"I’m scared of surgical procedures, kaya nga may bilbil pa ako," she says, pointing to the slight bulge in her mid-section. "I’m just overworked. I lost weight dahil sa puyat at trabaho."
Juday is turning 26 on May 11. She’s been acting for 17 years now.
"It’s certainly the most unforgettable period in my life. My first big role was on TV as the title roler in Channel 13’s Ula, Ang Batang Gubat, directed by Argel Joseph. It ran for two years. I was 13 going on 14 when I got my second title role, Mara Clara, on ABS-CBN. It was directed by Emil Cruz, brother ni Direk Argel, and shown at 2:30 p.m. It was considered patay na oras at that time, but we rated well and it ran for five years. Mother Lily saw the potential of my tandem with Gladys Reyes and gave us a big break in films. Direk Boots Plata megged us in Sana Naman and it was a blockbuster. I was 15 then and this started my love team with Wowie de Guzman. When we made our theater tour, I thought there would be no people inside the theaters but when we went in, it was jampacked with moviegoers. That was the first time I felt that people appreciate my work. Another highlight in my career was when I did a movie with Fernando Poe, Jr., Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko, one of the biggest hits I ever made."
The latter half of the ’90s saw her becoming a much sought after teen star, doing one movie after another. On ABS-CBN, she was the first actress to be featured in their Star Drama Presents and she was also given her own soap opera, Esperanza, such a big hit that it was later adapted for the big screen. She also became a top TV commercial endorser, plugging sardines, fastfoods, bags and other products.
"I even made a commercial for a beauty soap, something I never thought I’d do because I know people say I’m fat at hindi naman ako kagandahan. All these things made me feel so blessed. I was able to buy several cars and my own house at North Susanna Executive Village. I was also able to put up my own business, Kaffe Karabana and my own outlet for Anonymous. I can say all these came from my own sweat and brow. I’m also happy that I was able to help my family and my mom, who used to work in Canada, was able to come home and join us."
Of course, showbiz life will not be complete without the intrigues. "At the time I was paired with Wowie, it was rumored that we’re already living in, which wasn’t true at all. We were on for two years. After him, I was paired with Piolo Pascual and it was rumored na naging kami, but it’s not true. We’re just good friends and I’m happy with our friendship. Some people are making a big thing of the fact that I wasn’t able to watch his concert at Araneta Coliseum, but I already told Piolo that I committed myself as segment host to the Golden Screen Awards held at the same night, so I really can’t go and watch his show. The last co-star I was linked with was Robin Padilla, because we’re doing Basta’t Kasama Kita on TV. We were previously paired in the movie Jeannie, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang? but we were not linked at all. Tapos, biglang it was reported that Robin and his wife Liesl are separating because of me. I felt so hurt by that. I respect Robin and his wife. I know they have four kids and I will never be a homewrecker. Hindi ako papasok sa ganoong gulo that I know I’ll only regret later on. At 26, I don’t have a lovelife at all and I don’t even have a crush."
But she’s glad that she finally got her first acting award. She says she did not expect at all to win as Best Supporting Actress in the recent Golden Screen Awards for her performance as the dutiful daughter who does her best to reconcile the estranged members of her family in Mano Po 2.
"If you’d notice, I gave a very short acceptance speech that night because I didn’t prepare any," she says. "I went there just to host the portion presenting the nominated best films. When the award for Best Supporting Actress was about to be given, my co-host, Dingdong Dantes, was telling me he felt I’d win. I said, no, hindi ako ‘yan. When my name was called, he was even the one who said, see, it’s you who won. And that’s only when I realized I was the winner so I went on stage to claim the award. I was feeling a bit dazed because I was so surprised kaya ang dami ko ngang hindi napasalamatan other than the people I worked with in Mano Po ‘."
She now plays another challenging role in two new films, I Will Survive and the June Manila Filmfest entry, Sabel. "In I Will Survive, I’m an overseas worker in Qatar while my husband, TJ Trinidad, works in Australia. We only get to see each other when we have vacations together in Manila. Our only daughter is left under the care of her lola and grows up not knowing us. Our story became complicated when I discovered that my husband has a mistress in Australia with whom he also has a child. Doing I Will Survive with Maricel Soriano, Dina Bonnevie and Eric Quizon playing my best friends was a very pleasant experience. In between takes, I’d hear them exchanging stories about their life and career and I really learned so much from them, something I’ll always treasure in my heart. I Will Survive is a feel-good musical comedy with us doing four musical production numbers. Bagay talaga for Mother’s Day. In Sabel, I play an offbeat role as a nun named Sabel who is assigned to help convicts in Muntinlupa prison. While I was there, a prisoner, Wendell Ramos, raped me. I get pregnant and I decide to leave the convent. I disappear without anyone knowing where I went. My mother, Rio Locsin, a successful obstetrician, is not close to me at all. Wendell looks for me and many years later, he finds me in jail in Baguio where I’ve chosen to work with some cultural minorities in the highlands. There’s a surprise twist in the ending that will shock viewers about the character I play. This has something to do with Sunshine Dizon who’s my co-star, but I won’t reveal the details anymore to keep viewers in suspense. Both films are directed by Joel Lamangan, with whom I have good rapport since he gave me my first acting nomination as Sharon Cuneta’s sister in Magkapatid. And with him guiding me, I’m confident I can do justice to my equally challenging roles in I Will Survive and Sabel."