na ng request for me to cook Japanese fried rice, kaya tuwang-tuwa ako. It's another part of me which I could share with people." Some friends even request her to cook it for them when they're sick.
Judai's cooking charms work even on her fiance, actor Ryan Agoncillo. In their case, the cliché holds true: the way to a man's heart is his stomach. "Nagkaroon kami ng sukiyaki tapa with fried rice at nag-come up ako ng sarili kong recipe ng salpicao na nagustuhan niya. Puwede na nga akong mag-come up ng sarili kong cookbook dahil sa kakaluto ko."
And like the way she excels in acting, Judai has never settled for mediocrity in her cooking. She is now on her second course at the Center for Culinary Asian Studies. "I'm taking up Asian Cooking. Ito yung Asian introduction to everything: Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese. 'Yung puspusang pag-aaral talaga on how they do it sa country nila."
Her first few attempts at cooking did not always turn out perfectly, but she struggled-- and is still struggling-- to excel. Learning how to cook is a process. "Of course, may mga palpak pa rin. hindi naman porke't nag-culinary ka, perfect na lahat. Ang dami kong moments na hindi ko puwedeng ma-satisfy sa ginagawa ko kasi ako, bini-beat ko pa rin ang sariling time ko, eh," she explains. "Gagawin ko yung best ko na ma-beat yung nauna kong record time."
Judai intends to go abroad to further her culinary studies so she become a full-fledged chef. "Ito lang ang matatapos kong kurso if ever. Not everybody has a passion for cooking. Pero ako, ito naman talaga ang passion ko, eh. Many people want to cook but not everybody has the talent."
No comments:
Post a Comment