Judy Ann Santos on why young people should be genuine

The award-winning actress shares her secret to thriving in work and in life

- JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

Judy Ann Santos has been a well-known figure in the Philippine entertainment industry for decades. She started out as a teenage star and worked hard to become an award-winning actress, producer, and restaurant owner. People remember her for her famous parts and box office hits. Some young people now know her for her funny, viral videos. But it’s the ideals she’s lived by—kindness, self-awareness, and keeping true to herself—that make her a role model outside of the screen.

In this interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, Judy Ann, the newest ambassador for Tala, talks about what she’s learned from her own successes and failures. She gives the next generation of dreamers honest, heartfelt guidance to getting through both work and life.

What do you wish you knew at 18 when you were just starting out that would have saved you a lot of heartache?