Judy Ann’s Christmas then & now

As Christmas Day draws near, some celebrities look forward to go out of the country while others simply prefer to stay at home to celebrate the special occasion with their loved ones. For Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, Christmas is a wonderful time to gather family and friends in her and husband Ryan Agoncillo’s home.

“Magulo ang Noche Buena because we are complete — my brother, my sister, mga pamangkin, lahat kumpleto sila,” she said, adding that the ear-deafening noise of the kids and their infectious laughter are music to her ears.

Judy Ann also loves to cook and fill up the family dining table with food for everyone to enjoy on Christmas Eve. “Whatever I want to cook, I just let myself do, parang free flow cooking ng mga samu’t-saring pagkain.”

She revealed Christmas celebration was a lot different when she was younger. Judy Ann recalled how her family went through challenging times when her father left for the States. “S’yempre hikahos nung wala ng padala and we were studying. So, si mommy (Carol) unti-unti nagsasangla ng alahas to pay for our tuition. Every Christmas, whatever available plant in the house would serve as our Christmas tree, lalagyan na lang namin ng Christmas lights but, still, it was very meaningful.

“Now, I make it a point to put up a very large Christmas tree in the house and every time na itataas na ‘yung Christmas tree namin, the first thing I do is lie down on our sofa and just stare at it for about 30 minutes. I am thankful for this moment, that I can now able to have a big Christmas tree kahit pa para sa mga bata ‘yun, more so para sa akin ‘yun dahil ito talaga ang gusto ko.”

Her happiness is doubled whenever she is with her children Yohan, Lucho and Luna. Just recently, Judy Ann took to social media her heartfelt message to her eldest daughter Yohan who turned 15 last November. Part of the message she posted on Instagram read, “15 already!? A year older…definitely a year wiser…oh my baby love from day 1 that I laid my eyes on you…you never fail to make me smile… I love you my sweet blessing…you will always be a reminder that God listens.”

During the Dressing Room Exclusive segment of Tonight with Boy Abunda (TWBA), Judy Ann admitted Yohan has become more curious about her biological parents. Thus, she has been preparing herself for the day when Yohan will ask to meet them.

The actress shared questions like, “Do you know my mom? Are you friends with my dad?” that would instantly pop up during their conversation.

“Parang nahihiya rin siyang magsabi na ‘my real mom,’ siguro natatakot siya baka ma-offend ako or something,” narrated Judy Ann who also recalled a time when Yohan suddenly asked if she knows where they live. Her honest answers were “No,” yet Judy Ann assured Yohan that they can look for them if the day comes that she wants to meet them.

“I told her, ‘Sweetheart, if at some point you want to meet them, you want to talk to them, if you feel there are questions already in your heart that are piling up, and feeling mo sila lang ang makakasagot, we can look for them because that’s your right.”

However, it remains difficult for her to answer all her daughter’s queries. “Hindi mo naman s’ya pinagdadamot, but from the time she asked me that question, I was preparing myself every day. ‘Lord, dumating man yung time na maging seryoso na’ tong batang ‘to, i-prepare mo kami kasi di ko s’ya ipagkakait sa ganoon.”

It’s no secret that the actress was 26 when she adopted Yohan, and it was prior to her wedding in 2009 with Ryan, who likewise legally adopted the child.

Yohan would sometimes doubt the words of reassurance from her dear mom. “At first, she felt na baka binobola ko s’ya and we made her realize that Ryan and I started a family because of you. Basically, ikaw yung mitsa ng kandila ng pamilya natin.”

She also emphasized to Yohan that her siblings were all named after her. Yohan is Johanna Louis, Lucho is Juan Luis and Luna is Juana Luisa.

“I told her that you came first so always remember na hindi ka basta saling-cat dito. You started this family,” said Judy Ann who stars in Mindanao, one of the entries to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.