Breaking Out

Being in show business for 20 years, it was inevitable that Judy Ann reach a point where she would start feeling tired and burned out. That feeling led her down a different path and helped her discover her other passion: her passion for cooking.

The first person she told about it was her fiance, Ryan Agoncillo. They were in Davao, and Judy Ann was sitting at a table, drinking by herself and waiting for Ryan to wrap up his duties as host of Philippine Idol, which was having its regional auditions. Suddenly, Judy Ann started talking about wanting to break out of the rut she was in. Acting had become routine. On most days, she felt like she was coasting along, going from one project to another. She needed a fresh burst of inspiration. "[Sabi ko], 'I want to study, I want to do something aside from acting. I want to divert my attention to something else."

Cooking was something she had always loved. She would often invite friends over to sample her cooking. When she was a child, one of her favorite pastimes was bahay-bahayan; Judy Ann would set up bottles and cans and pretend to cook in a little spot she had chosen for herself beside a warehouse on their property in Antipolo. Those were some of the most blissful days of her childhood. "May lugar ako dun sa tabi ng bodega namin sa bahay. Meron akong arina, may patis, may toyo--may set-up lang ako doon, may little hideout ako, tapos magluluto-luto ako ng dahon."

Cooking school was the answer. But aside from wanting to break out of a rut, she went into cooking to prove a point. Judy Ann never finished college, and that is still one of her biggest frustrations in life. But it wasn't because she didn't want to. At the time, Judy Ann was still not sure about what she wanted to take up in college--Hotel and Restaurant Management, Tourism or Early Childhood Education. "Naisip ko na parang kung pinush ko ang sarili ko na mag-college na hindi ko alam yung course na gusto kong kunin, nagsasayang lang ako ng pera," she offers. "Ako naman kasi ang nagpapaaral sa sarili ko. I cannot afford to go to college, and then find out one day na hindi ko pala gusto yung course ko, sayang naman ang pera, di ba?"

Enrolling in cooking school was her way of squaring the equation. It was also something she was sure she wanted to do; in fact, at that point, she needed to do it. It wasn't a four-year college degree, but at least she would have something to show for herself and prove that showbiz people could do other things besides act. "Gusto ko talaga maging chef. Na-realize ko na marami pa pala akong kayang gawin. Gusto ko lang patunayan sa mga tao na ang mga artista, hindi naman talaga pag-arte lang ang kayang gawin. Ayoko namang nakatunganga sa bahay kasi pag-aartista lang 'yung alam ko, eh wala naman akong natapos."

Once she was set, she started to look for culinary schools. She told her manager Alfie Lorenzo about her plans and asked for permission to lie low on her showbiz commitments. "I had to make a decision. I had to stop working for a while and do this culinary thing para ma-inspire ako ulit at ma-miss ko ang trabaho, na ginawa ko naman. Nagpaalam ako ng three months kay Tito Alfie. Naintindihan naman niya. May konting talak, pero naintindihan niya."

Judy Ann also had to convince herself that the expense would be worth it. "Matagal ko na gustong mag-culinary, hindi ko lang magawa kasi ang mahal. Nag-research ako ng school, eh parang nasasayangan ako sa pera. Sabi nga ni Ryan, bakit ako masasayangan sa pera, eh kung dun naman ako masaya. 'Mababawi mo rin 'yan in the long run kapag naka-graduate ka na.'"

She enrolled at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies and took a Basic and Advanced Cooking Skills course under Chef Gene Gonzales for four months. She received medals for both courses; a silver for the Basic course, and a gold for the Advanced. Now she is saving up to train abroad so she can be certified as a professional chef. Although she closed down her Café Kilimanjaro and Café Karabana, she will still be doing a lot of cooking in their brand-new kitchen once she and Ryan get married.

Taken from Starstudio magazine: Judy Ann Santos special issue

Among the Stars

Judy Ann's memories of her early days in the business are peppered with anecdotes about how she had to fight for recognition among the big leaguers and the stars of network-produced shows. Who would have thought that one day, she would become one of them? Or even become one of them?

Judy Ann isn't the type to trust people easily. She keeps to a close circle of friends, mostly because she is shy and doesn't want to expect too much. Over the years, she's learned that she's most hurt when she trusts most. Direk Joyce Bernal, with whom Judai had a little tampuhan back in 2007, has experienced the highs and lows of their friendship: "Si Joyce, si Ga [director Dante Nico Garcia, who's been her friend for nearly 15 years], nung nagkatampuhan kami, taon talaga bago nag-usap. Pero kahit di kami nag-uusap ni Direk Joyce that time, nagpapadala pa rin ako ng regalo kay Liam [Direk Joyce's daughter, who is Judy Ann's inaanak]. Masakit 'pag nagkatampuhan kayo dahil mahal mo 'yung tao. Pero hindi naman lahat ng tao, ganoon. Merong iba, madali akong nakapag-move on."

