Who Will Be The First Junior Master Chef?

Bagong Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo ang mapapanood ng sambayanang Pilipino sa pinaka-aabangang kiddie cooking reality show na “Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition.”



Sa unang pagkakataon sa kaniyang career, sasabak sa hosting ang tinaguriang Reyna ng Pinoy Soap Opera para manguna sa paghahanap sa pinakamahusay na batang kusinero sa Pilipinas.



Makakasama ni Judy Ann, o Juday sa kaniyang mga kaibigan at tagahanga, ang mga kapita-pitagang chef na sina Fernando “Ferns” Aracama, Rolando “Lau” Laudico, at JP “Jayps” Anglo sa pinakabagong reality franchise hatid ng grupong nagbigay sa inyo ng “Pinoy Big Brother,” “Pinoy Dream Academy,” at “Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition.”



Sila ang gagabay sa mga batang chef at huhusga sa mga lutuing ilalaban nila para maging unang Pinoy Junior MasterChef, na mananalo ng culinary scholarship at P1 milyong piso.



Kuwento ni Juday, halos maluha siya nang unang mag-taping dahil siya mismo ay tagahanga ng mga naunang edisyon ng Junior MasterChef sa United Kingdom at Australia.



Bukod sa namangha siya sa ganda ng kanilang set, nakadama rin daw siya ng kaba dahil bagong larangan ang pinapasok niya.



“Kailangang karirin ko ang programa nang bonggang-bongga para naman hindi masayang ang tiwala na ibinigay sa akin ng ABS sa malaking proyektong ito. Hindi ko naman liga ang paghohost pero willing naman akong matuto,” aniya.



Pero kung si ABS-CBN Business Unit Head Laurenti Dyogi ang tatanungin, nahigitan pa ni Juday ang kanilang inaasahan dahil sa ipinakita niyang natural na galing sa pakikitungo sa mga bata at sa mga kasamang Chefs.



“Siya ang perpektong host para sa Junior MasterChef. Dito lumalabas ‘yung pagmamahal niya sa pagluluto at sa mga bata. Noong una may kaba siya pero habang tumatagal makikita mong nag-eenjoy siya at kung paano siya nagiging inspirasyon sa mga batang chef,” aniya.

Ayon pa kay Juday, ni hindi raw niyang kailangang umarte dahil tuwing kaharap niya ang mga bata ay damang-dama niya ang pagiging ina.



“Puso ang puhunan ng show na ito. Sobrang cute at smart ng mga bata, hindi mo maiwasang magkaroon ng connection sa kanila. Pero bilang host at nanay nila sa programa, ako ‘yung magbabalanse ng emotions nila. Ayaw naming makasakit ng damdamin pero kailangan maging totoo kami sa kanila kung masarap ‘yung gawa nila o hindi. Dapat may panalo kang words of encouragement,” kuwento niya.



Aniya’y naroon naman siya at sina Chef Ferns, Lau, at Jayps para tulungan ang mga batang mas gumaling pa sa pagluluto. Bukod sa pagiging mga premyadong chefs, may-ari rin ng kani-kaniyang restaurant ang tatlo kaya siguradong marami matutunan sa kanila ang mga bata.

Inaasahan ng ABS-CBN na magugustuhan ng manonood ang kakaibang timpla ng “Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition,” gaya na lang ng pagtangkilik ng buong mundo sa iba pang edisyon ng MasterChef.



“Madalas ang reality shows natin ay naghahanap ng magaling na mang-aawit, mga performers. Dito naman makikita natin ang mga mahuhusay na batang nagluluto para sa kanilang pamilya. Kasama nila tayo sa pagbabago ng buhay nila at tutulungan natin silang abutin ang kanilang pangarap sa pagluluto,” ani Direk.



Abangan ang unang tikim sa reality show na magpapangiti, magpapaiyak, magpapatakam, at magpapabilib sa manonood, bata man o matanda, mahilig man magluto o kumain. Panoorin ang “Appetizer: The Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition Primer” sa Agosto 20. Sisimulan naman ang pagsasala sa Top 60 na batang bida sa kusina sa premier ng “Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition” sa Agosto 27 sa ABS-CBN. Maging updated sa programa, i-like ang http://www.facebook.com/jrmasterchef sa Facebook, o sundan ang @jrmasterchef_ph.

