HOST
Although Juday is not formally trained in the culinary arts, she’s started cooking even as a little girl, mostly what Filipinos like to call “lutong bahay.” Just recently, Juday took culinary courses to widen her knowledge in cooking. More than hosting the show, she also represents the nurturing, caring mother and housewife everybody is familiar with.
A new Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo returns to television through the much-awaited kiddie cooking reality show Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition. For the very first time in her career, the Philippine's Queen of Soap Opera will dabble in hosting as she leads the search for the finest young amateur chef in the country.
"Joining Judy Ann, or Juday to her family and fans, are world-renowned Filipino chefs Fernando "Ferns" Aracama, Rolando "Lau" Laudico, and JP "Jayps" Anglo in the newest reality franchise from the group that brought you phenomenal hits Pinoy Big Brother, Pinoy Dream Academy, and The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition.
"They will be the ones to guide the kiddie chefs and judge the dishes they will cook up on their way to becoming the first Pinoy Junior MasterChef who will win a culinary scholarship and P1 million.
"Juday shared that she was almost at tears during their first taping because she has been a fan of Junior MasterChef editions in the United Kingdom and Australia. (The Philippines is the third country in the world to produce its own Junior MasterChef.)
"Aside from being awed by their set, which is a larger and arguably better version of the original MasterChef kitchen, she also felt nervous as she was embarking on a new field in her career.
"I really need to give my best in this program to make sure that the overwhelming support and trust ABS-CBN is giving me for this project won't be put to waste. Hosting is not my forte but I'm willing to learn," she said.
"But if you ask ABS-CBN Business Unit Head Laurenti Dyogi, Juday has already exceeded their expectations as she can instantly connect with the kids and the chefs.
"She's the perfect choice as host for Junior MasterChef. Her passion for cooking and love for children come out naturally in the show. At first, she was still adjusting but eventually you can already see she's enjoying and how she's able to become an inspiration to the kids," he explained.
"The award-winning actress, who is a mother of two, said unlike her previous work, her job as host doesn't require any acting at all. She said whenever she's in front of the kids, the mom in her takes charge.