One of the most-awaited weddings of 2018 was the union of Iza Calzado and Ben Wintle.
The couple tied the knot last December 19, at the Club Paradise in Palawan, in the company of their respective families and close friends from showbiz.
When PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) caught up with Iza last January 6, on the set of the Kapamilya Sunday noontime show ASAP Natin 'To, she willingly shared her musings about her new life as Mrs. Ben Wintle.
She said, "Nakakakilig pag tinatawag mong husband, pero ang daming realities na magsi-sink in.
"Starting a joint account again which we have to do.
"Kasama ng fairy tale ng kilig yung realities na kailangan i-face.
"Sabi ko nga kay Ate Regs [Regine Velasquez] kanina, 'Nakakakilig palang ikasal.'
"Sabi niya, 'Oo naman.'
"Di ko kasi naisip dati na kikiligin ako pag kinasal ako.
"I didn't know how it will feel. Grabe pala.
"The wedding day itself, totoo yung wedding high. May wedding high ka talaga.
"Isipin mo isang araw kinuha mo... well, I tried.
"I couldn't invite a lot of people because it was a small island.
"There were so many people, friends I couldn't invite. Nakakahiya. 'Gusto kita doon pero saan kita patitirahin? Saan kita patutulugin?'
"Parang nakakahiya din naman. Ako kasi mahilig ako sa tao, so I really would love to have everybody in there.
"But, you know, that day was filled with love.
"Kinantahan pa ako nila Kuya Gary [Valenciano], Kuya Ogie [Alcasid], Kuya Martin [Nievera], sobrang nakaka-touch na sine-celebrate yung union ninyo."
We asked Iza why they chose Club Paradise as their wedding venue.
She explained, "Kasi nung nagpunta kami, nung nag-ocular kami, tiningnan namin.
"Na-in love kami sa pagiging chill ng island.
"Ang ganda niya. Di siya pretentious.
"Pag nag-snorkle ka, may turtles. Sobrang saya, ang ganda."
CAMERA-SHY BEN
During the day of our interview, the show featured a short video of Ben's message for Iza.
When we asked her about Ben, the actress couldn't help but marvel at her hubby's composure on-cam, since she very well knows how shy and low-key he can be.
"Mabuti naman siya kahit kanina parang sobrang gusto niyang lamunin na lang siya ng earth.
"Nakita mo ba yung mukha niya sa video?
"Mahiyain siya lalo na pag tinanong mo ng personal life.
"Pag tinanong mo siya nang walang camera, sasagutin ka niya.
"The minute na may camera... hindi hiya, e, uncomfortable.
"Kasi siyempre para sa kanya personal, e.
"Di nga umaano yun sa social media.
"I understand, I respect that.
"I'd rather have someone like that kaysa naman mauuna pa sa akin," she confessed.
Now that Iza and Ben are legally married, Iza mentioned how she and her in-laws have been ribbing each other about their new 'titles.'
She narrated, "Oo, legal na. Wala, parang now it's like, 'Oh, parang Mr. and Mrs. Wintle, who's that?'
"Naglolokohan kami siyempre, kasama ko in-laws ko, now I can call them Mom and Dad.
"I'm still getting used to it kasi for almost seven years, I addressed her before as Tita, but his dad, not Tito, I called him, 'Sir Peter.'
"He doesn't want being called 'Tito' kasi he's British. Di niya type yun.
"Di ko kaya first name lang.
"Dati tawag ko to him, 'Sir Peter.' He calls me Lady Iza.
"Ngayon it's like Dad. Nagdyu-joke talaga kaming ganun."
HONEYMOON
Unfortunately, their honeymoon will have to wait a while since both of them are still busy with their respective careers.
But despite this, Iza assured us that it will definitely happen this year.
"Wala pa, kasi nga sa work. Timing lang pero dapat this year. Couple of places pero wala pa talagang set.
"Ngayon, siyempre balik-trabaho din si Ben. Busy siya sa Booky, we're growing the app, pero sabi ko di ako papayag, walang buntis pag di natuloy yung honeymoon.
"Kasi siyempre, di ba? Iba rin pag nag-travel ka na may anak, responsibilidad talaga siya."
Like most of their newly-married showbiz contemporaries, Iza and Ben are not keen on having kids anytime soon.
Iza pointed out, there's a lot of work to do, and places to visit.
"Not yet kasi mayroon pa akong prior commitment na sana matuloy na talaga this year. Tapusin ko lang yun. Yun lang ang hiningi ko kay Ben.
"Saka may mga gusto lang akong puntahan sana muna bago kami magkaanak, parang honeymoon.
"Tinitiyempo pa, e."