Heart airs her side on conflict with Marian

Manila, Philippines - Weeks ago televiewers saw a Marian Rivera in tears talking about a quite vague sad encounter with Temptation Island co-star Heart Evangelista. After that it was reported that the latter’s mom, Cecilia Ongpauco, brought 15 policemen to the NAIA and confronted Marian herself in defense of her daughter.

As to what caused the rift came in various versions, there was no word from Heart herself. Her being absent at the press conference for the movie remake apparently did not help her. In short, it was observed that she is the villain between the two once Marian had the floor to express her sentiments.

Last Thursday at Barrio Fiesta Greenhills, Heart somehow surprised the media when she spoke up at length about the arguably unclear incident and gave her tell-all version of what happened in Laoag, Ilocos Norte where Temptation Island was shot.

According to the star of recent teleserye top-raters Dwarfina and Langit Sa Piling Mo, the conflict between them stemmed from an unexpected reaction Marian directed at her after learning Heart’s excitement over the possibility of being able to work with Dingdong Dantes who is Marian’s boyfriend.

Marian, she said, took her comment in a different way and began making her feel alienated on the set of the said film. She added that the Amaya star stormed to her hotel room twice to confront her.

“She confronted me twice in my hotel room. Nagulat po ako na galit na galit sya, at sinisigawan niya ako. Takot na takot ako. I started to cry,” Heart told the press.

She elaborated, “I wanted to settle this issue privately, pero kailangan ko ng i-defend ang sarili ko.  The false and mean things that have been reported about me in the media and online have damaged my reputation. I have even received death threats from the fans of Marian Rivera. I am traumatized and very scared.”

Heart said that Marian threatened her by saying, “Papatayin ka ng mga fans ko!” One fan bragged that she will throw acid to her face.

Marian Rivera

She continued her recollection, “The movie’s director advised me to call my mom after the first confrontation. I did that, but that still did not stop the second incident from happening. After the second confrontation, hindi na po kami nag-usap ni Marian.”

Both incidents happened during the last shooting days for Temptation Island also starring Solenn Heussaff, Rufa Mae Quinto and Lovi Poe.  

After the movie shoot, Heart recalled being fetched from the airport’s arrival area by her mother. On denying reports that there were several policemen being brought to the airport, she insisted. “I was so emotionally traumatized and physically tired from the incident that my mom arranged for two NAIA employees to fetch me from the arrival area. It’s not true that there was a confrontation between my mom and Marian. ‘Ni hindi sila nag-usap.”

Thursday’s presscon saw the presence of two lawyers seated beside Heart during her outpouring. Interviews with reporters from TV, print, and online media lasted for about two hours. Heart’s camp clarified that the presscon was done to just air her side and not to announce a formal case.

Lawyer Archimedes Gonzalez read a formal statement which set the tone for the seriously intriguing reporters’ gathering. He said, “My client and I hope that after this, it will not be necessary to seek recourse in the judicial forum.”

The statement pointed out, “My client has been portrayed as the assailant. She was the assailed. She was not the victimizer, but the victim.”

It also described the client’s adversary as “a woman who does not enjoy a reputation for credibility,” and that she “not only committed the crime of libel, grave threats, and intimidation, but also caused damages in an amount that we will specify in a civil case that our law firm is still studying.”    

Marian’s side issued a statement that it decided not to speak anymore about the incident in respect to GMA 7 and the star’s fans. Marian is said to have chosen peace.

With that, this issue may have to die down quite sooner. So, the public is left to decide who is saying the truth, whether the crying Marian or the all-too composed Heart.

Meanwhile, GMA 7 has issued the following statement: “The issue between Marian Rivera and Heart Evangelista is a personal one. Though it happened during the shooting of Temptation Island, both actresses were advised by the producers of the movie (GMA Films and Regal Entertainment) to put this unpleasant issue to rest. Whatever statements or actions issued or done by either party are their own. GMA Network still hopes that the issue will be resolved and that the friendship of both stars be renewed.”