Iza Calzado

"“I understand that we are a very conservative society. But I feel that we should not judge women for the options that they have and the choices that they make for themselves.""

"You always have the power to choose for yourself"

"Enjoy your best life and never pass on your regrets"

""Why even be worried about something you don’t even know will be for you or not for you? So just for me, I need to live my life first, so when the time comes that I commit to having a child, I can’t blame the child for the things I didn’t get to do.”"

"Loving your own body is a continuous journey"

"“I want to share with you a story of a girl who once believed she was not enough. Who grew up thinking that the only way she would be enough was to be this perfect creature. It wasn't until she started to accept and love herself, and stopped obsessing about the way it looks, that life truly changed for her…”"

""It’s very hard to unlearn the negative self talk. Part of it is judging your body. It’s very hard to unlearn that (while) skinny is beautiful, so is an average body, or having folds, or having imperfections. I realized that it was easier for me to transform my body than it was to transform my mind. Because until now ang hirap pa rin. I’m still on that path and... maybe I’m just 50 percent there.”"

"Live well, and be proud of it"

"“This is my life. These are the choices that I make. I make no apologies for them... you cannot live a life of regret.”"

"Joy always comes from within"

"A woman who is happy with herself is beautiful no matter what age, size, shape, color she is. Compassion for oneself and others is the key to happiness!"

"Ako (Me), in order for me to fly, I need to be challenged."

"Kailangan (It is necessary), I'm on my toes all the time."

"Minsan nga, kahit hindi na tama, I always find a way to prove myself."

"Basta ako, gagawin ko lang ang trabaho ko (As for me, I will just do my job). I would always give my best."

"Sabi ko nga (Like what I say), if you're destined to shine in something, you will."

"Of course, I will give my 100 percent."

"And I believe that my journey is so special na hindi ko puwedeng isantabi lang yun at iwanan yung landas na ibinigay sa akin ng Diyos {I can't just set that aside and leave the path that was given to me by God)."

"That's my story and the story of a lot of people."

"..kasi (Because) I always wanted to inspire a lot of people. I wanted to inspire more people.""

"Support system is very strong."

"Pero of course, he was one with me in one thing, with new thing in my career—spread my wings and fly."

"I said, wait a minute. I have to listen to everything, the sign and process and really think about myself."

"I have a disclaimer that there's no such thing as a perfect relationship. Sometimes we fight, ganyan (like that)."

"With all humility, I'm ready to shine."

"“I memorize my lines and if I feel anxious, I just breathe and I shake and do ‘rrrr’ (sound). I do a lot of things. Actually, from the time I wake up pa lang, I’m already telling myself affirmations about being an actress. I’d say, ‘I am genuine, I am brilliant, I am talented.""

""I need to be in the moment.’ Being in the moment pulls you there. If I have to connect to an object or to my co-actor, I will do that.”"

"“You know, I believe in the magic of Take 1 when it flows and when you’re actually so ready because as actors, we have to be relaxed, actually. The mind has to be relaxed.”"

"“I know, and when everyone’s watching you, right? It’s hard and to this day, I don’t get to relax all the time. But you know, you breathe, you tell yourself you can do this.”"

"“I can’t be so selfish that I’m doing it for myself. I am doing it for the audience, to a certain degree, this is for them but I have to feel it as well. And yes, it can be frustrating at times when you have a different vision of how things will go and then the director has a different take on it. Ideally, we meet half way but you have to trust also. They have a vision and you may not always see eye-to-eye but you have to give them that respect.”"

"“It’s really icing on the cake but, of course, I would be a hypocrite if I told you I don’t dream of them.”"

"“I am me. I’m myself.”"

"“From experience, if it’s your first time to live together, take the time to get to know each other on that level because there’s a lot that you will discover about one another.”"

"“Take trips you want to take muna as a couple because life changes. It won’t be the same.”"

"“And the energy won’t be the same. Do the things that you wanna do as much as you can. But being a parent shouldn’t stop you from doing things you used to do.”"

"“Motherhood and parenthood will involve a series of choices you have to make for the realities you have now. My friend said, stop trying to do it all.”"

"“And I remind myself that when I feel I’m trying to do it all. I have to let go a little more. You have to get used to the fact that it’s not about you.""

"“As a mother, I never had an idea of being a perfect mother. I’m pleasantly surprised that I’m as hands-on as I am even with yayas around. I try to be there for her.""

"I’m passionate about body love and acceptance, and the root cause of that is mental health. They go hand in hand.""

"I think so much of what you care about has to do with feminism, but not radical feminism, which is what so many people associate the term with. It’s a stereotype that should be corrected, and you do a great job of showing that women’s experience in the world is colored by a lot of policing. People are always telling us we should be less of ourselves, or more, that it’s impossible to keep up. You do a great job of balancing all these expectations and being your true self. It’s inspiring. It’s very central to who you are."

"‘If I leave this world, I’d like to remember the love. Not the love of one particular person, but the love I’ve received from so many people. That is what I’d choose to remember.’"

"We are shaped by society. A lot of the programming we have is passed on to us from generation to generation."

"You know how it is, as you’ve grown up with such a spotlight on you. Everyone has their own idea of perfect and wants you so badly to fit into their own definition of perfection. People forget we have a right to be whoever we want to be in the way we see fit."

"So basically, a lot of judgement comes from self-loathing. When you’re judging others, perhaps it’s because you judge yourself a lot. That’s something we definitely need to address. It’s a lightbulb moment, really, when you realize these things about appearance. But it takes time, and it’s okay if you’re not there yet. Catch yourself when you have your moments and know that you’re going to bounce back."

"You can dream. Hakuna matata, it means don’t worry. When you are young, you worry about the most minute things in life that you think everybody cares about and will judge you about. But no, everybody is busy doing their own thing. No worries. As long as you put in the work, including the inner work, you’ll be good."

"I like to look at the world and see that most people have good intentions. There are exceptions, but what is not so great on social media right now is that a lot of different groups are making it so hard for each other."

"This is the work we have to do. Engaging with haters from a negative place won’t do anything. We need to come from a place of love and understanding, and I had to try to understand and let go."

"“It was only in the last few years that I slowly started coming to terms with my body and not letting what other people say about it stop me from living my best life. We are all worthy of hitting the beach no matter our size or shape. Remember that.”"

"“Kasi ang naisip ko (Because I am thinking), whole. Pero siguro kung hindi ‘yon (But it's not that), maybe the word is ‘fulfilled.’ Fulfilled, content and whole.”"

"“Because before, restless. ‘Yun pala, ‘Ikaw lang pala ‘yung kailangan ko. Na kung saan-saan ko hinahanap, may it be material things and other things na don’t really serve my highest purpose here on earth.’ Nandu’n lang pala. Takot na takot kasi ako talaga dati.”"