Judy Ann Santos Wants One TV Show at a Time

Young superstar Judy Ann Santos said there are already plans for her to do a television series.



"Oo may mga offers din naman ang ABS-CBN. Tinatantiya kasi ang time at taping schedule. Hangga't maaari isa-isa lang muna kasi mahirap kapag pinagsasabay-sabay," she said in an interview during a press conference for her upcoming reality cooking show, "Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition."



"Junior MasterChef" will premiere on August 20. Santos is also set to do a comeback movie with husband Ryan Agoncillo titled "Househusband."



"One step at a time, slowly but surely," she added.



With all the projects coming in, Santos said she is happy that her family, specifically her husband, is there to give their full support.



"Hindi naman. In fairness sa asawa, ko hindi naman [siya strict sa projects]. Kahit noon at hanggang ngayon, kung ano ang tinatanggap naming trabaho, wala namang problema. Time management lang dapat," she said.



"Sabi niya (Agoncillo) relax lang and go with the flow. Eventually, lalabas naman sa iyo ang dapat mong sabihin. Ngayon, nag-eenjoy na ako wala na ang tensyon. Yung mga bagay na kinatatakutan ko bago magsimula [yung show] eh nalagpasan ko na."

Judy Ann Santos Loses 27 Lbs, Sets TV Comeback

Actress Judy Ann Santos happily shared that she is now getting back in shape just in time for her television comeback.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Wednesday, Santos said she already lost 27 pounds since she gave birth to baby Lucio.

“Kailangan nandyan talaga ang will na magbawas ng timbang. Nasasanay na ako na mas maliit ang portion na pagkain ko, kung maraming akong nakain dahil sa taping, apple na lang paguwi,” she said.

In an interview last March, Santos said she considers losing weight after giving birth as a challenge.

"I just really want to feel good... You want to dress up the way you used to be. Kasi ngayon very limited and clothes na susuutin mo kasi marami kang itinatago. Since malaki pa ang tiyan ko akala nila buntis pa din ako. So medyo nakaka-hurt ng slight ‘yong 'buntis ka na naman.' Hindi po, sadyang may fats lang ako,” she said.

Santos will soon be seen on television as the host of "Junior Master Chef: Pinoy Edition."

The show will hit the TV screens in August.

Meanwhile, Santos said she is happy to show baby Lucio to everyone in their product endorsement.

An entertainment magazine recently named Santos as one of the top 20 celebrity endorsers of 2011.

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Laurenti Dyogi Thinks Judy Ann Santos is the Perfect Host for Junior Master Chef

ABS-CBN Business Unit Head Lauren Dyogi revealed that his team is geared to make 2011 a great year for reality shows. In an interview with Push.com.ph, Lauren talked about the three programs they have lined up for this year. “Ipinangako natin na 2011 will be a big year for reality shows. Sinimulan natin ‘yan with The Biggest Loser, itutuloy natin with Junior MasterChef, then we will have Pinoy Big Brother probably by the end of the year.”

As The Biggest Loser: Pinoy Edition nears its much-awaited finale, Junior MasterChef: Pinoy Edition is beginning production, having trimmed down the sixty kid contestants down to the twenty official kiddie cooks. “Ipinagsama-sama namin ang mga magagaling na batang kusinero mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng Pilipinas. Nagsimula kami sa Top 60. Ngayon napili na namin ang Top 20 and we’re now taping for the competition proper. Ang matitira sa kanila is ‘yung final four, then we will do a live finale to see who will be the winner. What I can say right now is I’m happy with the kids na nakapasok sa Top 20.”

JMC is an adaptation of a foreign franchise wherein children with passion for cooking are pitted against each other to see who will emerge as the best and has the potential to be a certified chef. In the recent weeks that the Pinoy JMC is in production, Lauren admitted that he was very impressed with the skills shown by the contestants. “Sobrang namamangha kami sa galing ng mga bata. Nagugulat kami kung paano sila nakakagawa ng iba’t ibang putahe. Imagine at eight to twelve years old ito na ang mga nagagawa nila, paano pa kapag nakapag-aral na talaga sila at naging certified chef na.”

