Iza Calzado. Image: Instagram/@missizacalzado
After recovering from COVID-19, actress Iza Calzado stated that today, she is more grateful than ever to “have another shot at life.”
A healthy-looking Calzado, doing a pose on an exercise mat with her two dogs, greeted her fans via her Instagram post yesterday, April 6. Before she narrated her two-week journey of battling the disease, the actress cleared the air about an Instagram comment she previously made.
The actress clarified that as an optimistic person, she always tried to see “the silver lining in every dark cloud.”
Last month, Calzado drew the ire of some netizens on social media regarding a reply she made on singer Lea Salonga’s post, which was uploaded on March 14.
Along with an illustration from “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Salonga posted a screenshot of a quote from a certain @kung_acu, stating: “[What] if… we subscribe to the philosophy that life is always working out for us, that there is an intelligence far greater than humans at work… That all is interconnected. What if… the virus is here to help us? To Reset. To remember. What is truly important.”
Calzado responded to Salonga’s series of photos, saying, “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.”
Image: Instagram/@msleasalonga
The “Culion” actress was apparently misinterpreted by some netizens for the comment she made and was called out for her supposed insensitivity. She expressed her sadness that people “missed [her] heart” but then clarified that she understood people’s sentiments.
“I understand how and why that happened and I am sorry if anyone was offended and felt bad about it,” she stated yesterday. “Please know that I would never intentionally say anything to hurt others nor celebrate anyone else’s suffering.”
The actress then confirmed she did not only battle COVID-19, but also pneumonia and a bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii.
“I am alive and for that I am truly grateful,” Calzado said. “I know that so many of you sent your love and support and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you.”
She also extended her gratitude to the hospital workers at the Asian Hospital “for going above and beyond” to make sure she could live and breathe. Calzado also sent her love to her family and friends from the industry, especially to her husband Ben Wintle.
“I hope in some way, I can pay it forward,” she said.
Calzado’s manager confirmed on March 28 that the actress acquired the virus, this after her personal post on social media that she was hospitalized for pneumonia. Days later, her manager also announced that Calzado was declared free to go home and has already tested negative for COVID-19. JB
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