Judy Ann Santos admitted to host Boy Abunda on his evening show Tonight With Boy Abunda that her eldest daughter, Yohan, is already asking questions about her real biological parents.
View this post on Instagram
Judy Ann shared that Yohan, who she adopted when she turned 26 years old, has already asked her if she knew Yohan’s real mom or if she was friends with her real dad or if she knew where they lived. Judy Ann would always answer honestly that she didn’t but would tell Yohan, “Sweetheart, if at some point, you want to meet them, you want to talk to them if you feel that there are questions already in your heart that are piling up, and feeling mo sila lang ‘yung makakasagot (you feel that they’re the only ones who can answer), we can look for them, because that’s your right.”
She also told Yohan that it’s okay for her to ask “at some point” if she could meet them.
“Huminga lang ako nang malalim,” she told Boy. “Iyon pala ‘yon. Hindi mo naman siya pinagdadamot. Pero from the time that she asked me that question, I was preparing myself every day. ‘Lord, dumating man yung time na maging seryoso na ‘tong batang ‘to, i-prepare mo kami.’ Kasi hindi ko siya ipagkakait sa ganoon.”
(“I breathed in deeply. So that was it. You wouldn’t want to deny her of that. But from the time that she asked me that question, I was preparing myself every day. ‘Lord, if the time comes that this child gets serious, please help us be prepared.’ Because I don’t want to deny her of what she wants.”)
View this post on Instagram
(ALSO READ: Judy Ann Santos Wins at 41st Cairo International Film Festival)
Judy Ann also shared that there are instances when Yohan would feel sensitive about being the only adopted child in the family. However, she and husband Ryan Agoncillo would also make sure she feels loved.
“Syempre noong una parang…hindi siya in denial eh, pero parang feeling niya siguro baka binobola ko siya or something and we made her realize na Ryan and me started a family because of you (Yohan). Basically, ikaw ‘yung mitsa ng kandila ng pamilya natin.”
(“Of course at first it’s like…it’s not that she was in denial, but she feels that I’m just flattering her or something, and we made her realize that Ryan and I started a family because of you (Yohan). Basically, you are the wick of our family’s candle.”)
She would also remind Yohan of her and her siblings’ birth names: Yohan is Johanna Louis, Lucho is Juan Luis, and Luna is Juana Luisa.
“All named after you,” she would tell Yohan. “You came first, so always remember hindi ka basta salingkit dito (you aren’t just an extra person here). You started this family.”
(ALSO READ: ‘That’s When I Knew’: Ryan Agoncillo Shares Story of How He Knew Judy Ann Was the One)
Yohan recently turned 15 years old. She was adopted by Judy Ann when she was born, back when Judy Ann was still single.
Watch the full clip below:
Have you ever adopted a child, or are an adopted child yourself? Tell us your thoughts about this in the comments.
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at story.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad! Get the latest news about the Philippine Entertainment industry and join the WIM Showbiz Facebook group!