He also revealed that the foreign owners of the JMC franchise were very much impressed with how ABS-CBN made its own version of the program. “Ayokong maging mayabang pero…ha ha ha! But they are very impressed. They love how us Filipinos and ABS-CBN produced the show. Tayo pa lang kasi ang pangatlong bansa na gumawa ng JMC, after Britain and Australia. The producers were happy that we are producing JMC first. Usually kasi they would do ‘yung MasterChef muna. Kaya lang kasi ako and the management felt na it’s best if we start the franchise with JMC.”

JMC: Pinoy Edition will be hosted by Judy Ann Santos who is a culinary graduate and a loving mother to two children. Judy Ann confessed that prior to production, she was very nervous about her very first hosting job. But according to Lauren, in the recent tapings, he saw how the actress seemed to be doing a great job and at the same time having a good time with the kid contestants.

“I’m very happy that we have Judy Ann on this show. She is the perfect host for Junior MasterChef. Sa pagte-taping namin lumabas talaga ‘yung pagkahilig niya sa pagluluto at pagmamahal niya sa mga bata. Makikita mong she’s very at home. Well, nung una sobra siyang tense kasi this is her first time to be a host. But she was able to pull it off, with flying colors pa. Ang pinakanakakatuwa is makikita mo talagang nage-enjoy siya. You will see kung paano siya maging inspirasyon sa mga bata para maging chefs in the future,” said Lauren.

Source: www.push.com.ph

Judy Ann Santos Denies Switching Networks

After finding out that her upcoming movie project My House Husband has been shortlisted as part of this year’s Metro Manila Film Fest (MMFF) entries, Judy Ann Santos said she is happy to return to the big screen in a project that also pairs her up with real-life hubby Ryan Agoncillo. “We’re excited to be working with each other again after a very long time,” she shared in the July 5 telecast of TV Patrol. The multi-talented drama actress also put to rest the persistent rumors saying that she is planning to transfer to a different network within the year. “Meron pa akong existing contract sa ABS-CBN. Alam ko nag-renew ako last year,” she stressed in the popular evening news program.

Before giving birth to her son Lucho last year, Juday was last seen in the teleserye Habang May Buhay alongside Derek Ramsay and Gladys Reyes. Juday then took some time off from the limelight during her pregnancy in order to focus on her growing family. This year, the talented actress admitted that she is slowly easing back into showbiz with her various endorsements. Juday has also expressed gratitude for the numerous offers she has been receiving to do projects again. Juday has been very vocal about carefully considering her projects now that she has a family. But the actress admitted she is open to doing a yet untitled movie with multiple Best Actor awardee Coco Martin because she has always admired Coco’s talent.

With new reality show Junior Master Chef: Pinoy Edition all set to be shown soon, Juday has been busy preparing to host the Kapamilya network’s version of the popular international franchise. The actress has already admitted that she is lucky to be married to Ryan, who had already been into hosting even before he started acting in showbiz. Juday revealed her husband would give her tips on how to be an effective host. But before she finally gets back into the routine of daily tapings for Junior Master Chef: Pinoy edition, the 33-year-old actress is scheduled to fly to Australia for a one-week vacation with her family before the show’s scheduled telecast.

Source: www.push.com.ph

Laurenti Dyogi on Producing Reality Shows

Since launching the first season of Pinoy Big Brother in 2005, Lauren Dyogi and his team has gone on to adapt various foreign reality shows for ABS-CBN to suit the Filipino audience. Currently enjoying high ratings in the primetime block is The Biggest Loser: Pinoy Edition. Meanwhile, Direk Lauren’s reality show unit will soon unveil there newest offering, Junior MasterChef: Pinoy Edition.

Push.com.ph spoke with Direk Lauren and he talked about the kind of fulfillment he gets in producing reality shows. “Maraming benefit when you do different kinds of reality shows. Like in The Biggest Loser it was very satisfying for us na nakakatulong tayo sa mga kababayan nating may obesity and we are actually changing their lives. Sa PBB naman ganun din.”

