A superstar as early as 5 a.m.

There are superstars and all-around superstars. And just a few days ago, The T-Zone determined — without a doubt — that premier Philippine actress Judy Ann Santos is of the latter and most dazzling kind.

For, while other superstars are superstars within their specific realm — actors, athletes, and the most expert professionals of various other fields — in the case of Juday, wherever she goes or whatever she does, she just shines.

The Queen of Philippine Soap Opera and premiere actress Judy Ann Santos is also a superstar in the kitchen.

But wait. Scratch that. “Just” may be the wrong word to use as to how this 45-year-old household name of over three decades achieves success in practically all of her endeavors. “Just” waters down her lifelong principle of hard work and dedication, which led her to become Philippine TV's iconic Ula, Mara and Esperanza, as well as the silver screen's tragic heroine Sabel and stirringly enigmatic Ploning.

Outside showbiz, Juday, as she is famously known, is equally popular as a celebrity wife and mother, given her picture-perfect family with hubby Ryan Agoncillo and children Yohan, Lucho and Luna. Not only is she thriving and reveling in this real-life and lifelong role, but she is slaying it. How so? Not with a complete household entourage doing everything for her as one may think of a showbiz superstar. She does so as a mom who really does the work.

While many of us struggle to rise with the sun, Juday is already up and about at 5 in the morning, preparing her children's “baon” (food for recess and lunch) for school. It's a task that many moms might find daunting (guilty as charged over here), but for this multi-award-winning actress, it makes her happy.

So even if she only had a couple of hours shuteye coming from a shoot or will have a full work day ahead, Juday's body clock eagerly rouses her from bed and into the kitchen the whole school year-round.

This fun fact, which absolutely catapults Juday to “superstar mom” status in my books, was duly uncovered thanks to the launch of Alaska Milk Corporation's newest “SustanyaYum” campaign. Needless to say, the iconic Filipino brand named this amazing momma as their ambassador.

The 5-minute, ‘5-ingredient SustansyaYUM gravy’

“My kids' happiness is my inspiration. I just want to make sure they have delicious and nutritious meals even in school,” Juday explained at the Q&A, and mind you, with nary a hint of “I'm-a-better-mom-than-you” air.

Self-effacing despite her stature (and major mom points), it was clear she had no intention of laying the guilt on any of the starstruck Alaska Nanay Club members present that day or any mom for that matter. Because for the rest of the interview, Juday didn't go on about bringing her professional culinary training to motherhood, nor her bestselling and award-winning “Judy Ann in the Kitchen” recipe book and chef-restaurateur experience with Angrydobo. Instead, she reminded everyone about episodes of her pandemic-born and highly-followed YouTube cooking channel, where her boo-boos in the kitchen are never edited out.

“From the start [of vlogging], I told the director I wanted a cooking program that showed my mistakes as well, because that's how it really is in the kitchen, especially when you want to serve your family the best dish you can,” Juday related.

After all, her goal for sharing her recipes and cooking styles was never to impress or entertain her followers. She has an endless filmography for that. Her intention for the vlog and embracing this new ambassadorship for Alaska is to help and encourage fellow moms to thrive in the kitchen, too.

“I've always loved cooking,” Juday affirmed. “But it was when I became a wife and mother that my passion for it really flourished because I know that cooking brings people together. It's my way of expressing love.”

Juday guarantees that for any mom to see her family enjoy and bond over a meal she prepared is incredibly fulfilling — every single time. Juday therefore spent the rest of the event demonstrating how Alaska milk has long been helping her liven up homecooked meals with hardly much time and effort.

For one, she showed how to make the 5-minute, 5-ingredient SustansyaYUM Gravy that instantly takes the monotony of fried chicken with ketchup out of weekday dinners. The star ingredient, here, is the Alaska Classic Evaporated Filled Milk.

There is also the Creamy SustansyaYum Pumpkin Soup and Carbonara Ala Crema using Alaska Crema All Purpose Cream and Classic Braised Pork and Creamy Beef with Mushrooms, whose complete ingredients list and procedure are ready for the guiding via www.alaskananayclub.com.

“Like many Filipinos, I grew up with Alaska Milk because it's what you'd easily find at the neighborhood sari-sari (store), right? So even now, for my family, I use Alaska because it has that taste I've come to love and the quality and nutrition I trust.”

The kitchen superstar further said, “Their products are all crafted from real milk. So when you use it or give it to your kids, the best way I can describe it is it has no filter. I love that I can give my children something that's both tasty and good for them.”

Without a doubt, Alaska chose the best actress for the role of brand ambassador simply because Juday is sure to give the campaign her hundred percent as she does with every character she portrays. Technically, she doesn't really need to prepare or internalize anything to fulfill the part. And because family is closest to her heart. Because she is a real deal kitchen superstar for her family, every day, even before sunrise.

So no more guilt fellow moms. Let Juday be our guide in becoming the superstar of the people we love most. Go claim that kitchen!