Letting her Heart out, at last!

Heart Evangelista is finally talking about the controversy surrounding her, boyfriend Jericho Rosales and John Estrada. The incident stemmed from Heart’s encounter with John in a bar.

Several weeks later, Jericho confronted John at the premiere of Superman Returns at IMAX Theater at the SM Mall of Asia. John was then with Inah, his daughter by former wife Janice de Belen.

Here’s Heart’s version of the incident:

"Our conversation was revolving around my being a Christian and how nice it is that God is the center of my relationship with Echo (Jericho). I was even telling John that I love Echo. Then, John said something … (looking at manager Angeli Valenciano) inappropriate. I stormed out."

Heart goes on, "When you say something about Christianity, you don’t talk that way."

She also denied having a relationship with John. How could she have another relationship, says Heart, when her then boyfriend, Ian Dy, was visiting her on the set every day?

Jericho did apologize to John, even if Heart thinks "you don’t have to apologize if there’s nothing to apologize for."

She’s ready to forgive John. But Heart, sticking to her guns, says saying "false things and twisted facts" (referring to John) will never hold water.

Was she really wearing something sexy then to attract men?

"I was wearing a sleeveless, knee-length dress with a sando top," Heart replied. "I don’t need other men to tell me I’m sexy."

And neither was she drunk. "John even saw me open a bottle of mineral water I was holding," states Heart.

She was shaking all over while saying these. But once she let go of the words, Heart calmed down and admitted "I feel better."

This is only the latest of a series of lessons she’s been learning now that she’s trying to open up. People, she thinks, misunderstand her because she’d hide when problems cropped up.

The public saw only Heart as the MYX VJ and Panday’s leading lady. They did not see Heart the person. They did not see what was going on inside of her.

But now, at 21, Heart vows she will be more transparent. What you’ll see is what you’ll get. No more hiding, no more masks.

"You may watch me, even spy on me," she tells the press people gathered around her.

Yes, Heart admits, she’s so in love. But there are other things to think of besides that. And she won’t let love cloud her vision of what’s good and bad for her.

"I’m in love, but I love my job. I’m in love but I won’t French kiss my boyfriend in front of everbody," she relates.

Heart wants her fans to know that being a role model doesn’t mean being perfect. Rather, it means being as human as can be.

"Being a role model means you can stand up and fight for things," Heart relates.

Jericho is teaching her many things she never knew about. The sheltered princess that she was, Heart admits she didn’t know how to budget her money. She didn’t even know what a manager’s check was all about until only recently. Take her to Glorietta three years ago and she’d get lost like a helpless puppy. She’d run as fast as she can when she faces a strange man on the street at night. She didn’t even know what a TIN (tax identification number) was all about.

Jericho taught her about the real world. He chided her, "You spend too much! You must learn how to save."

So now, Heart knows where every centavo of her money goes, especially now that she’s living on her own. She doesn’t blow all her money in just one shopping spree in the grocery.

She is, in other words, growing up.

Genesis, her management company, has big plans for Heart. She will star in the July 21 episode of ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya with Jericho. Heart will co-host the CloseUp to Fame 2 finals on July 22.

Plans are brewing for a recording comeback (her debut album was released three years ago), where she and Jericho might just include their own individual compositions.

"I plan to audition in a different country, study Hotel and Restaurant Management or Fashion. Acting will always be there, of course," says she.

Now that Heart has gotten many things off her chest, she’s finally off to a good start.