He said he hopes such will also be translated once JMC airs on ABS-CBN. “With the upcoming JMC I’m sure mababago rin namin ang mga buhay ng mga batang contestants. Isipin mo lang ‘yung future na maibibigay mo sa mga batang ito, it’s enough to ensure them na they will be equipped with everything they will need to achieve their dreams. Napakasarap ng feeling na ‘yung para sa aming lahat.”

That’s why when asked to pick his favorite among all the past reality shows, Direk Lauren couldn’t single out a particular one. “Wala akong masabi na pinakagusto ko sa lahat ng reality shows na nagawa namin. Ang importante sa amin is sa bawat ginagawa naming programa e nage-enjoy kami at pati na lahat ng viewers,” he explained.

As excitement builds up on The Biggest Loser leading to the much awaited finale, Direk Lauren thanked everyone who made the show a big success. “More than the ratings ang ikinatutuwa naming lahat is nakikita natin na nagbabago ang mga buhay nila. Every time I visit the camp nakakatuwang makita silang lahat na ang laki na ng nababawas sa weight nila. Some of them entered the camp na around 300 lbs ang weight pero ngayon around 200 na lang. Hindi nila magagawa nang basta-basta ‘yun outside the camp in three months. Sobrang fulfilling na ‘yun para sa amin.”

He invited everyone to keep tuned in to the show so as not to miss the big surprises still in store. “Madami pang mangyayari. Marami pang exciting moment na dapat abangan ng lahat. Makikita ninyong lahat ‘yung wonder kung paano sila pumayat nang sobra. Sana lang talaga ‘wag na silang bumalik sa dating weight nila. Of course there will always be the possibility lalo na kapag bumitaw ka so sana madala nila ‘yung naituro sa kanila na healthy lifestyle.”

Aside from Biggest Loser and JMC, Direk Lauren and his team are also gearing up for a new season of PBB, plus the follow up Doubles edition to Biggest Loser. “We’re still in the audition process for the next season of PBB pero ngayon marami nang clamor for us to air it na. Bawat season tumataas ang expectation ng mga tao kaya lalo kaming nacha-challenge. Right now we’re very much happy with The Biggest Loser. In fact we’ve already been granted rights to do the Doubles edition. Sana abangan ng lahat.”

Source: www.push.com.ph

Top Pinoy Chefs Will Judge Junior Master Chef: Pinoy Edition

ABS-CBN will soon unveil its newest reality show Junior MasterChef: Pinoy Edition wherein kids compete in various culinary activities. The show will be hosted by Judy Ann Santos and will also feature three top Filipino chefs who will serve as judges.

Push.com.ph interviewed chefs Fern Aracama, Rolando Laudico, and JP Anglo about their feelings in being part of the Pinoy version of JMC. “I stayed in Australia for many years and dun ko napanood ‘yung Junior MasterChef,” shared Chef JP who studied at the Center of Culinary Arts in Manila and Sydney, Australia and later opened Mushu Asian Restaurant in Bacolod. “Every time na napapanood ko ‘yun, I am moved. Ngayon part na ako ng Pinoy version ng JMC, it’s unbelievable. I’m honored to be part of helping improve the culinary industry here in the Philippines na hindi pa masyadong nagbo-blossom.” The three further thanked ABS-CBN for choosing them and giving them the opportunity to show to viewers that at a young age anyone can start pursuing a career in the culinary world, contrary to popular perception that studying to become a chef is only for the rich.

Chef Lau, who studied at Culinary Institute of America and opened Bistro in 2006, described how they have a crucial responsibility as part of JMC. “Magbibigay rin kami ng lakas ng loob sa mga bata. Hindi kasi maiiwasan na sa competition dadating ‘yung point na gusto mo nang sumuko. Kapag ganun we will encourage them na ipagpatuloy lang ‘yung pag-work nila sa dream nila. Baka may mga galing sila na hindi pa nila nare-realize.”

He added that he didn’t agree to be part of JMC so he can become famous and promote himself and his business. Instead he only wanted to inspire many Filipino children who want to be chefs someday to work hard in achieving their dream. “Ginagawa ko ito hindi dahil gusto kong sumikat. Ginagawa ko ito dahil malapit talaga sa puso ko ‘yung pagluluto, at bilang father mahilig din ako sa mga bata. Magandang opportunity ito para maenganyo natin ang maraming bata na matutong magluto at mangarap na someday ay maging top chef. Itong mga bata ng Junior MasterChef I believe sila ang magiging future ng culinary industry sa bansa natin. The more na maraming bata ang magkakagusto sa pagluluto because of this show, ‘yun ang mas important kaysa sa pagsikat namin.”

