Since 2010, the MEGA Ball has been an annual gathering of fashion, culture, beauty, and entertainment that coincides with Philippine Independence Day on June 12. More than just a party, it’s a celebration of the Filipino spirit that gathers established figures and rising stars to honor Filipino creativity and excellence.
Beginning with 2023, that celebration has extended to highlighting different industries and the impact and influence of their respective figures with the MEGA Ball: Fashion+ series. The journey began in 2023 with Art, followed by Food in 2024, and most recently Dance in 2025. Now, in 2026, MEGA celebrates the Filipina silver screen icons who have and continue to shape Philippine cinema with the MEGA Ball: Fashion+Film. And who better to commemorate the power of local movies than with the MEGA Ball 2026’s Co-Chair, Iza Calzado.
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Iza Calzado As MEGA Ball 2026’s Co-Chair
For more than two decades, Iza Calzado has been an undeniable presence on TV and film. Starting with her breakthrough role as Amihan in Encantadia, Calzado has made a name for herself as one of the most gifted actresses of her generation. From romance, drama, horror, and more, the veteran actress moves between genres with ease and brings a refined intentionality and passion to each role, delivering performances that do more than just fill the screen. The award-winning actress understands that acting isn’t just pretending, but an embodiment of someone’s story that deserves to be told.
Outside her work in cinema, Calzado continues her advocacy in championing the industry as the President of AKTOR, or the League of Filipino Actors. There, she strives to help build safer spaces for her peers and empower local creatives, from implementing better working conditions for welfare development to celebrating the success of Filipina actresses making waves globally, and advocating for proper mental health care.
With her body of work in and beyond acting, Iza Calzado stands tall as an enduring presence using her platform to help support local entertainment in reaching its full potential and becoming a force for positive change. “When MEGA invited me to co-chair this year’s Ball, built around our Women in Film issue, my first feeling was not pride, but responsibility,” she shares. “As president of AKTOR, the League of Filipino Actors, I spend my days listening to stories from set: the assistant director and acting coach negotiating safer hours, the writer pitching her first script, the makeup artist who has worked since she was nineteen. To stand with them, and for them, on a night that celebrates beauty with purpose, is an honor I carry with humility and fire.”
With Iza Calzado as Co-Chair, this year’s MEGA Ball honors and spotlights the Filipina leading lady, from groundbreaking legends to the next generation of stars, and their artistry, talent, and cultural impact in shaping Philippine cinema with stories and performances that have inspired generations.
Stay tuned as we get closer to the grand premiere on June 12.
Featured Image by JERICK SANCHEZ
Frequently Asked Questions
Iza Calzado is a Filipino actress who rose to prominence through her breakthrough role as Amihan in Encantadia. Over more than two decades, she has built a reputation as one of the most versatile and award-winning actresses of her generation, working across romance, drama, and horror in both TV and film.
Calzado was named Co-Chair of the MEGA Ball 2026 for her enduring contribution to Philippine cinema and her active role in championing the local entertainment industry. As an actress and President of AKTOR, the League of Filipino Actors, she represents both artistic excellence and institutional advocacy for Filipino creatives.
The MEGA Ball: Fashion+Film 2026 is the latest edition of MEGA’s annual Fashion+ series, which spotlights different industries each year. The 2026 edition, coinciding with Philippine Independence Day on June 12, celebrates Filipina silver screen icons — from groundbreaking legends to the next generation of stars — and their cultural impact on Philippine cinema.
AKTOR, the League of Filipino Actors, is an organization dedicated to building safer, more equitable spaces for actors in the Philippine entertainment industry. As president, Iza Calzado leads efforts on improving working conditions, welfare development, mental health advocacy, and celebrating the achievements of Filipina actresses on the global stage.
The MEGA Ball: Fashion+ series began in 2023 as an extension of the annual MEGA Ball, highlighting different industries and their influential figures alongside fashion. The series has explored Art (2023), Food (2024), and Dance (2025), with Film as the focus for 2026 — each edition deepening the event’s role as a celebration of Filipino creativity and cultural excellence.
