Iza Calzado and Ian Veneracion’s brand of friendship is something they both treasure over the years.
Theirs is like the kind of friendship that Elizabeth Foley describes, "The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart."
In an interview with MJ Felipe and Bianca Gonzales on CinemaOne’s PopCinema, Iza and Ian shared how deep their friendship has grown.
Iza asked Ian a question, to which both answered with so much passion for their friendship.
"Kung wala tayong mga asawa, tingin mo ba magde-date tayo?"
Ian paused and give it a deep thought; he further inquired, "Will I make a move to Iza? Magkaibigan tayo o hindi? Ganito tayo ka-close?
Iza, on the other hand, also gave it a second thought and said, "Oo, ‘no? And kasi kung ganito tayo ka-close eh."
Both agreed at one point that it would be awkward for them both to go out on a date if they're both too close as friends.
However, hypothetically, Ian took the risk in answering the question, "Kung hindi tayo close. Tapos nakilala kita. Nakita kita at nakatrabaho kita at lahat... Lagot ka kakaririn kita. Liligawan ko ‘yan.”
"Ganyan ka ganda, ganyan ka light and bubbly with a wonderful sense of humor, oh my God! Sino bang..."
Thus, their friendship could have developed into something beyond friendship, only if they're not too close as friends.
Iza shared Ian's hesitation but still answered the question, anyway, "Pero kasi, thank you.”
"And I think also I'll go out with Ian. Like if, you know... We weren't so. We talk about kasi... because we're so close. That we know each other so much that you don't want to taint the relationship because it's just perfect this way. ‘Yung ganun.”
"But, yes definitely, if he isn't married and I'm not married. And I got to know him a little during whatever... definitely I would go out with him."
At present, the two stars have a WeTV romantic-comedy series titled, “B&B: The Story of the Battle of Brody and Brandy. “
In this series created by Mark V. Reyes, Brandy is an idealistic and much-loved innkeeper who crosses paths with Brody, a handsome businessman who checks in as a guest in her B&B. Iza and Ian play the two leads in this cute love story between two polar opposites. Unlike most romcoms, what adds to the show’s appeal is that both characters are in their late ‘30s to early ‘40s, so their ideas about love and romance are coupled with a strong sense of independence.
With the role of Brandy being Iza’s first foray in doing a romcom, she describes it as a refreshing change from the heavy dramatic roles that she’s taken on in recent projects. In fact, she says it has long been her dream to play a character in a story that is light and just all about ‘happy feels’.
Both starred in projects like “Bliss” and “Ilawod” (2017) and in the Kapamilya teleserye A Love to Last, also in the same year.
Ian defines his friendship with Iza as Salman Rushdie would put it as, "In the cookie of life, friends are chocolate chips."
They both won't want to cross the line of their friendship and make it complicated. He said asking that question 'ano ba tayo' is already crossing the line.
Watch more of Iza and Ian’s delightful interview in this episode of CinemaOne’s PopCinema.
Don’t miss Iza in her continuing riveting performance as Ellice in the JRB Creative Production drama Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin, weeknights on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z.
Pop Cinema is a weekly roundup of the pop and trending updates in the country PLUS an online talk with surprise celebrity guests. Together with your resident Popparazis Bianca Gonzalez and MJ Felipe, don't miss an episode on FYE Channel's official Kumu account (@FYEChannel) every Saturday at 7PM! You may also binge-watch past episodes on the official YouTube channel of Cinema One.