The Unsinkable Judy Ann

THE past year had been a hectic one for Judy Ann Santos, filled with momentous highs and near-crushing lows. But despite the setbacks, the 30-year-old actress remains as one of showbiz’s most popular entertainers.

For much of 2008, fans had been eagerly awaiting news of her impending nuptials with her fiancé, actor-host Ryan Agoncillo. Alas, neither of them has given a specific wedding date, leaving everyone guessing.

The actress says there are no set plans yet, stressing that she and Ryan need to save money first for the big day and beyond. “Pinag-iipunan pa namin. Para naman maging maganda yung wedding,” says Juday. “It’s going to be a very private and solemn ceremony. Sakripisyo muna para maging maganda ang future namin.”

During the promotion of his new show Pieta, Ryan stated that an announcement on their wedding plans was imminent, but that the final details were still being ironed out. “Right now, the broad strokes are in but the details will be filled up real soon. Hopefully, before the year ends, plantsado na ang mga details,” he said. (As we went to press, no such announcement had been made.)

On the big screen, the big news was the critical success of the film Ploning, the indie project where Juday not only acted in the lead role but also served as producer. Calling it her greatest movie achievement to date, the film is the Philippine representative in the coming Oscars in the Foreign Language Film Category.

“Actually yung masabi lang na representative ng Pilipinas para mapabilang sa Oscars ay sobrang kaligayahan na yon,” said Juday. “Yung makasama ka sa 18 finalists ay bonggang bongga na yon, eh yung makasama ka sa lima – napakabuting tao ko na siguro talaga. Magbre-breakdown siguro ako to the highest level.”

On the downside, there’s her unresolved tax evasion case. In 2005, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed a case against her for allegedly not declaring her income from her movie and product endorsements for 2002. She petitioned the Supreme Court to dismiss the case, but the high court denied her appeal and directed the Philippine Court of Tax Appeals to proceed with the lawsuit.

Juday says she’s trying to remain steadfast and calm, constantly praying to God for help and guidance. “Kung ano ang mangyari sana ay matapos na, maayos na,” she says. “Kung ano ang maging hatol ng Korte Suprema ay tatanggapin ko naman 'yon nang buong puso at buong loob at nirerespeto ko kung ano ang magiging opinion nila sa kaso ko wala naman akong tinalikurang problema noon pa.”

Towards the latter part of 2008, Juday found herself embroiled in another controversy, this time with long-time manager Alfie Lorenzo. Negotiating a contract extension with ABS-CBN, she wanted to review the terms with a lawyer before signing. Her decision to consult with a lawyer irked Alfie, who publicly berated his ward, even threatening to terminate their partnership. The two eventually settled their differences and ended speculations that she was considering moving to rival network GMA-7.

Earlier, both Juday and Alfie voiced their disappointment with ABS-CBN for what they perceived to be the network’s lack of support in promoting Ploning. On the other hand, GMA-7 opened a number of its shows to Juday so she could plug her indie project. This led to speculations that Juday might consider changing channels. The protracted contrat negotiations with ABS-CBN delayed the production of her next TV soap, Humingi Ako Sa Langit.

Juday says her new project, called a nurserye, is worth the wait. “Sobrang ibang-iba ‘to! Siyempre, sa lahat naman ng artistang nagpo-promote ng show nila, sinasabi nilang ibang-iba. Ako kasi, sa part ko, masasabi ko na iba ito sa akin.”

Her role as a nurse in the new soap represents a new challenge for the actress. In her previous soap, Ysabela, her character was an expert cook. In real life Juday is passionate about cooking and took up lessons at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies. But nursing and medicine are alien to her.

“It’s a very different approach on my part, kasi kagagaling ko lang sa pagluluto na master na master ko, tapos pupunta ako sa isang aspeto na wala akong kaalam-alam,” she says. “Kaya ‘pag nagpapa-ER (emergency room) ako ngayon, para akong loka-loka kasi naka-observe talaga ako sa mga nurse. Nakakataba rin ng puso because ipinagkatiwala ng ABS sa akin ang isang papel na hindi mo pwedeng basta-basta gawin, kailangan mo talagang pag-aralan nang husto.”

Besides studying medical terminology, she watched popular medical-themed foreign TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and House, M.D. to get pointers and inspire her. “Mahirap kasi, kailangan tama ang hawak ko ng mga gamit, pati mga terms. May mga terms na ang haba-haba ng linya ko talaga. So, nagbabasa-basa ako habang naghihintay ng take. May doctor at nurse din na nakaantabay sa set namin para kapag may term akong hindi alam, tatanungin ko sila.”

She jokes that she was able to learn enough to fool those around her. “In a way nae-educate din ako to the point na yung mga kasama ko tinatanong ako, ‘Nay Ploning, ano’ng sakit ‘pag ganito ang symptoms?’ Sasabihin ko, ‘Sandali hindi pa ako nurse, darating tayo dyan.’ But seriously, ang dami kong natutunan about everything—cancer, hepatitis, AIDS—na kung malaki lang ang memory ko malamang walking encyclopedia na ako ngayon.”

Juday wants Humingi Ako Sa Langit to be both honest and informative of its real-life medical cases and entertaining. “Even before we started, hindi lang istorya yung ibabato namin sa mga viewers, it has to be true. Kasi siyempre, we want them to learn, dapat informative. Gusto naming hindi lang siya soap na aabangan dahil sa istorya, kundi dahil informative din siya.”

The soap reunites her with her Ysabela love interest, model-actor Derek Ramsey. Another model-turned-actor, Will Devaughn, makes his TV debut as a guy who competes for Juday’s affections. The actress is flattered to be constantly surrounded with handsome leading men, not just in this project but throughout her career.

“Sabi ko nga kung totoong buhay lang ‘to napakahaba naman ng hair ko dahil mula’t sapul, mula Mara Clara pa lang, siguro yung buhok ko lumibot na ng buong mundo at nakabalik na sa akin nang ganun-ganon na lang. Siguro ganun talaga, kailangan sa isang soap, perfect yung mga kapartner mo kasi kailangan ikaw yung maglalagay ng imperfections sa kanila.”

Through her portrayal of a nurse Juday hopes to stress to audiences in the country and abroad the importance of the nursing profession. “Nakaka-tense pero nakakaaliw na I was able to play their part,” she says. “If that would be the way to show the Filipinos here in Manila and abroad kung gaano kahirap ang pinagdadadaan ng mga nurses dito at sa ibang bansa, bakit hindi? Para magkaroon sila ng mas mataas na respeto hindi lang sa mga doktor kundi pati sa nurses.”

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