Iza pays tribute to three of the brightest stars in the showbiz firmament who have recently left us.
Acclaimed actress and League of Filipino AKTOR president Iza Calzado has just returned from a family vacation in Japan. Now, she has taken time to write heartfelt tributes to three esteemed members of the Philippine entertainment industry.
First off is the Superstar and National Artist with whom Iza appeared in some television guestings and industry events.
Iza said, “It’s been a few days since the burial of our National Artist, Nora Aunor, fondly called ‘Superstar’ by those who adored and loved her. It was an honor to be there — to listen to the stories of those who knew her deeply and loved her sincerely, and to randomly and surprisingly find myself escorting our National Artist Ricky Lee, just in time to make it to her funeral.
“It was inspiring to witness the level of love and respect that people had for her. It was a human moment—to share and express my deepest sympathies and most sincere condolences with her family.
“Ate Guy was a friend of my father’s. They worked together on several films. I remember being on the set of ‘Superstar,’ Ate Guy’s show on Channel 9, when I was very young. I even remember visiting her house during a pre-production meeting somewhere in Quezon City. And I clearly remember the first time I saw her when I was just starting out in the industry. More than what I saw, it was what I felt that stayed with me — the sheer power of her presence. How this petite human being could hold such power in a sea of so many artists was something I could not fully understand then, but I was certainly in awe of it. I was amazed by the presence I felt — the energy that emanated from her. And every time our paths would cross, I would feel that same energy.”
“We talked about wanting to work together a few times — her, of course, coming from a place of friendship with my father; me, coming from a place of deep respect for the artist that she was. Sadly, that never happened, except for a brief moment on the set of ‘Barber’s Tales.’ But we were never in a scene together, sadly.
“I admired and respected Ate Guy as an artist and I appreciate her as human being, too. I remember her going to [my dad’s] wake and spending time there to grieve a friend. And so, I find myself grateful for being there for us when we experienced our loss. I feel honored to have witnessed her funeral and burial, and to have been able to give a tight hug to her loved ones.”
“Our dearest Superstar, thank you for giving so much of yourself — your soul, your heart, your mind, your being — to your craft, to your fans, to the industry. And it is only right for us to recognize all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will forever be: our National Artist, Nora Aunor.
“Maraming salamat, Ate Guy.”
In the case of Pilita Corrales, Iza’s closeness was through her daddy Lito who was close friends with the “Asia’s Queen of Songs.”
Iza relates, “Pilita Corales was always stunning — her voice, her beauty, her presence were all captivating. I grew up watching her perform on stage, and I had the privilege of seeing her during rehearsals whenever my dad would take me. During awards nights and variety shows, I was always amazed by the entire package. What a presence she was! The command she had of the stage, that iconic backbend, that arch — it was such a signature move. So regal.
“And that’s exactly her countenance. How was it that — from the stage to just hanging out in Greenhills with Kuya Germs (and sometimes my dad would join them) — she still carried that same regal bearing? To me, that was amazing because she always seemed so well composed. And that resonance in her voice when she spoke… it was unmistakably Pilita.
“I didn’t get to share much screen time with you, except for a few guest episodes on GMA like the one I’m shared — a clip from 2004 — and a few others. But we were definitely backstage at awards nights together, and in some shows we both did.
“You were a dear friend of my father’s, an icon in the industry. I wish I could’ve gone to your wake, but sadly, I wasn’t able to be there. I wanted so badly to give all your loved ones a tight embrace.
“I don’t know what kind of show God is putting together up in Heaven, but He’s certainly calling up a lot of iconic, legendary people for a Heavenly production number.
“You are an inspiration through all your achievements, both in the Philippines and internationally. To me, you are a national treasure — a true icon and an artist who brought great honor to our country. A million thanks to you, Tita Pilita.”
Lastly, Iza has had the privilege of working with the great Gloria Romero in projects like “Moments of Love,” “Fuschia,” “Andres de Saya,” among others, and this she has to say of the movie queen, “To one of the most beautiful faces the Philippine movie industry has ever seen — and one of the most beautiful human beings I’ve ever come across — this is my goodbye message.
“Though this comes late, I simply couldn’t wrap my head around your passing when it happened. I couldn’t find it in myself to say goodbye to someone I always looked up to. Perhaps it’s because we shared the same role in ‘Moments of Love,’ where we both portrayed Divina Buenacer — me from the past, you in the present. We didn’t have scenes together, but we spent a lot of time on set for ‘Fuschia’ and ‘Andres de Saya.’ In those moments, I came to know you not just as the iconic beauty on the silver screen, but as the gentle, loving, kind, gracious, and disciplined artist and human being you truly were.
“I would ask questions, and you would always answer sincerely, patiently, and with a touch of humor. You were real, and you genuinely cared about what I had to say. I wish I had stayed in touch more after I moved to a different network. Still, whenever we’d see each other, you were always so warm, so kind. I wish I had learned more from you. I wish I had asked you to share more of your stories — to teach me how to be more like you. Your humility, your quiet strength, your grace in simply doing the work without airs or ego — those were gifts you gave us all.
“Now that I’m entering a new season in life, I pray that my actions reflect the values you lived by, and that I can pass those same values on to the next generation. It’s a great responsibility, and I understand that more clearly now. You carried that responsibility with such grace, making it seem effortless — even though I know that nothing truly meaningful ever comes easy.
“So I honor all the hard work, all the heart that you poured into becoming the Gloria Romero of Philippine cinema. We can only hope to become more like you each day — not just because of your beauty, but because of how you made people feel.”
“Thank you for the gift of your beautiful, loving energy.
“Hanggang sa muli. At sabi nga ni Divina Buenacer — ‘Ang pagmamahal, walang nakikitang wakas. Walang nakikitang panahon’.”
Truly we continue to grieve the loss but also keep on celebrating the noteworthy contributions of icons like Nora, Pilita and Gloria! They have our utmost respect, love and gratitude.
