Full of Heart

Lucky in career. Unlucky in love.

That sums up the fate of Heart Evangelista in 2009, the Year of the Ox.

When she signed up Annabelle Rama as manager, Heart felt like the Phoenix. She sprang back from a lull in her career (which people short of dismissed as moribund) and shone again in four TV shows (Luna Mystika, Ngayon at Kailanman, Fashionistas by Heart and the ongoing Full House with Richard Gutierrez) on GMA 7 to which she moved from ABS-CBN, starred in two movies (Nobody, Nobody But...Juan with Dolphy and Regal Films’ Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love which won for her a Best Supporting Actress trophy in the ongoing Metro Filmfest; her second so far, the first was Best Actress for the indie Ay, Ayeng) and did a few more endorsements.

In love, Heart scored a big zero. With a heavy heart, she broke up with Jericho “Echo” Rosales and promised not to plunge into a new serious involvement again, not so soon anyway.

She spent last Christmas with her family. And yes, Echo did send her a card, congratulating her for winning an award and wishing her well.

“It was a simple way of greeting me Merry Christmas,” she said.

Told that she and Echo seem to be still in love with each other but they’re just too proud to admit it, Heart broke into a nervous laughter.

“You know, I cannot lie,” she confessed. “I can never lie, that’s why I try to avoid being asked that question. We shared something very special but then, we don’t want to force the issue. I’m doing well and so is he. So let’s leave it at that.”

In the Metro Filmfest’s Gabi ng Parangal, Heart shared the glory with Sharon Cuneta, Best Actress for her performance also in Mano Po (by Joel Lamangan who was named Best Director), and Bong Revilla and Phillip Salvador, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively both for Ang Panday.

You now belong to the Big League, with Sharon, Bong and Phillip who are multi-awardees. I’m sure you feel great.

“You know, I haven’t come down from Cloud 9 with what happened to me in the FAMAS and here’s another one. It’s unbelievable! It’s just amazing! I went to the Gabi ng Parangal without expecting anything. I wasn’t able to join the Parade of Stars and my mom said I should go in support of the Mano Po cast, so I went.”

Who did you think would win?

“Either Zsa Zsa Padilla (as Sharon’s mean sister-in-law) or Ciara (Sotto as Heart’s sister). Hayun, hindi pa ako nakakababa from Cloud 9 andoon uli ako. Amazing! I’m celebrating my birthday next month (Feb. 14, she’s a Valentine Baby like Kris Aquino, Rico J. Puno, Sen. Johnny Ponce Enrile, John Prats and Jo Anne Lorenzana. — RFL) and it’s as if na-fulfill ang birthday wish ko even before I could make it.”

On a scale of one to 10, what did you think was your chances of winning?

“Mga 6. Passing grade lang. Hehehehe!”

You were not at the FAMAS Night when you won your first award for Ay, Ayeng (an indie directed by Edd Palmos).

“I was in my pajamas instead of a gown...sleeping at home! When they called to tell me the good news, I imagined that I was fully made up, wearing a beautiful gown, receiving my trophy and crying while I was delivering my acceptance speech.”

During the Gabi ng Parangal, you forgot to thank one important person in your life, your manager Annabelle Rama.

“Sorry for that. I was so nervous kasi. But I made habol by thanking Tita Annabelle when I was interviewed on TV.”

In Ay, Ayeng, you played a teacher from the Mountain Province, sent to school by the whole village so you could teach your fellow villagers how to read and write when you go home. But things were overtaken by Martial Law and your co-villagers, instead of studying, would rather work for a living.

“Yes, it was a good role; it was a good movie and I was sad that not many people saw it.”

In Mano Po naman, you played the pasaway (rebellious) daughter of Sharon. True-to-life daw?

“Actually! I must admit that in real life I’ve been a pasaway daughter.”

How else are you similar to Stephanie, your role in Mano Po?

“You know, in the movie when Stephanie was being ‘rebellious’ and she left the house, she clung on to her boyfriend (played by Dennis Trillo). Parang something like that happened in real life, that’s why I could relate to Stephanie’s predicament.”

Oh yes, in real life there was a conflict between you and your mom.

“That’s right.”

How did you resolve your problem with your mom?

“Hmmmm. I just swallowed my pride and you know, I felt that whatever it was that I had wanted to prove was, well, okey na. I felt that I had proved my point and I decided to go home. My mom and I had a really, really long talk at hayun, naayos na ang lahat. They took me back. Everything was back to normal.”

Did you have to sacrifice your love life?

“No naman. Not really, because when I went back home I was still with, you know, that ‘someone.’ Parang things just happened all at the same time; nagkasabay-sabay na lang. But when I look back, now, I can say that, yes, I’m kind of sacrificing seeing anyone ‘in general’ for the sake of my family and my career. I’ve given so much of myself and my time to that ‘someone’ kaya it’s about time naman that I devoted my time and attention to my career and my family.”

Did you see any similarities between Sharon as your mom in Mano Po and your real-life mom?

“Hmmmm. No! Because Miss Sharon as my mom in the movie was reaching out to me while my real mom never did that. She never talked to me until I went back home. I had a hard time with her. But when I said ‘sorry’ na to her, she kind of softened up.”

What was your most memorable scene in Mano Po?

“My confrontation scene with Miss Sharon. It was shot on the first day of the shoot and I was still kinakabahan. I was starstruck! Miss Sharon was very nice and very kind, kaya nawala kaagad ang kaba ko.”

2009 was a very good year for you. Do you think the two awards are some kind of a sign from “up there” for you to give closure to past hurts? Kayo ba ni Echo nagkaroon na ng closure?

“Ahhhh, not really. We did have a good talk but it wasn’t a closure. We were very happy together but then it was, I guess, the wrong time. There was never any mention of us getting back together again but I do believe in fate. Whoever I end up with is the right guy for me. But I’m not in a rush. I don’t want to make the same mistake.”

What if “the right guy” would turn out to be nobody, nobody but...Echo?

“Well, it could happen, you know. But at this point, ayokong pilitin ang isang bagay na hindi naman magwo-work and I’d just be wasting my time. I’m going on with my life and if it happens, well, it happens. I’ve told my parents that. I could end up with somebody else.”

I heard na maraming nakapila.

“Marami ba? Like who?”

Like, ehem, Joey de Venecia (who’s running for senator in the May elections).

“No. I don’t even know him from Adam.”

But you have an idea who he is, I guess.

“Well, I’ve heard of him. But I’m a friend of his brother. When that rumor came out, the brother said, ‘That’s ridiculous!’ But, yes, I’m dating somebody, a politician from Isabela. But nothing serious; date-date lang talaga. You know, for me friendship is the most important and more lasting, so I want to keep all of them as my friends.”

Do you believe that if you’re lucky in your career, you are unlucky in love?

“Oh yes, I believe that. Kasi in a career like ours, it’s hard to balance your time. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. Somehow, you have to sacrifice either of the two.”

So what do you look forward to in 2010? What’s your New Year wish?

“Sana mas marami pa ako ma-harvest this year and in the coming years.”

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