Iza Calzado Instagram – If pregnancy was a battle, postpartum was a reckoning. Iza Calzado (@missizacalzado) describes it as “matrescence”—the profound psychological and physical transformation a woman undergoes when becoming a mother. “It involves a push and pull of identity as a woman navigates her former self with the new role of a mother,” she admits. The hormonal drop, sleep deprivation and struggle to breastfeed tested her resilience. She moves not to punish herself, but to sustain her sanity and vitality for Deia. This season has also reshaped her marriage. Iza and Ben are navigating the intricate dance of parenting, a topic they explore in their podcast, ‘Between Us’.
Iza’s maternal instinct extends far beyond her home, shaping her work with She Talks Asia and AKTOR. “One of our goals for this year and beyond is to increase the reach to the grassroots,” she explains. This initiative, called “Kinaiya”—a Bisaya word meaning inner being, nature and character—aims to empower underprivileged communities through workshops. Through the AKTOR Database, health insurance, mental health programmes and legal help desks, she is helping build a safety net for an industry that has long operated without one. “There is a widespread conversation on reframing ageing on the global platform, and we, at She Talks Asia, believe that these discussions are relevant to the modern Filipina,” she adds. “We must not limit ourselves because we feel we are too old to thrive. We must allow and support other women to flourish.”
Read the full cover story in Tatler’s March 2026 issue, available on Shopee, Lazada, Zinio, Magzter, Pressreader, or at newsstands.
#TatlerPhilippines #WomensMonth #ArtIssue | Posted on 03/Mar/2026 11:30:30
