Iza Calzado on family traditions she wants to pass on to daughter

MANILA, Philippines — Iza Calzado and her husband, Ben Wintle, had their first Christmas and New Year celebrations with their daughter, Deia Amihan. Iza hoped to impart to her firstborn the tradition of celebrating these occasions with lots of love, making them joyful, festive, and meaningful.

“Because before, it was different with my family and the Wintle family. Maybe because maagang nawala yung parents ko so I followed mostly what they did. But there’s always a celebration,” Iza shared with the press during the celebration of The Farm at San Benito’s 21st anniversary in Batangas. The Encantadia star was accompanied by her husband, their daughter Deia and in-laws.

“I just always want for it to be a joyous, festive, meaningful celebration no matter what is on the table. We all experienced na hindi lagi bonggang-bongga yung nasa hapag-kainan. Whatever the reason is, it should be full of love. That’s what I really want my daughter to experience,” she added.

Celebrating The Farm at San Benito’s 21st anniversary are (from left) global head of sales and marketing communications Jennifer Sanvictores, vice-governor of Batangas City Mark Leviste, brand ambassador Iza, co-owner and director Rajan Uttamchandani, health and beauty advocate and influencer Deanne Panday, and general manager Preet Inder Singh.

Photo from The Farm at San Benito Facebook page

The Wintles celebrated the Christmas and New Year holidays in Boracay as shown on Iza’s Instagram page. She considered 2023 as the year when she “received God’s biggest blessing.” It was the year that their “star” and “guiding light” Deia was born, she posted.

Interestingly, Iza shared that there was a time when Ben asked for a baby under a mango tree at The Farm.

“The lady who brought me to the mango tree, she was like, ‘I think my friend can help you with your healing… This is my friend (referring to the mango tree),’” recalled Iza.

“At that time, hindi pa ganun ka… you know how we are. Now we’re open-minded about that, but I was very open-minded already. And I was just listening to her and she said, ‘You know, this tree has a very good energy, very happy and it’s a healing tree.’”

During that time, Iza’s dad was in the hospital and she was heartbroken. “I was praying for a lot of things. Of course, my dad passed. But soon after that, I met Ben. And then, you know, it’s not as if after that like life is a bed of roses like that. But most of my wishes came true and then marami din hindi.”

Nonetheless, Iza found comfort and healing during a very difficult time in her life. “After I got COVID, when I was actually in the hospital, I was picturing the tree. I was talking to parang Mother Nature, God, like that and one of the images that would pop in my head is the image of the tree.”

Iza Calzado with husband Ben Wintle and daughter Deia Amihan at The Farm at San Benito in Lipa, Batangas.

After her battle with COVID, Iza frequently visited The Farm. One memorable instance was when she and Ben were there, and he made a wish to the mango tree for a baby. “And now that she is here with us, our dearest daughter Deia Amihan. She’s celebrating her first Christmas party here at The Farm.”

“I mean obviously, it’s God right, through God. But that’s when we asked the tree for a baby, and there was one time pa kasi parang a mango fell. And I think that time yun. And then I said, let’s eat this kasi parang binigyan tayo ng tree ng fruit.”

The tree has become her “friend,” according to Iza, who has been visiting the holistic medical wellness resort since 2011.

“I’m not saying it’s a miraculous place na parang baka sabihin, ‘Ano to? Kulto ba ‘to?’ It’s not,” she went on to clarify, stressing it was just her personal journey with the place.

She even tried to e-mail the lady named Lucy from Taiwan, who brought her to the mango tree. Iza said she never responded and didn’t see her after their encounter.

The 41-year-old actress keeps coming back to The Farm because of the family that she found there.

“It has become home,” she stated. “There’s the health and wellness component, of course, but I do try my very best to live a healthy lifestyle.”

Among Iza’s forms of relaxation are dancing, getting a massage and spending time with Deia. She told The STAR, “It’s really the massage and kissing my daughter kahit ang likot-likot niya ngayon. Ang likot pero ang sarap (to show affection).”

Co-owner and director of The Farm, Rajan Uttamchandani, said that they don’t really choose their celebrity ambassadors for the resort. In fact, they let them choose The Farm.

He told this paper, “We really think, to be honest, it’s organic. We never approach someone and say, ‘Can you please be our ambassador for us?’ They naturally feel their journey because something in their lives changed.”