Heart Evangelista: Brave Heart

MANILA, Philippines - She was born with the proverbial silver spoon. But it didn’t spare Heart Evangelista from experiencing the bitter taste of life. The public’s prying eyes have seen Heart loving a man, living on her own and losing a grip on her career. But unknown to Heart, she has been nurturing a brave heart all along.

“There was a lull in my career because I was going through a lot (that time),” shares Heart. “All my life, I didn’t allow myself to grow. (I felt) I needed to do something about life... about growing up. I was like a teenybopper who can’t do this and who can’t do that,” she says.

One day, Heart decided to break away to know herself. And she found freedom.

“The deal was that I could do anything I want when I turn 21,” recalls Heart. “That I could travel, live my life, go to the beach with my friends. And it didn’t happen. I just let go and followed my heart. I had to go to see the real world.”

Her wish was granted. Heart got a pad, made decisions for herself and chose what shoes to wear. During this time, the sheltered actress broke up with longtime boyfriend Jericho Rosales and experienced a slump in her career. Heart took the backseat and changed talent management. On the sidelines, she waited patiently until the right time came.

“(GMA 7) gave me a clean slate,” as Heart Evangelista puts it. The young actress was first cast in a dual role in Luna Mystika. Then she reprised the big screen role of Sharon Cuneta in Ngayon at Kailanman and put her Filipina seal on Korean character Jessie in Full House.

Mainstream TV, on the other hand, didn’t stop Heart from portraying juicy roles like the barrio teacher Ayeng in Ay, Ayeng and spoiled brat Stephanie in Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love. Those two movie characters gifted her with Famas Best Actress and Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actress awards, respectively.

“I have gone through so much that it developed my character,” says Heart on hindsight. “In acting, I have so much passion, so much pain and so much experience. I get the right buttons to press now. Before I didn’t know what a real heartache was. I didn’t know what unconditional love was. Now I know them. At least whatever I have gone through in life isn’t wasted.”

With the way her career is going, showbiz watchers will agree that Heart has returned with a vengeance — and she has more to offer.

“A lot of people wanted me down at that time,” recalls Heart. “You can’t win them all. I knew this time around I would do things the right way with all my heart and I’d love what I would do.”

“I think I’m smarter now,” adds Heart. “I have more wisdom. I just don’t go at it. I think about things first.”

That’s a beautiful, brave Heart talking.

Photography by Jo Ann Bitagcol • Styling by Corine Alegre • Makeup by Mickey See of Shu Uemura • Hairstyling by John Valle for Loreal Professionel • Jewelry by Miladay