While their characters struggle to find common ground in the "Maalaala Mo Kaya" episode where they played a stepmother and stepdaughter, Iza Calzado and Krystal Mejes actually share more similarities than expected in real life. 

In this round of the “My Rules” Challenge on Kapamilya Chat, the two agreed on a lot of things. With Iza embracing motherhood and Krystal still in her growing-up era, their perspectives may come from different places, but both are grounded in wisdom and a clear sense of who they are. Let’s see how they define their personal rules when it comes to curfews, friendships, and everything in between.

First up was curfew because it's usually where parents and teens clash. Motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, but a mom like Iza has been through so many colorful life experiences that she can now draw lessons and inspiration from, and use them in shaping her own parenting style. Her daughter, Deia Amihan, is only two years old, but Iza knows that when her child reaches her teenage years, she must strike a balance between discipline and lenience.

She remembers that her youth made her feel so free because she never had a curfew. And while she plans to carry traces of that freedom into her parenting, she also knows that her daughter’s generation calls for a little more structure. Unlike how things were during her time, she’s leaning toward being a bit stricter. She wants to find that sweet spot between being firm and being flexible.

Iza actually hopes to have the kind of relationship Krystal has with her mom. She was amazed while listening to Krystal talk about their bond, especially when Krystal said that she sees her mom’s rules not as restrictions, but as forms of protection and guidance because she feels safe and understood. That kind of connection is something Iza wants to have with Deia as well. 

Krystal also impressed the seasoned actress when she talked about her rules on friendships. "I choose my friends wisely. I keep my circle small and I pray for all of my friends. I don't think naman you should share the same kind of values kasi everybody comes from different backgrounds. We all grew up differently. And sometimes you have to meet a person na hindi nag-a-align 'yung values sa'yo para you get to learn more, open your mind and understand everybody." She also reflected on how some of her past friendships didn’t last, but instead of feeling bad about it, she sees it as a blessing because it means she made space for the right people to enter her life.

Blown away by the young actress’ wisdom, Iza turned to her with a playful stare and joked, "Ilang taon ka? Saan mo natutunan 'to? Sa Instagram? Ganito na ba 'yung mga 16 ngayon?" As Iza said, with Krystal being this insightful in real life, it’s no wonder she was able to deliver such a deep portrayal in their “MMK” episode. She agreed with a lot of what Krystal said, and then shared her own experience, mentioning how she and host Bianca Gonzalez also interviewed them just before this Kapamilya Chat guesting. Iza noticed that she and Bianca have very different personalities, but they still learn a lot from each other. "Hindi kailangan na lagi kayong agree kasi sometimes you need to understand the perspective rin of that other person. The point is you are growing and learning together."

Iza also imparted a valuable reminder that when you’re as young as Krystal, it’s important to realize how much you tend to mirror the people you surround yourself with, whether it’s friends, mentors, or even a romantic partner. She only learned that as an adult, though, unlike Krystal who’s already so grounded and wise at 16.

When it comes to their careers, both of them look for projects that have purpose and impact. For Iza, she usually starts by reading the script first before deciding. But if the premise already speaks to her, and especially if the show has a solid reputation like “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” then it’s easy for her to say yes. Of course, her schedule is always a factor too.

From there, she was reminded of how intentional Krystal was in deciding whether to accept their “MMK” episode. Iza appreciates that Krystal didn’t give an abrupt ‘no’ or a quick ‘yes.’ Instead, she took her time to think about it. Krystal even consulted her mom, who assured her that it would be alright to turn down the offer if she wasn’t comfortable. Krystal admitted she had a lot of fear in portraying a rebellious teen and a rape survivor, not to mention that she was playing a real person’s story. But after sitting with it, realized this role had a purpose. It could inspire, uplift, and create space for people who’ve gone through the same kind of trauma to feel seen and heard. That kind of mindset seriously impressed Iza, who commended the young actress for her maturity and heart.

Iza and Krystal paint a story of a mother's unconditional love in "MMK," this Saturday, at 8:30 PM, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and A2Z.