BILANG chairperson ng Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), halos wala nang panahon sa sarili si Liza Diño promoting Philippine cinema during the week-long event in Singapore.

Naging dahilan ito para maudlot ang plano ng mag-asawang Liza at Ice Seguerra na magkaroon ng baby sa 2019 via in vitro vertilization. Napag-usapan na ito ng dalawa last November but they had to delay it again due to Liza’s workload during this latter part of 2018.

“Grabe! It’s pushing through. I gave my word na that we’re both going to make it happen next year, but towards the end of 2019,” sabi ni Liza sa panayam ng PEP.

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“As in after—naku, baka ma-jinx—it’s after the launch of the 100 years of Philippine Cinema. So, later part of September or October,” dagdag niya.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproduction medical procedure, wherein egg cells will be harvested from a woman’s ovaries and will be combined with a man’s sperm in a laboratory.

The fertilized eggs will be then implanted to a surrogate who will be carrying the baby in her womb.

In this case, Liza is the surrogate and the eggs to be harvested will come from Ice, a self-confessed transgender man.

“We’re gonna go through IVF. ‘Yung pag-harvest ng eggs niya, the fertilization, will happen in Malaysia. And then ‘yung game plan is gonna happen siguro later part of the year 2019,” sabi ni Liza.

But alongside her dedication to her job, Liza expressed her hope that her load will ease up by the time she and Ice start their baby plans in 2019, such that she won’t be required to travel as much as she did this year.

“Sana mangyari… baka ma-jinx,” sabi ni Liza.

Bising-busy si Liza sa FDCP. Aside from being a wife to Ice, Liza also has a 10-year-old daughter whom she wants to spend more time with during her free days.

“It’s hard. I think it’s one of the challenges that as a family we have to go through together. Andami ring nangyaring, naapektuhan ‘yung anak ko, kasi ‘di na niya ako nakikita.

“But we’re working on this as a family. Naiintindihan nila na minsan ka lang mabibigyan ng opportunity na makapagsilbi sa bayan, ‘tapos gumawa ng something, na puwede pala ‘yun. It’s not for your personal gain, may bigger reason.

“’Pag ganun, parang feeling mo, dapat naiintindihan ng lahat ‘yung ginagawa ko,” sabi pa ni Liza.

But Liza said that there are times when her daughter would call her out for not being there as a mom.

“Minsan ‘yung daughter ko, [sasabihin] ‘Mom, I know I should be understanding you, but I feel like I’m overstanding you.’ Hahaha! Over na daw!

“O kaya minsan dahil nag-promise siya sa akin na maiintindihan niya ako, hindi niya sinasabi sa akin ‘pag may mga times na ‘di niya naiintindihan. So dun nagsa-start ‘yung ano [struggles].”

Through it all, Liza gave credit to her husband Ice for being there for her and their family.

“But siguro eto, ang suwerte ko kasi bumalik na sa pagiging private citizen ‘yung asawa ko,” said Liza, referring to Ice’s decision to leave his government post as chairman of the National Youth Commission.

She also pointed out how Ice makes an effort to accompany her during her work trip for the Singapore Media Festival just to spend time with her.

“Nakaka-gig na siya, kaya kaya na niya pamasahehan sarili niya sa mga ganito. Sumusunod na lang siya sa akin, kasi kung hindi, hindi kami magkikita.

“He would have his own tour, I would have my own events. So normally ‘pag ganito, lumilipad siya just to see me.”

Isinakripisiyo man ni Liza ang ilan niyang personal na gawain, she believes that her sacrifices for her work are worth it.

“I’m happy na we’re making it. Kasi feeling ko, at the the end of day, I wanna look back and say, kahit papaano may nabigay kang contribution sa bansa,” pagtatapos ni Liza.