Judy Ann Santos: Parenthood lends perspective

Maureen Marie Belmonte

<div><img src='' alt='100813-Juday_Main.jpg' width='305' height='290' align='left' border='0'>Although she considers herself a hands-on mom, <i>“Bet On Your Baby”</i> host Judy Ann Santos rates herself a semi-satisfying seven out of ten when asked how good she is as a mother.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Ako</i> seven<i> kasi may mga pagkakataon na wala ako, kagaya ngayon nasa trabaho ako</i> [and] … because I know I have to improve myself more to become a better mother,” explained Juday during a recently-concluded press conference for her upcoming game show <i>“Bet On Your Baby.”</i></div><div><br/></div><div>Being a mother, according to Juday, has allowed her to discover a different facet of herself she never thought existed but one that aligned her to all the other mothers that she has come to know. </div><div><br/></div><div>Since her kids Juan Luis Agoncillo and Johanna Louis Agoncillo came into her life, Juday confessed that she became happier, more energetic, and utterly selfless.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Basta gising ang anak mo gising ka din kasi mag-aalaga ka, magluluto, maglilinis ng bahay, makikipaglaro ka sakanila, ‘pag tulog na sila doon mo lang mare-</i>realize<i> na ‘pagod na pagod pala ako</i>.’<i> Pero mas [matindi ‘yung emosyon] na kapag umuuwi ka </i>you look forward to going home because you want to check on your kids, you want to see them before they go to sleep. <i>Totoo ‘yun</i>,” she shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>What’s more is that she was also able to disprove her former belief that the quintessential “mother’s instinct” is something that one should master.</div><div><br/></div><div>“‘<i>Yung</i> instinct <i>ng pagiging ina lumalabas lang pala ‘yon, akala ko aaralin mo pa, hindi pala. Iba-iba tayo ng mga</i> experiences <i>sa mga </i>mommies <i>natin sa mga kaibigan natin na naging</i> mommies,<i> hindi talaga pwedeng i-</i>compare,” she added. </div><div><br/></div><div>While many would presume that she and husband Ryan Agoncillo, being well-paid celebrities dote on their children excessively, the former<i> 'Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala'</i> star revealed that they actually impose certain “limitations” in terms of giving positive reinforcements especially when it comes to gadgets.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>… Kami ni</i> Ryan we believe <i>na lahat ng mga bata ngayon mae</i>-experience <i>at mae-</i>experience<i> nila</i> say <i>‘yung</i> technology, ‘<i>yan ‘yung pinakabagong kinagigiliwan ng mga bata ngayon at ng mga matatanda.</i> </div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Hindi namin sila mapagbawalan kasi nakikita rin nila kami na may mga</i> gadgets <i>rin pero may limitasyon like</i> ‘oh ‘<i>pag kakain walang</i> iPad, <i>walang</i> cellphone, <i>walang</i> TV’ or ‘<i>Pag maglalaro, pwede kang maglaro ng</i> iPad for an hour or two hours <i>pero magkahiwalay. ‘Pag sunod-sunod nanaman ‘yung ganon na hindi namin namo</i>-monitor,<i> ‘pag gabi </i>storybook<i> na lang tayo,</i>” she narrated.</div><div><br/></div><div>The idea she says is to allow the kids to actually enjoy the gadgets instead of restraining them to use it because “… the more na <i>lilimitahan mo ‘yung bata,</i> the more <i>sila na nagtatago sayo at hindi mo talaga nalalaman kung ano ang ginagawa nila</i>… [and]<i> tatakasan ka ng anak mo at matututo na silang magsinungaling sayo.</i>”</div><div><br/></div><div>Having mentioned restraining, Juday related that when it comes to enforcing disciplinary actions to their children they prefer to handle it on a case-to-case basis rather than establishing a definite set of cardinal rules that must be adhered to at all times.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Wala naman talaga kaming</i> cardinal rules<i> sa pagdi-disiplina sa mga bata</i>… We can’t say <i>kasi na pwede kaming hindi mamalo ng bata, na hindi kami mag</i>-scold<i> ng bata kasi</i> it really depends<i> kung ano ‘yung sitwasyon. Kasi papano kung nanapok na</i> or<i> nangupit na hindi mo paba papagalitan? Hindi naman sinabi na putulin mo ang kamay pero sa panahon na ‘yun</i> you have to put your foot down already.<i> Siguro kapag lumaki-laki na sila</i> like<i> ‘yung</i> teens or<i> pre-</i>teens<i> dyan na papasok ‘yung </i>cardinal rules <i>na</i> ‘no boys allowed, no girls allowed,” said she.</div><div><br/></div><div>Meanwhile, the 35-year-old superstar is very much excited for the public to see her newest baby and her second stint as a host that is <i>'Bet On Your Baby.' </i></div><div><br/></div><div>The local franchise of the hit American game show will have toddlers from 2 to 3 ½ years old as “contestants” who would complete certain games that would test how strong their bond is with their parents.</div><div><br/></div><div>Juday assured that the show, which she dubbed as “breather” from her past heavy-drama projects, would be an educational experience both for the parents and the soon-to-be parents alike.</div><div><br/></div><div>As for the prizes, Juday proudly shared that everyone who would join, win or lose, would surely go home happy. </div><div><br/></div><div><i>'Lahat [ng</i> contestants],<i> may mauuwing</i> cash prize <i>kasi bawat</i> game, they can go home with either P5,000 or P10,000.<i> Sa</i> jackpot round,<i> walang matatalo kasi </i>P50,000 <i>ang</i> cash prize to as high as P1 million,' said she.</div><div><br/></div><div><i>“Bet On Your Baby”</i> hosted by Judy Ann Santos is set to hit the Philippine television this October.  </div><div><br/></div>

Juday on enforcing disciplinary action to her kids:  'We can't say kasi na pwede kaming hindi mamalo ng bata, na hindi kami mag-scold ng bata kasi it really depends kung ano 'yung sitwasyon'

Judy Ann Santos: Parenthood lends perspective | PUSH.COM.PH