MANILA, Philippines –Actress Judy Ann Santos is relishing her most important role to date – mom. 

Judy Ann, who is married to Ryan Agoncillo and is mother to Yohan and Lucio, said she has learned some much from her years as a mom. 

“It’s patience and compassion. Kasi iba yung patience ng mother kahit gaano ka puyat, kahit gaano kapagod, pagdating sa mga anak mo, wala na iyon. Hindi mo na puwede isipin iyon. At saka for some reason, nagkakaroon ka ng extra energy, basta pagsinabi mo para sa mga bata, okay tatayo ako,” Judy Ann said during the press conference for the Mother’s Day special episode of Maalala Mo Kaya.

 (The patience of a mother is different because no matter how tired you are, how exhausted you are when it comes to your children, it’s gone. You cannot think about it. And for some reason, you’ll get that extra energy if you say it’s for the children – okay, I’ll get up.)

“Mas naging witty ako kasi nag-Iingles hirap mag-intindi! May mga pagkakataon na dinadaan ko na lang sa humor ang pagiging nanay, but sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, I think it made me a better person kasi may anak akong babae. Kailangan ko ipakita sa kanya paano maging babae sa tamang pananalita, sa basic hygiene… kailangan na wide ang capasidad ng utak mo pagdating sa mga anak mo. At bawal magkasakit!” she added.

(I became more witty because [they] speak English and it’s so hard to understand! There are times I use humor in being a mother but despite everything, I think it made me a better person because I have a daughter. I need to show her how to be a woman in terms of speaking properly, basic hygiene… you must be very capable when it comes to your children. And you are not allowed to get sick!)

Aside from from being a mom, wife, and actress, Judy Ann will soon add author to her resume as she is set to release a cookbook.

“It’s a compilation of my recipes from way back nung bago pa ako magsimula. It’s a life story of how I started cooking from the comfort food na naging favorite throughout the years nung nagtratrabaho pa ako nung bata ako. And then from family and friends to entertaining friends and children’s families. Yung journey ko bilang isang personality and being isang nanay nadoon sa cookbook hanggang sa pagiging healthy, organic nandoon lahat,”Judy Ann said.

(It’s a compilation of my recipes from way back when I started. It’s the story of how I started cooking, from the comfort food that became my favorite throughout the years, until I started working when I was young. And then from family and friends to entertaining friends and children’s families. My journey as a personality and being a mother is there in the cookbook, until switching to being healthy, organic.)

Drama comeback

Judy Ann plays the role of Belen, a mother willing to do everything for her kids, in the Mother’s Day episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK).

This is special for Judy Ann as this also serves as her birthday episode. Judy Ann will celebrate her birthday on May 11.

“Na miss ko ang pag-iyak. Na miss ko ang umarte because I have been hosting for two years, so hindi naman, I am not saying hindi ako masaya. Masaya ang hosting na nakalimutan ko ang pag-arte,” Judy Ann said. 

(I miss crying. I missed acting because I have been hosting for two years. I’m not saying I’m unhappy. I am very happy because hosting was so much fun that I forgot to act.)

“Nung nakuha ko yung script [for MMK] hindi ako nakatulog because iniisip ko paano itatawid kasi tinanong ko bakit etong story ang pinili ko? Ang hirap-hirap, puwede naman iba but  I decided to do it,” Judy Ann continued.

(When I got the script [for MMK] I was not able to sleep because I was thinking how to tackle it, because I also asked, ‘Why did I pick this story?’ It’s so difficult,I could have done other stories, but I deicded to do it.)

Judy Ann said that she admires Belen’s strength because of the challenges she went through. 

“Wala akong mabibigay na advice doon sa letter-sender (Belen). Sa totoo lang kasi ako ang mas may natutunan sa kanya…Siguro mahihiya ako sa kanya sa katiting na problema ko kung gigive up ako kumpara sa pinagdanan niya. Hats off ako sa kay Belen dahil siya yung epitome ng pagiging isang dakilang ina,” Judy Ann said.

(I do not have any advice to give the letter-sender. The truth is, I learned more from her…I’ll probably be embarrassed with the small problems I have if I just give up on that, compared to what she went through. Hats off to Belen because she is the epitome of being a good mother.)

“Sa palagay ko, there is no such thing as a perfect mother…Sa pagsasakripisyo lang alone, sa mga anak at sa mga asawa, just to sacrifice your needs and your wants just to make your family happy, is being a mother already. Siguro sa paging isang ina walang katapusan pagmamahal mo kasi hindi mo talaga alam kung kailan ka magiging perfect sa paningin ng mga anak mo,” Judy Ann said.

(In my opinion, there is no such a thing as a perfect mother… the sacrifice alone, just to sacrifice your needs and your wants just to make your family happy, is being a mother already. I guess in being a mother, it’s there’s endless love because you do not know when you will be perfect in your children’s eyes.)  – Rappler.com