Junior Master Chef Pinoy Edition will finally reveal a winner this coming Saturday, February 18 with The Live Cook-Off finale. Viewers will soon know who among the four finalists—Kyle, Jobin, Mika and Philip—will be crowned the first Pinoy Junior MasterChef.

Host Judy Ann Santos said she has mixed feelings after being on the show for over seven months. “Happy at sad kasi matatapos na siya and heto na, nag-e-excel na lahat ng mga bata at alam mo in your heart na you’ve been a part of their experience and it’s a very good experience for me and for the kids as well. Sad kasi after Saturday kailan ko sila ulit makikita? Baka naman sa susunod na pagkikita ko sa kanila, ninang na ako sa kasal (laughs),” she joked during the Junior MasterChef PinoyEdition presscon held last February 15 at the ABS-CBN compound.

During the event, Juday couldn’t help but admit how much she has gotten attached to all the kiddie contestants. “Napalapit ako sa kanila, lahat talaga sila, medyo mahiyain kasi itong mga batang ito eh. You have to go out of your way para mailabas mo sila sa shell nila, sa comfort zone nila. Pero after ilang weeks, malilikot na, makukulit na sila. Masaya na kami sa set. It takes like ten minutes for them to stop talking or playing, may ganun na eh. Iniisip ko na lang na hanggang sa pagtanda nitong mga batang ito parte ako ng kabataan nila at naging malaking part ako sa pag-aaral nila ng pagluluto. Ngayon lang naman tayo nagkaroon ng ganitong show na talagang na-i-showcase ang talent ng mga batang Pilipino. Kung merong ganito dati siguro mas marami pa tayong na-inspire na mga bata na maging interested sa pagluluto kesa sa computer or kesa sa panunuod lang ng TV. Marami pa siguro tayong naturuan na may malaking mundo ang culinary. So with this show alam ko in our own little way naka-inspire tayo ng mga ilang tao,” she shared.

Now that she has successfully finished her first hosting gig, Juday admitted she still has a lot to learn. “Ang assessment ko sa sarili ko sa pag-ho-host, ‘Needs improvement.’ (laughs) Nag-e-enjoy ako pero parang hindi ko alam kung tama yung ginagawa ko, paranggusto ko lang mas maging at home pa ako sa pagiging host kasi maliban sa masarap siyang gawin, napakagaang niyang trabaho,” she said.

The 33-year-old host-actress divulged that after the Junior MasterChef, she has already been tapped to host the upcoming MasterChef show. Juday said she did not hesitate to accept since it was also about cooking. “Kung tungkol pa rin sa pagluluto I guess mas may lakas ng loob lang ako ngayon, kumbaga may confidence na ako ng konti kasi nahasa ako sa mga bata. Masaya kasi kapag bata ang kasama mo na mas na-e-enhance yung pakikipag-usap mo ng maayos kasi with kids hindi ka naman puwede magsalita ng hindi tama, baka naman sa paglaki ng mga batang ito, ako yung kontrabida sa buhay nila. Ayoko naman yun dahil buong buhay ko ako yung pinapaiyak (laughs). Kung sa susunod may hosting job ako, oo naman malaking bagay din kasi that I have my three chefs beside me, who are always there telling me what to do, telling me the proper words to use when it comes to culinary. It’s a good thing na it’s not just me doing the show, it’s all of us four and of course, the kids,” she shared...

by Manila Santos

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