Heart Evangelista’s true colors shine

FROM left: Senators Chiz Escudero and Cynthia Villar, Susan Roces and Manny Villar

EXHILARATED but exhausted, Heart the Artist takes a break and shucks off her stiletto.

As the Cyndi Lauper song goes: GMA 7 actress Heart Evangelista let her “true colors shine through” that night.

And it was “beautiful… like a rainbow.”

A few days before the event, Heart told the Inquirer that she was “excited” about the opening of her first solo exhibit, dubbed “I am Love Marie: The Art and Works of Love Marie Ongpauco.”

However, on opening night, May 8, at Ayala Museum’s Artist Space, Heart was the picture of gracious confidence.

Why not, indeed? Her boyfriend, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, was at her side all evening. Fernando Zobel de Ayala cut the ceremonial ribbon with the couple.

Indeed, Heart gathered luminaries from the corporate, entertainment and political worlds.

Guests of honor included movie queen Susan Roces and her daughter, Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares.

FERNANDO Zobel de Ayala (left) chats with Heart and Senator Chiz.

Senator Chiz’s colleagues were present, among them Senators Loren Legarda, Teofisto Guingona III, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Cynthia Villar with husband Manny Villar.

“Antagonista”

Artist Ramon Orlina and broadcaster Karen Davila turned up at the event, as did singers Robert Seña and Mark Bautista.

Likewise spotted were Heart’s fellow Kapuso stars Lovi Poe, Rhian Ramos, Solenn Heussaff, Bianca King and Carla Abellana.

“Full support kami kay Heart,” Lovi told the Inquirer. “She’s always been a gifted artist. When we hang out, she often paints or doodles. I am proud and happy for her that she now gets to show everyone her hidden talent. People are now seeing the other side of Heart.”

Heart titled one of her paintings “Lourdes”—Lovi’s real name.

SWEETHEARTS pose in front of “Against the Flow” (left) and “Alessandra 3.”

“She says she named it after me because the painting is colorful and chaotic—like my mind,” Lovi quipped. “Heart and Chiz always tease me.  Magulo raw ang utak ko.”

Lovi has yet to hang a Heart piece in her home.

“But Chiz and Heart gave me a painting [by another artist] as a housewarming present. It looks jumbled and complex, too, like me rin daw,” Lovi said.

Heart named two other paintings after another friend, fellow Kapuso star Alessandra de Rossi.

The paintings—“Alessandra 2” and “Alessandra 3”—feature colorful mermaids.

SEN. LOREN Legarda and sculptor Ramon Orlina

“That was so sweet of her. Heart knows that my big dream is to be a mermaid,” said Alessandra, who couldn’t go to the opening because she had a taping that night.

However, she sent a CD of her album “Adrift.” “Heart wanted to play my music at the exhibit. I hope she got to do that. I was in a rush when I burned the CD to give to her.”

“LUNA and Celestina”

Alessandra, who also dabbles in painting, conceded: “Compared to Heart, I am not a real painter. I can’t make huge, detailed paintings. She is very patient and meticulous.”

The exhibit runs until May 22. All 19 paintings were sold on opening night.

“Too bad, I didn’t get to purchase one,” said Senator Grace. “The paintings went quickly. This is such a promising start. Heart is very talented. Her works are bursting with color, though there’s a certain stillness in her subjects.”

Photos by Kimberly de la Cruz

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