“Noel Ferrer gave me the script, which won sa Palanca, two years ago at nagandahan ako upon reading it,” she says. “I said I like it, can I do it? But I was then hosting ‘Bet on Your Baby’ and ‘I Do’ and nang matapos ko na, nagbuntis naman ako. So they really waited for me. E, hindi na puedeng idelay kasi may deadline na for Cinemalaya, kaya kahit medyo masakit pa yung hiwa ko kasi CS ako kay Luna dahil malaki siya at ayaw niyang lumabas kaya biniyak na ako, so ayun, nag-shoot na ako.”
And she hasn’t lost the extra pounds she gained during her pregnancy. We’re sure viewers would say: “Ang taba ni Juday.”
She laughs. “Okay lang yun, tanggap ko na, totoo namang mataba ako e. But it’s bagay for my role as Juanita kasi the story is about this woman who gave all her life serving others at wala siyang pakialam kahit mukhang losyang siya at wala siyang waistline. Akong kapartner ni Baymax sa ‘Big Hero 6’, e. When the story starts, malalaki na rin ang mga anak ko rito. It will chronicle Juanita’s life from childhood hanggang sa tumanda siya. Ang ganda ng concept kasi lahat ng important people and events in her life, may connect sa dishes na niluluto niya. Joem Bascon plays my husband Peles and Luis Alandy plays his best friend Alejandro na magkakaroon ng kaugnayan sa akin. The whole movie happens just inside the kitchen, Juanita’s kusina. Maiiba lang sa ending when finally, makakalabas na siya to new surroundings, signifying her freedom, finally.”
So how is it acting again? “Nanibago ako nang sobra. My last movie pa sa ‘Tyanak’ so kinakabahan ako noong first shooting day. Kaya ko bang maitawid ang role ko as Juanita? But I like the vibe of my character and it helps that I can really cook so naka-relate ako rito.”
When will she start working out to be slim again? “Siguro by August. Yung kay Lucho, one year bago ako nag-workout kasi nagbe-breastfeed ako. It took another year bago ako pumayat nang husto.”
When will she do her reported reunion movie with Piolo Pascual and the teleserye with Richard Yap that’s she’s supposed to start just before she got preggers? “Yung movie, naririnig ko lang, wala pa namang formal offer sa akin ang Star Cinema. But siempre, before I can do that, kailangan ko munang magpapayat nang husto kasi hindi naman yun gaya nitong ‘Kusina’ na the material is I’m allowed to look as I am now. As for that teleserye, parang nabantilawan na yung orihinal na konsepto at kawawa naman si Richard Yap. I think he deserves another vehicle that will validate yung pagiging actor niya.”
What can she say now that her good friend Ate Sharon Cuneta has slimmed down? “I’m so happy for her. Ang galing niya. Sobrang natutuwa ako for her. Sana magtuloy-tuloy.”
It’s said her foremost rival as best actress in the coming Cinemalaya Filmfest is Nora Aunor whose entry is “Tuos”. “Ay, hindi ko iniisip yun. Maihanay lang ako kay Ate Guy, it’s an honor na. Basta ang mahalaga, nag-enjoy akong gawin ang pelikulang ito na talagang kakaiba sa lahat ng nagawa ko na. Yun lang malaman kong naitawid ko ito nang maayos, happy na ako.”
Juday’s aura is so bright and her public image is so positive, just like her marriage to Ryan Agoncillo that’s going strong. What’s their secret? “The important thing is nage-enjoy kayo pareho sa relationship nyo. You can talk to each other as friends. You can also laugh at each other. Sa’min ni Ryan, thank God, hindi pa naman nawawala yun. And we continue to be supportive of one another.”