Among the three, Chef Fern is the more familiar to many viewers since he has appeared in numerous cooking shows on TV before. He obtained his degree at the New England Culinary School in Vermont and later opened Uva restaurant in Greenbelt 2. His busy schedule almost prevented him from becoming a part of JMC. Now that he is finally a judge and a mentor of aspiring chefs, how will Chef Fern manage to convey his verdict of the work of these of the JMC kids? “Dapat positibo lang,” he explained. “Tutukan mo kung ano ‘yung mga ginagawang tama. Syempre dapat honest pa rin. I-point out mo ‘yung mali pero ako kasi mas gusto kong i-uplift ‘yung mga bata kaysa i-let down. I was once a kid who dream of becoming a chef. Honestly ngayon kapag may nagsasabing hindi maganda ‘yung luto ko nasasaktan pa rin ako, e ano pa sila?”

Source: www.push.com.ph

Lauren Dyogi Describes Judy Ann Santos as Perfect Host for Junior Master Chef

Lauren Dyogi has another surprise for all fans of ABS-CBN reality shows. After the success of Pinoy Big Brother and The Biggest Loser: Pinoy Edition, Direk Lauren’s team is now cooking up a Philippine version of Junior MasterChef. The show will put children in a contest to see who has the best culinary skill.

In an interview with Push.com.ph during the general assembly of the top sixty young contestants, “Direk Lauren shared that he is very excited about having Judy Ann Santos as host of JMC Pinoy edition. “Nagtagpo ang landas namin ni Ms. Judy Ann dahil matagal na pala niyang gustong gumawa ng cooking show. Nagkataon na naghahanap kami ng host for JMC. Naisip agad namin si Judy Ann dahil nagawa na niya ‘yung teleserye na Ysabella, which was about cooking.”

He added that JMC is a perfect show for Judy Ann because this will combine two things that the young superstar love very much: cooking and kids. “Alam din natin na kumuha siya ng culinary course dahil hilig talaga niya ang pagluluto. Akmang akma ang JMC sa kanya dahil hilig niya ang pagluluto at ngayon ay isa na siya ina. Tuwang-tuwa siya kapag may bata.”

However, since this is her first time to do a hosting job, Judy Ann had confessed in a separate interview that she is very nervous about JMC. But for a seasoned reality show director like Lauren, he said this nervousness may serve a good purpose for Judy Ann. “Maganda ang may kaba kasi ibig sabihin mage-exert ka ng extra effort at diligence para paghusayan ang iyong trabaho,” he explained.

Direk Lauren also said he is confident that Judy Ann will do a good job as host of JMC. “She’s very professional. Kapag may tinanggap siyang project she will make sure na pagaaralan niya nang mabuti at ibibigay niya ‘yung best niya. We’re excited to be working with her on this show.”

Aside from Judy Ann, JMC: Pinoy Edition will also feature three top chefs in the country who will taste and judge whatever the kid contestants will serve on the table. Direk Lauren talked about how he and his team chose Chefs Fern Aracama, Rolando Laudico, and JP Anglo as their judges. “Mahirap din ang prosesong ‘yan. Nagpa-audition din kami ng ilang professional chefs. Si Chef JP nahanap namin sa Iloilo. Si Chef Fern inalok namin pero nung una sabi niya busy na siya pero good thing lumuwag bigla ‘yung schedule niya and he immediately told us na gusto niyang maging part ng show. We’re very happy with our three judges.”

In the end there will only be one winner of JMC who will take home one million pesos plus a scholarship to a top culinary school. Direk Lauren related the popular reasons of these kids for wanting to be part of the show. “Marami talaga ang hilig ang pagluluto. ‘Yung iba gustong hasain ang kanilang talento sa pagluluto at baka in the future ay maging magaling silang chef at makatulong sa pamilya. I’m sure they will exceed our expectation.”