MANILA, Philippines – Iza Calzado recently jumped ship from GMA-7 to its rival network ABS-CBN, and so people are wondering what made her leave her home of almost 10 years.

“Gusto ko talaga ng bagong adventure. Gusto ko’ng mag-evolve, gusto ko’ng matuto,” Iza said during her live studio interview with Boy Abunda on “The Buzz,” Jan. 29.

The award-winning actress officially became the newest Kapamilya on Tuesday last week after signing a three-year contract with the network.

She continued, “Hindi naman sa hindi ko magagawa ‘yun sa aking dating network, pero alam ko’ng mas macha-challenge ako, mas marami ako’ng matututunan sa mga bagong tao na makakatrabaho ko kapag nga lumipat ako dito.”

Simply put, Iza just wanted “to shake things up in my life.”

“Na-discover ko [sa pagkatao ko] at siguro through the years ang naisip ko, gusto ko talaga nacha-challenge ako. Kasi may iba’t-ibang klase ng tao… ‘yung ibang tao okay sila na kampante sila, okay sila dun sa zone na ‘yun.

“Ako hindi eh. In order for me to fly, I need to be challenged, na kailangan I’m on my toes all the time,” she explained.

Iza related that her late father, the renowned choreographer Lito Calzado, also influenced her decision.

“My dad worked for the other station, and he’s very thankful. And so am I. I’m very grateful for all my years there. But of course he was one with me in wanting new things for me and my career. [To] spread my wings and fly,” she said.

According to her, she and her dad once had a conversation with Gary Valenciano about working in ABS-CBN.

“Kaya nga after some time, after he passed away, I really had to do a lot of thinking. It was Tita Maribeth Bichara who told me when I received a posthumous award for my father, she said that my dad wanted me to transfer. Sabi ko, wait a minute. I have to, you know, listen to everything, [see] the signs. [To] process everything and really think about myself now. So I did just that,” she related.

Iza feels that her dad was instrumental somehow for the changes in her life. “[Siya] ‘yung nagbigay ng paraan para mapunta na rin ako dito at para tahakin ko ‘tong landas na ‘to."

“Sa palagay ko siya na rin ang magbibigay sa ‘kin ng lakas at [po-proptektahan] ako kung kailangan ko ng proteksyon,” said she.

Iza was given a warm welcome on the ABS-CBN Sunday noontime variety show “ASAP Rocks” earlier that day. According to Boy, the actress was seen crying before her performance.

On this, Iza tearfully explained, “Sana nandito pa ‘yung tatay ko. We didn’t have a perfect relationship… Sometimes we fight, ganyan. But if there’s one thing that he would always do, it was always to watch me perform.

“And it’s just not the same to perform on a stage without my father watching me and telling me what I did right and what I didn’t do right. ‘Yun lang. Sayang. Pero alam ko nakatingin naman sila ng nanay ko pareho eh, sa akin,” Iza said. She lost her biological mother 10 years ago.

When talk came to her surviving the “fierce” competition in ABS-CBN, Iza replied that she would just do her best in every task that she’d be given.

“Sabi ko nga, if you’re destined to shine in something, you will. Kahit na tapakan ka pa ng ibang tao, kahit pigilan ka pa, basta may hard work siya na katapat… Of course I will have to give more than a hundred percent, everything that I got, to prove myself,” she added.

Meanwhile, Iza confirmed that she’ll be the new host of “The Biggest Loser: Pinoy Edition.” She will be replacing the Megastar Sharon Cuneta, who left for TV5 last year.

Iza, who used to weigh 220 lbs, related, “That is my story, and that’s the story of a lot of people. I’ve always wanted to inspire more people. So isa ‘yun sa mga naisip ko why I would transfer [to ABS].”

Asked to describe herself in a few words, Iza exclaimed, “With all humility, I’m ready to shine!”