Judy Ann Santos was treated to a trip down memory lane during her first day as guest co-host in Magandang Buhay.
In the early to mid-2000s, Judy Ann and Kapamilya actor Piolo Pascual were the hottest love team on the network.
Piolo is starring in the upcoming series Flower of Evil alongside Lovi Poe, who was the guest star of the talk show's June 21 episode.
While the question about Piolo was supposed to be for Lovi, hosts Jolina Magdangal and Melai Cantiveros couldn't help but also ask Juday, knowing their history as love-team partners!
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE EPISODE?
Lovi, together with co-stars Rita Avila and Pinky Amador, faced the hosts for a game called “Kutob Ko ‘Yan,” where they were given a certain situation, then asked to share if they had a gut feeling that the situation could happen to them.
Jolina and Melai each had a turn in asking questions to the guests.
When it was Judy Ann’s turn, she said with a laugh, “Ito na ang susunod na tanong at sa akin talaga napunta ito.
“Oo, e. May kurot ka sa akin mamaya, ha, Marc!”
Marc is Marc Noveloso, one of the show’s head writers with Darla Sauler.
Judy Ann read the question: “Mahahawakan ko ang abs ni Piolo Pascual sa una kong show sa ABS-CBN?”
The Kapamilya actress then remarked, “Hindi ko kutob ito! Kaninong kutob ito?”
Lovi raised her “Kutob Ko ‘Yan” card.
Judy Ann then asked, “So, Lovi, pareho na nating nakatrabaho si Piolo as a leading man. Feeling ko, alam naman ng mga tao ‘yan, di ba, na nakatrabaho ko rin naman si Piolo at some point.
“Paano mo siya ilalarawan bilang partner? How can you describe Piolo?”
Lovi answered and described Piolo as the “most genuine actor” that she has worked with.
She then explained, “Parang hindi ko nga maisip na iba yung maka-pareho ko, e, sa first TV show ko dito.
“Napakabait niya, napakamaalaga, and also very sincere as an actor. So, parang lahat na ng gusto mo sa isang guy nasa kanya.”
Melai asked Lovi about Piolo’s abs: “Pero totoo talaga yung kutob mo, na nakutuban mo talaga siya na pagpasok mo rito sa ABS, mahawakan mo talaga yung abs niya?”
Lovi said with a laugh, “Oo, kasama yun sa kontrata. Hahaha! Kasama sa kontrata, kailangan mahawakan ang abs ni Piolo Pascual!”
Judy Ann referred to Piolo's six-pack abs as she asked, “Yung anim ba, nahawakan mo?”
Lovi answered, “Lahat ng anim kasi, makikita mo doon, may separate shot si Direk! Mi-nake sure niya na nandun yun, talagang may separate shot na mabigyan ko ng moment.”
Talking about Piolo’s abs, Melai quipped, “Sana tignan natin yung mga kontrata natin, baka may mga kutob din tayo dun, ha!
Judy Ann then exclaimed, “Ay, ako, wala akong kontrata. So, wala siya sa kontrata ko,” and then laughed out loud.
Because Judy Ann spoke about their history as a love team, Melai had the chance to turn the tables on her co-host!
Melai asked, “Speaking of, nagsalita ka na rin Momshie Juday, Momshie Juday, paano mo ilalarawan...
Before Melai could finish her sentence, Judy Ann exclaimed, “Teka, teka! Kasama ba ako sa show? Guest host ako dito, di ba?”
Melai then said, “Momshie Juday, wala tayong magagawa. Pina-kuwan dito sa kuwan!”
Melai was referring to the script she was reading where she had to ask Juday the question.
Turning to the headwriter, Judy Ann joked, “Naku, Mark! Humanda ka talaga, wala kang lunch!”
Melai then continued her question: “Paano mo ilalarawan si Piolo as leading man?”
Upon hearing the question for Juday, Lovi could be heard saying, “Wait lang, kinikilig ako!”
Magandang Buhay then went on a commercial break before Juday could give her answer.
JUDY ANN ON PIOLO’S ABS
When Magandang Buhay returned on air after the commercial break, Judy Ann introduced Flower of Evil director Darnel Villaflor, who just joined the actresses in the interview.
After the short intro, Melai reminded Judy Ann of the hanging question they had before the commercial break.
Judy Ann remarked, “Pinaalala lang sa ‘yo, e! Nakalimutan mo na! Tigilan mo ‘ko! Hahaha!”
Melai asked again, “Paano ba bilang leading man at may follow-up question pa, kung nahawakan mo na rin ba ang six pack ni Papa P!”
In Judy Ann’s answer, she mentioned filmmaker Joyce Bernal, who directed her and Piolo in the movies Till There Was You (2003) and Don’t Give Up On Us (2006).
Juday narrated, “Parang kung si Joyce Bernal kasi ang direktor mo at si Piolo Pascual ang leading man mo, hindi mawawala yung ipahawak ni Joyce yung abs ni Piolo.
“Kasi ang character na laging ginagampanan ko, character naman talaga ni Joyce yun. Ipinapagawa lang niya sa akin. Ganyan siya!”
But as for working with Piolo, Judy Ann has good words for her former love team partner.
Judy Ann said, “Actually, Piolo is a very good actor. Napakaprofessional na tao niyan, talagang bibigyan ka niya ikaw ng pagkakataong...”
Judy Ann then got distracted by how Melai was looking at her as she told her story.
Melai reasoned out, “Naiimagine ko kasi yung mga... may imaginations lang ako! So, talagang very good actor talaga?"
Judy Ann continued, “Mahusay si Piolo, mahusay siyang magpakilig, mahusay siyang artista, alam niya yung timpla niya.”
Lovi seconded, “Totoo, magaling talaga siyang magpakilig."
Judy Ann then said in jest, “Okay na ako Melai, ha! Wala nang follow-up, ha. At saka ko na sagutin yung follow-up pagka may kontrata na ako!”
JUDY ANN-PIOLO HISTORY
Judy Ann and Piolo first worked together in the shows Mara Clara and Gimik in 1996. Back then, they were not a love team yet. In fact, Piolo was playing kontrabida roles in these shows.
Piolo joined the latter part of Judy Ann’s series Esperanza in 1999. He played a kontrabida who becomes Esperanza’s boyfriend.
The management saw their chemistry in Esperanza that Piolo became the leading man of Judy Ann in the pilot episode of her own anthology, Judy Ann Drama Special. They also worked together in the movie Kahit Isang Saglit.
In 2001, Judy Ann and Piolo did their first full-length teleserye as a love team, Sa Puso Ko, Iingatan Ka. It was also Judy Ann’s first mature role for a teleserye, as she and Piolo played a married couple.
This was followed by their hit movies Bakit ‘Di Totohanin (2001), Till There Was You (2003), and Don’t Give Up On Us (2006).
Their last project together was the prime-time series Sa Piling Mo (2006-2007).
Over the years, their fans have been looking forward to a reunion project for Piolo and Judy Ann.
After almost ten years, Judy Ann and Piolo were seen together again in a public event during their launch as endorsers of Sunlife in 2016.
Both are also open to working with each other if ever they will be offered a reunion project.
But as for Judy Ann, she said in a 2017 interview that she is not looking forward to it too much because she does not want to get frustrated if it does not happen.
In 2020, there was a clamor from their fans for Judy Ann and Piolo to headline the Pinoy adaptation of the British drama series Doctor Foster or The World of Married in Korea.
Piolo said that he would be open to doing it if it was offered to him and if Judy Ann had said yes to the project.
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