Recognizing Iza

Her simple wish was to be respected in her craft and be a source of inspiration. And this desire for young actress Iza Calzado has become a reality with all the good fortune that she has been reaping of late. Text by Erick Mataverde with interview excerpts from Chika Minute. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Fate seems to be smiling upon the statuesque beauty as she has just recently been informed that she was a semi-finalist at the International Emmy Awards for the category Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series. This was for her role in Joaquin Bordado. GMA Network saw it fit to enter her performance in this prestigious award-giving body and it readily paid off. It actually represents a milestone, as she is the first Filipino artist who has been entered into the said category. "Mukha akong ewan dun sa mall, kasi pumapadyak ako tapos parang naiiyak ako. Hindi ko alam bakit. Talagang parang na-overwhelm talaga ako," she recalls, when she learned of about her entering the semi-finals for her Joaquin Bordado role. However, this has still kept her unfazed and humble at the same time, believing that it is high time that Filipino television and film artists should be given their due for the hard work and effort they devote in refining their acting craft. "Tingin ko it's about time," she declares. "Kasi kung talent lang naman talaga, punong-puno tayo sa talent. Punong-puno, grabe." This seems to be a natural progression for Iza as she is also preparing for the commercial release of the movie The Echo, a Hollywood remake after her 2004 film Sigaw. In this new version, she plays Gina, wife of a character played by Canadian-born actor Kevin Durand. With all these achievements under her belt she can only be thankful for the blessings she has received: "Ang galing talaga ni God, kasi, 'di ba? Ano na ito eh. Dasal nalang eh. Kaya wala akong ginawa ngayon kundi magdasal lalo. Naiiyak nga ako sa tuwa!" Likewise, she is also occupied with a number of current projects, noteworthy of which is her special participation in the soon-to-be-released remake of the Argentinean soap La Lola. We can only be most hopeful that this series of good fortune would continue for Iza, though she is no stranger to receiving praise and adulation for her work. Her talent being honored and recognized around the world will further serve as a testament to the remarkable potential of Filipino artists. Find out more about her projects and other interests direct from Iza herself! Key in IZA [Your Message] Send to 4627 for Globe, TM, Sun, Smart and Talk 'N Text.Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for Globe, TM, Smart, and Talk 'N Text, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. This service is only available in the Philippines. Get to discuss more about Iza Calzado by logging on to the iGMAForums! Not yet a member? Register here!