CEBU, Philippines — "It was almost like I was the letter-sender and I could understand what she went through in some ways,” Iza Calzado shared about how playing a mother with schizophrenia reminded her of the darkest days she went through with her mom.
Following the success of the primetime series “Ang Sa Iyo ay Akin,” the award-winning actress is back in Maalaala Mo Kaya’s July 24 episode titled “My Two Mothers” with Heaven Peralejo and Shamaine Buencamino.
Iza portrays Caridad, the protective mother to Heaven’s Julie who suffers from schizophrenia. Julie despises her ailing mother due to the obligations suddenly thrust upon her, until Esther (Shamaine) enters her life and becomes her second mother.
The character became very personal and close to Iza’s heart since she identified with the story: her late mother, Mary Ann Ussher, took her own life after a long battle with depression.
“This advocacy is very close to my heart because of my mother, so I could understand what the letter-sender went through, even though the condition is not the same as my mom’s,” she said.
Although not her first MMK role with a mental disorder, she said this episode will show her improved understanding of mental health issues.
“Sa lahat ng MMK na nagawa ko, siguro ito ‘yung pinaka-special. Yung minsan may dumarating na alam mong para sa iyo kasi hindi ko dapat magagawa ‘to, conflict of schedule and then nag-free ‘yung schedule ko but they already offered it to somebody else. Then that person said suddenly hindi siya pwede. Kapag para sa iyo, you just know.”
On the difficulties of playing a character with schizophrenia, Iza shared, “I didn’t want her to appear like a caricature. I asked Direk Mae (Cruz-Alviar) to help me humanize Caridad. I asked a lot of questions from Julie, whom we were fortunate enough to talk with. It was also good that she sent pictures to me.”
“I wanted to make the audience understand that this woman could be anybody – she could even be me. It’s just that she was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and that means she suffers from hallucinations and delusions, and that she would have episodes,” Iza said.
“I wanted to portray a regular mother who has triggers but is still very real. All that she’s saying whenever she’s having her episodes aren’t delusional per se. They are still anchored in what’s happening in real life.”
Iza’s mom was a Bicolana who cooked well, and her laing specialty is her fondest memory of her. When Shamaine brought laing during one of their taping days, Iza couldn’t help but burst into tears.
Directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, MMK’s “My Two Mothers” airs on July 24, 8:30 p.m. on the Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live YouTube channel, ABS-CBN Entertainment Facebook page, and iWantTFC. — Niel Anthony Lajot, Silliman University Intern