"Miss Iza Calzado is cancelledt."
Binasag ni Iza Calzado ang kanyang katahimikan sa pagkakasama niya sa listahan ng mga artistang "cancelledt"—o ang mga hindi makaintindi sa paghihirap ng ibang tao.
Pinutakti si Iza ng bashers nang sang-ayunan niya ang ibinahaging quote card ni Lea Salonga na nagsasabing may higher purpose ang kinatatakutang COVID-19.
Bahagi ng quote card ni Lea, na may petsang March 14: "What if...the virus is here to help us? To reset. To remember."
Hango raw iyon sa turo ng classic French novel na The Little Prince, ni Antoine de Saint-Exupery, na may ganitong quote: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Nag-comment si Iza sa Instagram post na iyon ni Lea.
Ani Iza, "I agree with this and have been thinking about how the Covid situation is actually the Universe’s way of making the world a better place moving forward. Praying for the best."
TRIGGERS NEGATIVE REACTION
Hindi nagustuhan ng netizens ang umano'y "insensitive" posts noon nina Lea at Iza.
Tinawag sina Lea at Iza na mga "privileged" at "out of touch sa reality" dahil libu-libo raw ang mga taong namamatay sa COVID-19 at ang pinakamatinding epekto pa nito ay sa mahihirap.
Kaya wala raw sa hulog ang sabihin na ang coronavirus ay isang "ally" para sa "evolution" o sa healing ng mundo.
Inihalintulad pa si Iza sa "privileged" characters sa Oscar-winning Korean film na Parasite, kunsaan may eksenang sinaksak ng driver ang boss nitong mapanghusga sa mahirap.
May iba pang nagsabing dapat "ubuhan" si Iza para makakuha ito ng virus.
IZA SAYS HER INTENT WAS "MISCONSTRUED"
Dalawampung araw na ang nakalipas mula nang ma-bash si Iza.
Nagpagaling muna siya sa pagkakasakit ng pneumonia at COVID-19.
Ngayong Lunes, April 6, ay sumagot si Iza sa Instagram upang linawin ang mga bagay-bagay.
"Hello Everyone! It’s a brand new week and today I am grateful for my life.
"Most of you know what happened to me.
"Before I talk about it, I would like to address something," bungad ni Iza.
Patuloy niya, "When I started getting sick, I made a comment on an IG post that was totally misconstrued.
"I understand how and why that happened and I am sorry if anyone was offended and felt bad about it."
Pero giit ng Kapamilya actress, wala siyang masamang intensiyon sa kanyang binitawang salita.
"Please know that I would never intentionally say anything to hurt others nor celebrate anyone else’s suffering.
"I am a hopeful person and always try see the silver lining in every dark cloud.
"I am sad that you missed my heart but I also understand your sentiments."
OVERCOMING COVID-19
Inamin ni Iza na noong panahong nabatikos siya ay nagsimula na ang kanyang pagkakasakit.
Tugma ito sa Instagram Stories niya noong March 17, kunsaan ipinakita niyang nagpatingin siya sa health workers.
Ang akala pa niya noon ay naka-recover na siya.
Hanggang sa naospital siya sa sakit na pneumonia, at kinalaunan ay lumabas sa kanyang medical test na mayroon siyang COVID-19.
"After 2 weeks of battling Covid 19, pneumonia and a nasty bacteria called Acinetobacter Baumannii, I am alive and for that I am truly grateful.
"I know that so many of you sent your love and support and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you.
"Please know that even if I didn’t get to read all the messages, I felt the love and good energy and that you helped me pull through one of the darkest moments of my life.
"Everything by God’s Grace, of course, but your prayers did so much for me. I hope in some way, I can pay it forward."
Lubos ang pasasalamat ni Iza sa health workers na hindi siya pinabayaan hanggang sa siya ay tuluyang makalabas ng ospital.
"I wish to thank all the frontliners especially my doctors and nurses in Asian Hospital for going above and beyond to make sure I live, breathe and have another shot at life.
"To Dr. Jorge Garcia, Kuya Joel and the family, much love and respect. Thank you.
"Thank you for the support from my ABSCBN family who always checked up on me and made sure that I was fine until the finish line. Salamat, Kapamilya!"
Si Iza ay isa sa mga bida ng upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye na Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin, kasama sina Jodi Sta. Maria at Sam Milby.
Special mention din ang asawa ni Iza na si Ben Wintle, na tutok daw sa pag-aalaga sa kanya kahit noong naka-confine siya sa ospital.
Pahayag pa ng 37-year-old actress: "My deepest gratitude to my friends and family who prayed HARD and really made me feel their love and care for me especially my number 1 nurse, my husband, Ben.
"I could never have done this without you, my Love.
"We did it, by God’s Grace, we made it!"
Utang na loob daw ni Iza ang kanyang buhay sa Diyos, sa frontliners, at sa lahat ng nagdasal sa kanyang paggaling.
"Today, I encourage you to take a moment to thank God for your breath, thank Him for everything and everyone in your life and let us continue to pray for those who are suffering and for those who are trying their best to help those in need.
"Together, we can overcome all of this. Mabuhay!"