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Iza Calzado expresses her respect for the Dingdong-Marian love team, and clarifies that there is no rift between her and Marian
Iza Calzado expresses her respect for the Dingdong-Marian love team, and clarifies that there is no rift between her and Marian Rivera. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Billing issues GMA Films president Ms. Annette Gozon-Abrogar admits that they haven't settled billing matters yet for One True Love , GMA Films' love triangle-inspired story tentatively set to be released this November. Direk Mac Alejandre will be spearheading the project, along with stars Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes and Iza Calzado. "Pinapag-usapan pa namin," says Ms. Annette. "Co-producer namin dito yung Regal Films, so medyo nag-uusap pa kami kung paano. Kasi of equal importance silang tatlo sa movie, and as stars, alam naman natin na lahat sila magka-level." Ms. Annette shares how she would do it if she were to decide on her own. "Kasi, for me, nakikita ko yung strength ng Dingdong-Marian tandem, nakikita ko rin yung strength ng Iza Calzado as one of the prime actresses of Philippine TV and cinema, so pwede nating gawin, kunwari, [magkahanay yung] 'Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera' [tapos] 'And Iza Calzado.' Para mapakita natin yung love team, and mabigyan din ng importance si Iza. Yun lang ang for me. Hindi ko pa alam kung pwede or kung paano tatanggapin." "At saka hindi mo naman maiaalis na love team talaga sila, e," Iza adds. "So I'm really coming in as a solo actress [in this movie]." "Kasi iba talaga yung character niya dito na parang in effect, ang lakas ng character niya, so she deserves to be hiwalay talaga sa love team na Dingdong-Marian," says Ms. Annette. Iza's last movie project with Dingdong was Eternity in 2006, which is why she says it's not advisable for them to be marketed as an onscreen pair again. Besides, Dingdong has a new leading lady now—Marian. "Noon pa po yun! Hindi po pwedeng gawing love team din namin," says Iza. "Matagal na rin po kaming walang ginagawang mga projects ni Dingdong." But Iza and Dingdong's past, although undeniable onscreen chemistry, could still work to their advantage. Ms. Annette explains, "Sa Moments of Love (2006), nakita natin yung chemistry ng Dingdong-Iza love team. Sa kwento [ng One True Love], kailangan may chemistry din sa kanila, e. So talagang choice din namin si Iza sa role kasi makikita din yung chemistry nila [ni Dingdong] onscreen, even though malakas na malakas yung Dingdong-Marian love team. So it's for the story talaga—para lumabas talaga lahat ng emotions." Regarding the billing issue, Iza imparts, "Nasa sa kanila na po yun kung paano nila pag-uusapan. Whatever is fair and whatever is tama lang—and in agreement kaming lahat. Ayoko rin naman yung may magagalit, ayoko rin yung ipipilit ko yung isang bagay na people will react, bakit siya?" Iza adds that it's not just Artist Center that's resolving the matter. "It's Artist Center and my father, and rest assured that my father will not settle for something na hindi niya nararamdaman na hindi dapat para sa akin." No competition What is Iza's comment on the notion that she may not be as popular as Marian, but she is the better actress? Iza hesitated before answering, obviously wary of what the media might make of what she will say. "Hmm. Sikat naman po talaga siya, e. Totoo naman po e. Sa pagalingan, hindi ko naman po siya napapanood masyado. I can only speak for my work, and, yung opinion ng tao, kanilang opinion yun. Sa kasikatan naman po, it's obvious that she's everywhere. She's really very marketable, she has a hit show—she's had two hit shows, MariMar and Dyesebel, so hindi ko po maiaalis yun. "Basta po ako naman, since before pa, nagtatrabaho lang ako nang nagtatrabaho. I only compete with myself. Kasi I'm only as good as my last performance. Ako, lagi kong tinitignan sarili ko, parang lagi kong gustong pagbutihan, pagbutihan, pagbutihan. So hindi ako nakikipag-compete sa kanya sa kung sino mas sikat. Ang kakumpitensya ko talaga, sarili ko! Kailangan galingan ko pa, galingan, galingan, sa kahit anong gawin ko." She says that competition is inevitable in her line of work, and she has had her share of comparisons by the media. "Noon pa naman, e. Hindi naman maalis yun. Kami ni Sunshine [Dizon], we're best friends, pero sometimes, we'd find that people compare us." So how does she deal with these unsolicited comparisons? "We don't let it get to us because it's inevitable na may competition, pero nasa sa inyo naman yun kung gagawin niyong pati ba sa totoong buhay [magke-carry over]. Hindi naman kailangan yun." So does that mean that she and Marian are friends? "We are not close friends, kahit naman siya [hindi rin that close sa akin], because we don't get the chance naman to often be with each other," Iza explains. "Pero sa shoot naman, pag nagkikita kami, hi, hello, kumusta? It's always there. Always very polite." Since everyone's been comparing them anyway, what is the one thing that Marian can do but she cannot? "Naku po, obvious naman—mag-two piece!" Iza exclaims with a laugh. "Oo! Aminado naman po ako doon, e! Hindi ko pa kaya! Siguro in three years!" On Dong, Karylle—and her new boy! When asked about the status of her former leading man's relationship with long-term girlfriend Karylle who happens to be Iza's cousin, the actress begs off, saying that it's not her business to comment on anyone's love life. "Kasi, unang-una po, wala naman po akong karapatan na pagusapan ang buhay ng maybuhay dito sa harap niyo, dahil una, hindi ko rin naman po talaga alam. Maraming nagtatanong sa akin, wala naman akong maibigay na sagot kasi wala naman silang sinasabi sa akin." Iza could comment, however, on her newest admirer, 20-year old Simon Atkins, who's a La Salle Green Archers point guard. The two both have cameo roles in GMA Films' Sundo, and Simon has been open about his crush on the actress, who gamely accepted his application as "boyfriend #4." "Sabi ko, o sige, mukha naman siyang mabait, bakit ko naman siya pipigilan, application pa lang naman!" Iza shares. "Kasi may running joke kami sa group of friends namin, so 'number four' na siya, yun ang tawagan namin." She refused to reveal boyfriends number two and three, although we all know who number one is: her non-showbiz boyfriend, Jerry Garcia. Iza explains how she and Simon met. "Kasi ganito yan. Si Simon Atkins, nakilala ko through a friend, si Cheska Iñigo. Birthday party ng mga anak ni Cheska. Tapos, nakita ko ulit siya noong birthday ni Rhian Ramos. Syempre, binati ko siya doon. Tapos the next day, I received a call from Cheska, sabi niya, anak, si Simon daw, naga-apply daw as boyfriend! Sabi ko, ay ganoon?" How does she feel about this? "Syempre nakakatuwa naman na mayroon pa palang nagkakagusto sa akin!" Iza answers, saying that she really considers Simon younger because of their six-year gap. Is there a chance for boyfriends two to four to be successful in their application? "Well hindi natin alam, kasi mahirap magsalita nang patapos!" Iza remarks with a grin. "Pero harmless naman, hangga't nasasabi ko pa naman sa inyo. Kung hindi sila harmless, itatago ko sila sa inyo! Haha!" Always log on to iGMA for more updates on Iza's projects! Watch out for our Sundo update coming soon! Text IZA to 4627 to get in touch with her via Fanatxt! Each SMS costs P2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, TM and TALK N TEXT, while it costs P2.00 for SUN subscribers. To receive picture messages at P5.00 each, text GOMMS IZA ON and send to 4627. (These services are available only in the Philippines)