IZA CALZADO
NAGLABAS ng sentimyento si Iza Calzado sa ginagawang pagkukumpara at pang-iintriga ng media sa kanila ni Judy Ann Santos at sa mga pelikula nilang maglalaban sa 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival na magsisimula na sa Dec. 25.
Sa ginanap na grand presscon ng filmfest entry niyang “Culion”, hindi napigilan ni Iza na maging emosyonal nang muli siyang tanungin kung ano ang napi-feel niya na posibleng makalaban niya ang kaibigan sa pagka-best actress pagdating ng gabi ng parangal. Lalo pa’t kapapanalo pa lang ni Juday bilang Best Actress sa Cairo International Film Festival 2019.
“Actually I’ve been meaning to address something for quite some time. Ever since Culion was voted to be part of the MMFF, but first I would like to say that I’m very, very happy for Juday. I sent her a message the moment I saw it. Sabi ko pa nga sa kanya, ‘It’s about time ba makilala ng buong mundo at makita ang mga mata ni Mara,’” pahayag ni Iza na ang tinutukoy ay ang karakter nito sa classic series na Mara Clara.
Aniya, super deserving si Juday sa natanggap na recognition, “Kasi napakatagal na niya sa industriya. Actually, siya yung iniidolo ko talaga. So in terms of respect and love, not only for Judy Ann as the actress but Judy Ann as the woman and the human being, I really look up to her. So to even just be in the same league, like if I were nominated next to her, masaya na. In terms kasi of this whole thing, ang tagal ko na kasing hindi nag-MMFF. At saka sa totoo lang, this is the first time that I am the lead. Not a leading lady, the lead and a producer as well.”
Hindi rin inaasahan ng lead star ng “Culion” na darating ang panahon na paglalabanin sila ni Juday, “The minute they announced that we were to be part of it, the questions revolved around, ‘How do you feel that you’re going to be competing against Mindanao or this actor or this actress?’ Immediately the questions were revolving around the competition of who’s going to win the award or who’s going to make the most money.
“Okay that’s understandable because it is a film festival. It is a competition. But perhaps instead of pitting us against each other maybe we should celebrate each other and celebrate that we are making film, ‘di ba? Lahat, bawat pelikula, kahit na yung hindi nakapasok ng MMFF, lahat ng mga tao naging parte nu’n ay nagbigay ng buong puso nila sa paggawa nu’n. So instead of trying to make us compete on a personal level, I think a healthy competition is highly encouraged,” pakiusap pa ng aktres.
Dagdag pa niya, “Parang mas maganda kung kunin natin sa mas positibong pananaw na, ‘Wow may walong magagandang pelikula na nakasama sa Metro Manila Film Fest. During this time ipinagdiriwang natin hindi lamang ang Pasko kundi Pasko para sa films. So bakit ganu’n para kang pinagsasabong eh, hindi naman tungkol dito yun.
“Hindi ba’t gusto natin ang umunlad at mas marami pang pelikula o content? Hindi naman din ako galit. Ha-hahaha! Mere observation lang siya from my end, my opinion. Na parang ang lungkot lang na pinagsasabong ang mga pelikula. Pero naiintindihan ko because it’s business. Pero puwede naman tayo kumita ng hindi nagsisiraan or hindi nag-aaway, nagsusuportahan dapat ang isa’t isa. It may be idealistic but I’d like to think optimistic,” paliwanag pa niya.
Hirit pa niya, “Is this exactly why we make films? Kung dun lang ang magiging basehan natin, saan tayo papunta bilang isang industriya? So I really think we are on a good path. There are so many films that are being made now and I really, really think, katulad nga ng message ng ‘Culion’, when we are united we can make progress and I’m very hopeful because papunta na talaga tayo du’n.
Nakikita ko na paganda ng paganda ang industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino bawat taon.”
* * *