MANILA -- It's official: Actress Judy Ann Santos is staying with ABS-CBN after she signed a new contract with the Kapamilya network on Wednesday afternoon. Santos will be hosting the upcoming game show "Bet On Your Baby." Present during the contract signing were ABS-CBN TV production head Laurenti Dyogi, ABS-CBN broadcast head Cory Vidanes and ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio and Santos' manager Alfie Lorenzo. "Naalala ko the last words I said during the press conference (of her last series 'Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala') na ABS-CBN would always be the first option with regards sa talk na mangyayari if ever sa ibang networks. Nandiyan kami para makinig. Pero since I'm a Kapamilya, first option would always be ABS-CBN," explained Santos who signed a two-year contract on Wednesday, which also includes a new television series. The renewal of her contract with ABS-CBN happened amid speculations that she is transferring to another network. ABS-CBN offered "Bet On Your Baby" last month, just as her primetime series "Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala" was nearing its conclusion. The series' relatively short run led to speculations that the actress was moving to another network. In the interview on Wednesday, Santos told ABS-CBNNews.com that her decision to renew her contract with her mother network proves that it's not always about money. "Hindi naman ako magpapaka-plastik (dahil) lahat naman tayo ay kailangan nating kumita ng pera. Pero, at the end of the day. iisipin mo din kung ano ba talaga 'yung makakabuti sa iyo. At the same time, saan ka magiging masaya? Saan ba na ba-value ang worth mo bilang isang tao at isang artista?" she said. "At saka ako mismo pina-plano ko din naman kung saan ako dapat pupunta. Ano ba 'yung path ng career na pwede kong buksan para maiba naman 'yung nakikita ng tao sa akin? There are lot of things that you have to consider but, you know, at the end of the day, doon ka babagsak sa kung saan ka kumportable at kung saan ka papakinggan. "May mga tampuhan, samaan ng loob, pero sa palagay ko, kung walang ganoon, di ka matututo bilang isang tao, hindi mo din malalaman kung paano mo iha-handle ang problema sa susunod na taon. Ako, naniniwala ako na lahat ng ito ay nangyari for a reason. It made me a better person. At the same time it made me realize na, okay, alam ko kung saan ako," she added. Although Santos earlier admitted that there were offers from another network, she clarified that she and manager were not shopping around. "In fairness sa amin ni Tito Alfie, ayaw naming ipakita na magwe-welcome ka ng talks sa ibang networks. At the end of the day, hindi naman magiging okay. Doon kasi lalabas 'yung usapan na 'ah nasilaw sa ganito, ah kasi ganoon.' So doon muna tayo makipag-settle sa unang option (ABS-CBN), Kung hindi matuloy saka tayo punta sa ibang option," she explained. "it was never na sabay-sabay na meeting at the same time kasi ang pangit ng magiging dating ko sa mga network producers kung lahat sila kinausap ko at wala naman akong tinupad na usapan. So ayaw ko lang ng ganoong tingin sa akin ng mga tao na sa tuwing matatapos ang kontrata lahat sila kakausapin," she stressed. Right now, Santos said she is excited about her first game show "Bet On Your Baby." "Exciting at kinakabahan. Nate-tense kasi hindi ko alam, how will I do it. Ibang-iba kasi sa 'MasterChef.' Nakakatuwa na sa akin ibinigay 'yung project," Santos said.
