That suspension knocked some sense into Iwa’s head. "But it was Jackie and not I who threw up at a bar," Iwa clarified. "I have stopped smoking and I refrain from drinking. Actually, what I used to drink was nothing heavy, just ladies’ drink."
As soon as the suspension was lifted, Iwa (and Jackie) guested on several GMA shows (Startalk, Showbiz Stripped, S-Files, etc.) and shed copious tears of regret, promising to mend their ways and stopped being, uh, the new "bad girls" of showbiz.
Half-Japanese (father’s side) and half-Filipino (mother’s side), Iwa is turning 18 on Aug. 29.
"I consider the second chance GMA has given me as an advance birthday gift," said Iwa who has been signed up as Bum Equipment image-model together with LJ Reyes, Glaiza de Castro, Rico Barrera and Danilo Barrios. Iwa (with LJ and Glaiza) is endorsing Bum G’s girls’ teenwear line.
By this time, Iwa should be back in the GMA gag show NUTS Entertainment and the Gigsters segment of the Sunday noontime show S.O.P., and on GMA’s sister station QTV’s Posh.
You have flawless complexion. How do you take care of it?
"I don’t."
Don’t you apply anything on your skin?
"No, I don’t. Maybe it’s in my genes, my being half-Japanese. Di ba ang mga Japanese flawless ang complexion?"
Not even moisturizer?
"Not even. I just clean my skin with soap and water, especially to remove make-up after taping or shooting. I used to go to sleep with make-up on until my make-up artist told me that it could destroy my skin. During the StarStruck days, I would go home tired and went straight to bed, so I developed pimples. I didn’t know any better at that time. So I bought a make-up remover."
After StarStruck, your schedule has been so heavy. It’s such a stressful job. How do you cope with stress?
"I ask my two brothers to massage me every night when I get home, one on my right shoulder and the other on my left shoulder."
How do you unwind during your free time... by drinking?
"Naku, hindi po! Before I joined showbiz, I would just stay home and sleep. Now, I go to the spa. Or I play the guitar; I listen to music."
What’s your favorite song?
"Can’t Take That Away From Me by Mariah Carey." (Proceeds to sing: They can say anything they want to say, try to bring me down, but I will not allow them to take that away from me...) "I’m like that, People may try to bring me down but whatever happens, tatayo at tatayo ako."
With your tight schedule, how much sleep do you get per night?
"I’m lucky if I get four hours. But during my six-week suspension, I would sleep for 14 hours straight."
How do you make up for lack of sleep?
"During breaks at tapings or shootings, I would take a nap on a folding bed that I always bring along. Or I would sleep beside whoever has a bigger (folding) bed. Otherwise, I nap in my car. I don’t fight off drowsiness; masama daw ’yon. I nap even just for a few minutes."
Favorite sleeping wear?
"None! Joke only! I go to bed in an oversized T-shirt. I share a room with my two siblings and our mom, para makatipid sa air-con. I can’t sleep without a rough towel on my feet and a huge hotdog pillow that I embrace."
What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
"I kiss my mom and my siblings. Do I put my cell phone on ‘silent mode?’ I don’t, because they usually send me late text messages what I need for the next day’s taping or shooting."
And the first thing that you do when you wake up?
"Check my cell phone."
Do you snore?
"Yes, when I’m too tired. My brother sometimes records my snoring."
And I bet you talk in your sleep?
"Yes, I do. My brother records that, too. Nakikipag-away daw ako habang tulog."
What vitamins and/or minerals do you take?
"Centrum (from A to Z). I’m taking an anti-anemia medicine. I was advised to take lots of ampalaya."
What sort of diet do you follow?
"None. I eat anything. But I don’t eat after six p.m. I’ve been doing it after StarStruck. I used to be chubby. I lost a lot of weight after I started practising the no-food-after-six diet. Now I weigh only 110 lbs." (She stands 5’6" and measures 36-25-35).
What if you get hungry after six?
"I eat only crackers."
What workout do you do?
"None. I’m lazy. Besides, I hardly have time. But before I joined StarStruck, I was very active. I was a member of the cheering squad in school (Perpetual Help College in Las Piñas City)."
You must have a fast metabolism.
"I don’t think so. I think I have this kind of body because of my genes. My sister is chubby pero may shape ang katawan niya. But I guess when I turn 30, I’ll be stouter, kasi my mom is like that, eh."
What part of your body is your favorite?
"My eyes. They say that my eyes are cute when I laugh because they disappear. In showbiz, there are very few actresses with chinky eyes, ‘no? Kaya rare kami."
What part of your body do you think needs some improvement?
"My lower back. Medyo may bilbil, eh."
What part of a guy’s body do you notice first?
"Not part of his body but his shoes. If his shoes are branded and clean, it follows that the other unseen parts of his body are also clean. Then I look at his clothes kung bagay sa shoes niya. Even if a guy is handsome, if his shoes are dirty, he’s worth nothing to me."
How much liquid do you take each day?
"A lot! I can finish a 1.5-liter bottle of water in one sitting. I take more throughout the day. I eat lots of fruits."
What’s your favorite fruit?
"Apple. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, di ba?"
Favorite dish?
"Kare-Kare with matching bagoong."
How’s your nightlife?
"Not much these days. None at all! Especially after my suspension, I have no more nightlife."
Love life?
"Masaya." (She’s going steady with dancer Yexel Sebastian, "ex" of Sexbomb member Rochelle Pangilinan.)
Name three guys you think have nice bodies.
"Marky Cielo. Brad Turvey. Alfred Vargas."
And three women...
"Cindy Kurleto. Angel Locsin. And, yes, the girl in the mirror!"
Using only body language, how would you make a guy know that you admire/like him?’
"I simply smile and smile at him."