Say Chiz…straight from the Heart

‘Heart and I live in separate houses. It’s a weird set-up. Our places are only 128 steps apart, to be exact. I live with my twins in the townhouse I’ve been staying in since 1999 and Heart

is renting a place nearby.’ In this exclusive interview, Sen. Chiz Escudero explains why.

Taking time out from the grueling campaign, Sen./Vice Presidentiable Chiz Escudero dropped by The STAR offices yesterday. Offered lunch, Chiz begged off and asked only for coffee, saying in jest (in his self-deprecating style), “Ayokong lumaki ang tiyan ko baka iwanan na naman ako ng asawa ko,” referring to his first failed marriage.

He and wife Heart Evangelista have been living happily ever after since they got married on the exclusive Balesin Island in Quezon Province on Feb. 15 last year, a day after Heart turned 30 (Chiz is turning 47 on Oct. 10) ­— living apart, that is (find out why in a while).

After tackling hard issues during his session with the STAR editors, columnists and reporters, Chiz made a 12-minute stopover at the Entertainment Section office for a “lighter” session. He was game as usual, mincing no words in answering even the most personal questions.

You celebrated your first wedding anniversary last Feb. 15. Are you still in your adjustment period?

“The adjustment continues especially now that, technically, we live in separate houses.”

How far apart?

“128 steps away from each other, to be exact.”

Why apart?

“It’s a weird set-up. I stay at Woodside (Quezon City) with my kids (twins Chesi and Joaquin). I’ve been living there since 1999 while Heart is renting a townhouse nearby. Her stuff won’t fit in my townhouse, and my stuff and my kids’ stuff won’t fit in her townhouse.”

How long do you think will that “weird” set-up last?

“She has been constructing her house for the past three years…even before we got married. When I say ‘her house,’ I mean it’s her house, not mine. Hopefully, matatapos na ang house niya next year.”

So the “weird set-up” involves only sleepovers.

“In a way.”

Is that why you are delaying having a baby?

“We want to enjoy our life together first. Tiis-tiis muna.”

In the meantime, are you practicing birth control or self-control?

(Hesitating) “Birth control on her part.”

When you sleep together, which side of the bed are you on and…

“…I’m on the left side simply because it’s closer to the door. A guy always has to sleep on the side where the door is to be able to protect his wife.”

In bed, does one of you read and the other watches TV?

“We don’t read before we sleep. We watch TV together. Usually siya ang unang nasusunod which channel to watch. Later on, ako na.”

Who snores?

“According to her, ako. But I have denied it up to this day.”

Who sleepwalks?

“Neither of us.”

Lights on or lights off?

“Lights off but sometimes ‘on’ on rare occasions…but not that well lit, yellow light but never white light…tamang ambience lang.”

Okay lang “lights off” because I suppose you have memorized parts of each other’s body already.

“Dim light lang.”

Do you shower together?

“Hmmmm, not often because we observe different hours. But before, yes, when she had less work and I had less work.”

Aside from taking a bath, what do you usually do in the bathroom? Do you sing together?

“No singing. We do our thing separately, never together inside the bathroom because some things we have to preserve and keep private.”

How many times do you say “I love you” to each other?

“Let me see…‘say’ and including texts? At least 10 times a day.”

When one of you wakes up earlier, how do you wake up the other…with a kiss, with a tickle, or with what?

“With a kiss usually. Hindi ginigising, nagpapaalam lang. I usually wake up at 3:30 or 4:30, and she wakes up at 5 o’clock especially when she has a shoot or taping.”

Do you still send each other flowers, chocolates, notes or whatnots?

“Flowers, yes; chocolates, no. Notes? Yes, on occasions. That’s what texting has destroyed ­— exchanging notes. Sometimes, it’s more convenient just sending text messages.”

Why did you scrap your plan to celebrate your first anniversary with another wedding (renewal of vows, that would have included Heart’s parents who were absent during the first wedding)?

“We scrapped the plan because Heart’s mom was in the States while her father wasn’t feeling well, for quite sometime actually. But there was nothing wrong. We are okay. We still went to Sorsogon and spent time bonding with friends, and reminiscing our proposal.”

So you’re okay already with each other’s in-laws?

“Yes, we are. Very much.”

How is Heart as a mom (to the twins)?

“She is doing very well. They have adjusted quite well.”

How do the kids call Heart?

“Tita Heart and Heart wants it that way because from her point of view, she will always be their second mom and she can never replace their mom, according to her. She’s okay with that and the kids are okay with that, too. In fact, nang magpaalam ako sa mga anak ko that I was getting married, Chesi said, ‘It’s okay.’ I was not satisfied with her saying ‘it’s okay,’ so I asked her why. And Chesi said, ‘At least magkakaroon kami ng mommy dito sa Woodside,’ and not just a mommy when they visit their mom. That’s how they see it.”

How often does Heart help you in the campaign? (Yesterday, reported Chiz, Heart was with good friend Lovi Poe campaigning in Laoag.)

“Once a week because she has taping already.” (Heart’s new show on GMA is Juan Happy Love Story, with Dennis Trillo.)

Did you know that Heart and Dennis have a kissing scene?

“She has explained that to me already. Inuunahan na niya palagi. Like what happened in Sosy Girls where she did a kissing scene. Funny but when we watched the movie, para kaming mga bata. She was trying to cover my eyes when the kissing scene was shown but I tried to remove her hands.”

At home, do you ever rehearse Heart’s love scenes?

“No, never! According to her, she fakes them. Hahahaha!!!”

Don’t you impose any do’s and don’t’s on each other?

“No. We don’t meddle in each other’s careers. We trust each other.”

On the campaign trail, women hug and kiss you. Doesn’t Heart get jealous?

“Not at all. She doesn’t have any reason to be jealous.”

Are you faithful?

“Of course! Nakakahiya namang maghanap ka pa ng iba kung ganyan kaganda ang asawa mo.”

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