Celebrity couple Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo candidly opened up about their married life and being parents to their kids for 16 years.
In a conversation with Matteo Guidicelli, the longtime couple shared how their relationship has grown after over nearly two decades of being together.
“It’s actually gotten spicier (after 16 years), more intense,” Ryan described on how he and Judy Ann exchange their ‘I love yous’.
For Ryan, marriage has been a continuous journey of discovering new sides of Judy Ann beyond her superstar persona.
“Nakilala ko kasi ‘yung the real Judy Ann. Now pa lang, I’m getting to know the rest of her. What made me survive the initial years of being with Judy Ann was the ignorance of how big she was as a star. Now, only now —of course I knew how big of a star she was when I made ligaw— but now as her star shines brighter, then I’m seeing more of it and I’m allowing myself to see it from a different perspective kaya yung ‘I love you’ ko may mas gigil,” Ryan added.
Judy Ann echoed the sentiment, recalling how her understanding of love became clearer when she fell for Ryan.
“The first year na nag-‘I love you’ ako kay Ryan, that was the first ever time na nararamdaman ko na ito pala ‘yung feeling ng pagsabi ko ng ‘I love you’. Because I’ve been with a lot of loveteams and met a lot of people, nandoon na ‘yung question mo na kung ano ba talaga ‘yung feeling na magsabi ng ‘I love you’ and then you just feel it talaga. Ito na ‘yun,” Judy Ann.
Years later, she said that her love and appreciation to her husband have only grown richer in meaning.
“After 16 years, the I love you’s are getting more colorful, more meaningful. Nagkakaroon ng ibang layer ‘yung kilig. May ibang layer ng I love you, kayo na. Pero now na married na kayo and you say ‘I love you’ depending on the time of situation if katatapos lang mag-away, or first thing in the morning or ako naman afternoon,” she continued.
Judy Ann and Ryan first crossed paths as co-stars in the 2004 ABS-CBN fantaserye Krystala, and starred again in the hit film Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. It was during that time that their relationship began to take shape.
“We started as co-workers naman although the movie came about na (Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo) we decided na after Krystala, where we got closer, and by the end of Krystala we were dating na, we took a year off together na parang okay we are not gonna work muna together yet kasi we want to know for ourselves if what we felt is real kasi we weren’t playing around anymore. We wanted to see if the romance can prosper more kasi iba ‘yung r-e-a-l,” Ryan looked back.
After years, the couple tied the knot at San Juan Nepomuceno Church in San Juan, Batangas in April 2009. The couple now share three children - Yohan, Lucho and Luna.
Being parents, Judy Ann and Ryan said they take a deliberate and grounded approach, especially when it comes to supporting their children’s dreams, particularly with Yohan who has recently began pursuing music.
“We are very intentional in raising Yohan since in her first four years with us, we were still boyfriend and girlfriend. But at the time that we got married, nagsasabi na siya na gusto niya maging singer pero ayun nga may qualification ‘yung support,” Ryan said.
He explained that while Judy Ann sets clear non-negotiables, he takes on the role of guiding their children in other aspects.
“Kay Judy Ann, non-negotiable ‘yung kailangan tapos kayo so I took on the role an adviser na sa ibang bagay na ‘Sige anak gusto mo maging singer and since you have the natural talent in singing anyway let’s work on the other stuff,’” he said.
“That's how we support our children tna okay sige ambition mo maging singer, so we make sure you become a well-rounded person so by the time that you attack your dream, handa ka na,” he added.
Despite never formally discussing their parenting style, Ryan said they’ve remained in sync when deciding for their kids.
“Yung parenting, never namin pinagusapan. We never had a discussion about parenting, but it just came naturally kahit hanggang ngayon. We never have fights about parenting. We never have arguments. We never got in each other’s way,” Ryan stated.