TV and movie actress Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo keeps on inspiring more Filipino women not just through her TV shows and movies but now more than ever, through her own YouTube channel, where she teaches new cooking skills and recipes.
Through the YouTube channel ‘Judy Ann’s Kitchen,’ the 42-year-old celebrity reaches out to more online viewers to share new skills and even startup entrepreneurial opportunities. The video-sharing channel now has more than 1.5 million subscribers, making it among the most-well-followed by empowered Filipinas.
“I started my channel intending to share well-loved recipes and skills I learned when I went to culinary school and I soon realized that my YouTube channel has moved from simply sharing content to teaching people new skills and giving back to the community,” Santos-Agoncillo shared. “YouTube has the ability to open so many doors for women and I think that’s the beauty of this platform.”
Santos-Agoncillo shared more insights and inspiration during the recent ‘Digiskarteng Pinay’ event, a virtual session facilitated by YouTube for the celebration of International Women’s Month. Aside from her, the event also featured other ma-Digiskarteng Pinays who are using YouTube to bounce back and inspire more people amid the pandemic.
“At a time when women’s resources are being hit the hardest, YouTube remains to be a platform that they can use to their advantage,” said Google Philippines Country Head Bernadette Nacario. “It allows them to upskill and seize the opportunities of the growing digital economy to augment their lives and those around them.”
Be inspired by the stories of these ma-Digiskarteng Pinays:
Juliette Piquero had just left her job as an accountant when the pandemic emerged. During her stay in the province, she made use of her knack for cooking by picking up recipes from local YouTube channels. She eventually turned the hobby into an online cake shop now called Nenita’s Cakes and Pastries.
Working student Dielian Certeza lost her part-time job—which prompted her to look for another income source for her and her siblings’ studies. Through the content from various YouTube channels, she was able to create her own unique sauce recipes for her own home-based business, Hot Chicks, which serves chicken wings. The business now supports her family’s daily needs.
Lifestyle-turned-business vlogger Tinmay Arcenas show shares videos about her family’s poultry farm and ‘pungko-pungko’ business. Her channel, now having over 40,000 subscribers, currently shares tips on how to be more productive and how to earn income even amid the pandemic.