Love Marie follows her heart

MANILA, Philippines – If there’s one thing to say about Heart Evangelista these days, it is that she’s not content with simply being called an artista.

More than a year ago, the 30-year-old Kapuso star set her heart on pursuing her hidden talent for painting, surprising all and sundry as she mounted successful and sold-out exhibits as Love Marie (her real name) the visual artist.

After months of teasing on her Instagram, the actress is at it again and this time, collaborating with the former race car driver and her favorite fashion designer Mark Bumgarner.

All the hard work in the last six months wherein Heart painted on Mark’s couture collection will be unveiled in a gala fashion show titled Mark Bumgarner X Love Marie on Jan. 18 at the Dusit Thani Ballroom. At the same time, a silent auction will be held where all the proceeds will go to two charities, the children’s NGO Corridor of Hope Foundation and the Thalassemia International Association.

“What inspired us to start with this whole thing, you know, you have the fast fashion, it’s easy, you just get it, it’s ready-made. But parang somewhere along the way, you kind of lose your individuality, you kind of look like everybody else so you want to be original, you want to be unique, you want to carry your own individuality that when people see you, oh this is who she is, this is her personality, this is what she likes to wear,” said Heart.

“So, I started going to Mark because I wanted an everyday outfit. I’m 5’2”, I find it hard to find pants for someone as petite as me, and when I wanted a certain look, Mark would create for me.” The friendship progressed “until we expanded into painting on dresses.”

“It’s exciting, it’s scary, it’s something I’ve done, but it feels good to have done something different. My friends tell me ‘wag mo kalimutan na artista ko because na-enjoy ko talaga what I’m doing now,” added Heart.

If you wonder why she assumes her real name when it comes to her visual art, Heart explained, “I’ve been an artista for 17 years now and people might think that I’m used to all people criticizing me. Actually, I’m still very afraid and pressured on what people have to say so I figured by using my real name, I can hide away from being the artista Heart that they knew. (It’s) a different side of me.

“My classmates from school, they know me as Love Marie. I want to reintroduce myself as the little girl with dreams. More than anything, I wanted to become a painter and a vet when I was young. Of course, I wanted to become an artista but before I ever thought of that, I wanted to paint. I would paint on my walls. I said I wanted to introduce ‘me,’ who I really am in the real world without being judged or without people saying, oh, she’s an artista she got into singing, oh she’s an artista, she ran for politics, whatever. I wanted to be who I really was and this is what I really do.”

Meanwhile, the actress is still waiting for her next project from GMA 7 after wrapping her primetime series Beautiful Strangers late last year. 

Which is a good thing, according to Heart, because it also “gives me enough time to also do the fashion show, and I have an exhibit at the Ayala Museum on the 30th (this month). I also have a clutch line. I’m doing other things.”

After all her personal pursuits, Heart might be more visible in the campaign of her husband, Sen. Chiz Escudero, who’s joining the vice-presidential race this May 2016 elections. “Whenever I can, I really try to make time but you know, I’m also working di ko naman pwede balewalain yung mga kailangan kong gawin (so I must not neglect the things that I have to do).”

Heart admitted that she’s now feeling the pressure of being a politician’s wife. “I’m starting to get pressured now. I really feel it now. In the beginning, hindi masyado kasi si Chiz … normal lang siya na tao (he’s a normal guy), especially at home. We hardly talk about (the campaign) but maybe now that we’re almost there, I’m feeling the pressure.”

It’s almost a year since she became Mrs. Escudero. They are celebrating their first wedding anniversary on Feb. 15. And she’s planning to have a baby late this year. “I’m actually starting to work out a lot because maybe by the end of the year, I’ll start trying to become pregnant,” revealed Heart. “I think that’s enough time to enjoy the marriage and do certain things that I need to do kasi magkakaroon pa ako ng shots (yung mumps and measles) so around seven months, you can’t get pregnant after you get the injection.”

Asked if she’s ready to embrace motherhood, Heart said, “I don’t think you can be 100-percent ready. I think that’s something you have to set your mind to, you have to be selfless. There are a lot of things you have to think of giving up. But more or less, I’m able to practice because may dalawang bagets (Chiz’s kids from his first marriage). I’m so thankful that they are very behaved, they are not difficult to take care of. They call me Tita Heart. I’m very happy how it is, di ako nahirapan, di ako nag-adjust.”