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.”
