It’s not always blood that makes someone a mother. In the next featured real-life story on "Maalaala Mo Kaya," Iza Calzado plays Marissa, a teacher who becomes a mother figure not just to her students but to Angel, her stepdaughter played by Krystal Mejes.  

The episode follows the many sides of motherhood—at home, in the classroom, and out in a society that can be unforgiving. It’s a heartfelt and heavy narrative about raising a child who’s been through something no child should ever go through, and what it takes to hold space for that kind of pain. How do you love a child who’s angry at the world and shutting you out. How do you mother someone who’s still learning how to survive. Marissa doesn’t have all the answers, but she tries, and sometimes that’s what being a mother really means. 

"It's so sensitive, so heavy, so deep," as Krystal would describe the episode and her role, which she honestly never imagined she could pull off. The story felt so harrowing that when she first read the script, she had to consult her mom, who told her she could turn it down if it's too uncomfortable. But even at sixteen, Krystal's passion for acting already comes with a clear purpose. She knows that it's her job to tell a story, and that every role, no matter how difficult, can mean something to someone. "Sabi ko, 'If it could inspire other people and if I could be an instrument to make other people speak up and to own up to the challenges they have in their lives, then, yes, I would do it over and over again."  

Sitting beside her, Iza listened with a smile, amazed at how mature and grounded Krystal is, especially for someone so young. "Buti umoo ka, anak," she told her, before vouching for the younger actress' brilliance, "Napakahusay! Hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha at 16 'yung depth na meron siya." 

From Iza’s point of view, she said it was impossible not to be stirred by the story. She recalled her emotions already started pouring out during the script reading. She found herself in tears as she delivered her lines, partly because it was her first time reading it entirely and she didn’t expect it to land with that much weight. It struck her in a way that felt personal, maybe because she herself is a mother now.  

"Playing these characters now that I'm a mom really gives it an added depth that I didn't have before. Kasi it was all theoretical before, all imagination," she shared, adding she accepted the role because of the moving message behind the story. For Iza, getting to work on any project is a blessing, but at this point in her journey, she no longer prays for applause or recognition, even if she admits she’s still learning how to ease up on her own perfectionism. What she prays for now are roles that matter and stories that leave something behind—and that’s exactly what she found in this "MMK" episode. 

One of the things Krystal noticed while working with Iza was how intentional the seasoned actress was in every scene. While Iza would call it being self-critical, Krystal saw it differently and even found it admirable. To her, it just showed how present and aware Iza was during every take. She witnessed how, when Iza isn't fully satisfied with a performance, she would respectfully ask the director for another take and politely ask her co-stars for a bit of patience. 

“She’s not afraid to speak up for what she thinks is right… It’s just inspiring how she handles everything with grace,” Krystal shared. Iza gently butted in, admitting that there are times she does things on set that an actor probably shouldn't, like she sometimes 'cuts' herself mid-scene. She knows it’s not ideal for an actor to do that, but she just can't help overanalyzing. She tends to second-guess what a scene calls for, like thinking she needs to cry hard for it when in fact, it could work even without tears. But she’s learning, she said, and still figuring out when to let go and when to hold back. 

When asked to describe their "MMK" episode, Iza and Krystal finished each other’s thoughts and came up with "unconditional love."  And that’s what the story is all about—how a woman who didn’t give birth to a child can still mother her with everything she has. 

"MMK" invites viewers to witness that kind of love through Marissa and Angel’s story, this Saturday, at 8:30 PM, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) and A2Z.