That what Judy Ann is like as a friend. Her friendships with showbiz's big leaguers are just as invested and precious, probably because she was once one of those who looked at them from a distance. She used to be outside the circle of big stars. When she did Magkapatid opposite Sharon Cuneta in 2002, she wasn't expecting to form a real bond with the Megastar, a bond that has lasted seven years now. Sharon, who also grew up in the business, is probably the one person who understands what Judy Ann went through, the only difference being that Sharon, unlike Judy Ann, did not experience the humiliation that Judy Ann did, being thrown out of a dressing room to give way to stars of network-produced shows, or hearing people laugh behind her back in the corridors. "Si Sharon, isa siya sa mga artista na di ko in-expect na magkakaroon ako ng very deep connection: isang malaking tao who would help you analyze things and help keep you grounded. Di alam ng tao na na-i-inspire ako, na na-re-refresh ako by a simple kiss or a hug from Ate. It's very precious, very sincere."

The actress is vocal about how much she admires Sharon's accomplishments in her career and personal life. "Marami akong natututunan kay Ate Sharon; (she's) very talented, she's a good mom, and she's a good wife. Hindi ko man masundan 'yung yapak niya, kahit man lang sana wisdom niya. Ako, masaya na ako na naging magkapatid kami sa pelikula at hanggang ngayon, ganun pa din 'yung turingan namin. Most prized possession na 'yun sa sakin," Judai explains.

The actress also considers Maricel Soriano (her co-star in I Will Survive in 2004) and the late Fernando Poe Jr. (Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko, 1999) as two other big stars who gave her invaluable advice.

FPJ, who Judai fondly calls Tatay Ron, reminded her to treat everyone fairly, and told her: "Sila rin ang makakasalubong mo sa paglingon or sa pagbalik mo."

Her Ate Marya, Ate Sharon and Tatay Ron all reminded her that she must pour her heart into what she is doing. "Sabi nila, mahalin ko lang 'yung trabaho ko, 'yun 'yung isa sa mga nakapagpapangiti sa akin," she shares. "I was able to work with these people. I was able to hear them out base sa personal experiences nila."

Taken from Starstudio magazine: Judy Ann Santos special issue

Cash In on Your Skills Now

Do you have a unique skill or interest? You don't have to wait until you graduate from college to use your skills. You may be able to use them now in your own home-based business.

Do you have a green thumb? Set up your own plant sitting service. Make a deal with neighbors to water their plants while they're gone on vacation. If you're good with animals, you could also watch their pets.

Are you known for your neatness? Housecleaning isn't the most glamorous job, but it's something a lot of people could use help with. Offer your services to working mothers and elderly people.

What do you enjoy doing? You might be able to start your own business!

Are you a good typist? Many students are willing to pay someone to type their papers for them. Post fliers on the bulletin boards of high schools and colleges.

Do you know how to cook? A lot of working wives would love to come home and have dinner waiting for them. Learn to master one or two good meals and offer to prepare them for families in your neighborhood. Are you good with children? Let parents in your neighborhood know that you are available for baby-sitting.

Do you like yard work? Probably many of your neighbors could use help with lawn mowing, tree or bush trimming, weeding and so on.

Do you have experience raising animals? Many people would rather buy their pets from someone they know than a pet store. Finches, gerbils and guppies are examples of pets that breed well in captivity.

Are you athletic? You may be able to coach or teach your favorite sport. Or you could offer your services as a golf caddie or umpire.

Are you good at car care? Put a sign up for your own car wash and wax service.

Do you know how to sew? Offer your services to people who either do not have the time or skill to sew on buttons, hem skirts and pants and so on. Put up notices on bulletin boards advertising your service.

Whatever you decide to do, do your homework first. Make sure the service you're offering is something people in your area need and want. Ask a fair price. Make sure you have enough time to handle any business you may get. Check government regulations and requirements.

Done right, your own business can be quite rewarding. You'll earn extra cash now and build job skills that will last you a lifetime.

- By Becky Sweat

Taken from Youth 90 magazine

Wanna Bet?

Gambling is big business. In the United States, legal and illegal gambling add up to about $240 billion each year-- $1,000 for each person!

Illegal gambling is widespread, such as bets on football games. Lottery tickets are sold in corner stores, reducting the stigma against gambling.

Why do people gamble? Most people say they play for fun. But it wouldn't be fun if they didn't also hope to strike it rich.

But almost no one does. The chances of winning a lottery jackpot are one out of several million. The more you play, the more you will probably lose. Lotteries are designed to make money for the administrators, not the players. The players, on average, get back only half of their money.

Instant wealth is the hope of gamblers. It often leads to the poor house.

Advertisements for lotteries and racetracks often suggest that wealth comes easily. The hope of quick riches has a strong appeal, especially to the poor. Poor people gamble more often than the rich do, and therefore lose a larger percentage of their money.

"The message of lottery advertising is a slightly subversive one, that success is just waiting for you to pick the right number," write Charles Clotfelter and Philip Cook, Duke University economists. They suggest that lottery advertising may reduce people's willingness "to work, save, and self-invest in education and training."

- By Michael Morrison

Taken from Youth 90 magazine