REDISCOVERING JUDAY
by Bayani S. San Diego Jr.
Woman's Journal, June 23, 2001

STAR QUALiTY

Junior Superstar Lila. Mara. Esperanza. Judy Ann Santos— JudaY to her legions of fans—has portrayed some of the more popular and (well-loved) characters on local television. As such, when the TV Baby reached her turbulent teens. Juday crossed over to the movies and transformed herself into a budding Box-Office Superstar. Now 23. the original Soap Opera Princess is again on the verge of a breakthrough. Drumbeaters of her latest film, Luv Text, hail Juday as a Romantic-Comedy Queen in the rnaking—in the mold of the Julias and Sandras of HollywoOd. Brace yourselves for a new Juday.

CLAIM TO FAME

With her chatty, ma-chika charisma (not to mention her uncanny knack for reinvention), Judy Ann is the masa’s darling. On the big silver screen, Juday glows and glimmers with the.same accessible, Everywoman charms of the best of ‘em—of the Noras, Vilmas, and Sharons, as well as the Julias, Megs and Sandras.

She’s the Young Superstar, after all. 

Once and for all, how does she feel about that title? “Tense!” Juday feigns trepidation before jesting, seemingly from out of nowhere, “Tens, twenties, thirties!”

Just as swiftly, the jocular Juday turns oh-so-earnest. “Flattered, of course. But to be honest, there is only one Superstar and that’s God. In local showbiz, no one can match the phenomenal success of Nora Aunor.” The above quote captures, in a nutshell, the intriguing, perplexing nuances (by turns, wacky, serious and humble) of this girl, Juday. 

MOMENT OF GLORY

And that could very well be the secret of her uncommon star appeal. Her extraordinary ordinariness that can catch even the most jaded of showbiz observers by surprise.

A matronly newspaper-and-magazine dealer swears by this girl's "sell-ability" on the stands.

Okay.

Advertising execs have also taken notice and offered her lucrative deals for such mass consumer products as Alaska Milk, 555 Sardines, Palmolive Shampoo and King Flakes.

Juday is more appreciative for all this, "I cherish what I went through in this business," Juday reflects. "It feels good when people mob you. They shower you with love not just because you're a star, but also because you've become a part of their lives. Parang anak ka nila."

She even has motherly and fatherly fans from abroad who send her gifts and other trinkets.

"Nahihiya ako," Juday relates. "I myself wouldn't buy these expensive things for myself. But it seems they derive happiness from doing it." And Juday basks in the glow of their joy and love.

HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

The flip side of all the fame and adulation, sadly, is intriga. Juday has had her fair share of controversies—ranging from the unremarkable to the malicious. Like a true child of showbiz, Juday has grown accustomed (immune?) to such rumors.

Lately, however, it was reported that Juday has lost her patience and is planning to sue three tabloid reporters for libel. (See Question No. 16.)

“It’s my family at stake,” Juday bristles. “Even if I spend millions, okay lang, basta lang makulong sila. Pinag-aralan ko Ito nang mabuti. They’ve been writing negatrve things about me for over a year.

It’s a matter of principle, Juday asserts. And Juday, in a fighting mood, is no weepy Mara, no lugubrious Esperanza. Unlike her TV characters, she’s no martyr, no doormat.

HERE AND NOW

Really, now. Juday has neither the time nor the inclination to dwell on negativity. She is simply too busy. A normal day in the life of Juday can be quite abnormal, in fact. Case in point: one day (a Sunday!) began at 9:30 a.m. for she had to host ASAP, guest in S-Files, motor all the way to SM Bacoor for her SM Mall Tour, before the 8 p.m. cover shoot for this magazine, which ended at 12:10 a.m. the follOwing day.

Whew!

Such a crazy schedule is expected because Juday is in the midst of prombting a new movie (Luv Text) and a new soap (Sa Puso Ko, lingatan Ka), which both had a June premiere.

If you ask Juday, all the hard work is worth it because these two projects allow her to showcase a new, different Judy Ann. For a change of pace, Juday gets to show a lighter, more cheery and witty side in her new screen personas Melissa (Luv) and Patricia (Sa Puso). “After. seeing me cry for years, I think the public now wants me to make them laugh.”

Juday just wants to have fun.

FUTURE PERFECT

Aside from slugging it out with obnoxious movie reporters, Juday will also get her day not just in court, but in the ring. Next in the lineup is the Star Cinema comedy Girl Boxer,
where she will play the pugnacious read.

To prepare for the project, Juday has started training in the Fit for Life gym, under Roger Morin, who’s also the coach of Mark Anthony Fernandez. Well, boxing would hopefully equip her with new skills and virtues that would help her not only in showbiz but also in her new venture: Juday, superstar and pugilist, is also a businesswoman. Along with partners, she set up Café Kilimanjaro along Timog in Quezon City.

Aside from being a “fallback,” her new enterprise, Juday reveals, has yielded precious lessons on life and living. “It has taught me to be more responsible,” Juday points out. “How to get along with people. Especially employees. I treat them as friends, but still andoon pa rin ‘yong authority. Teka muna, barkada tayo, pero pag traba ho, trabaho.”

Meet the new Juday, Boss Lady.

Click here for the Q&A

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