Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero. Image: Instagram/@iamhearte
MANILA, Philippines — Actress and global brand ambassador Heart Evangelista-Escudero on Monday urged Filipino voters to be discerning in choosing their next leaders in the May 9 polls, saying they should study the candidates carefully, including their track record and agenda for governance.
In a press conference in Cebu City where she campaigned for her husband Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, who is seeking a fresh six-year term in the Senate, Evangelista advised the voters to do their own research to get to know the candidates more and help them make an informed decision when they cast their votes on May 9.
“I think this is something that we should also practice. We just do not look at the ads or what is in front of us but we should be responsible enough to do research and I did research about him,” she said.
She recounted a time in 2007 where she said she researched about her husband, Escudero, when she didn’t know him personally yet, to get to know him as a candidate.
“In 2007, I didn’t know him (Chiz) personally, and I remember I saw him in an event in La Union and he spoke so well. Doon pa lang hinangaan ko na siya. And it was really refreshing to know somebody who knows what he is saying. So, I did my research and I discovered the many things he has done as a public servant,” Evangelista said when asked by a journalist if she will still vote for the veteran legislator if they were not a couple.
Heart Evangelista during a press conference in Cebu City where she campaigned for her husband Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, who is seeking a fresh six-year term in the Senate. The social media superstar says on Monday, April 4, 2022, that she is doing her part as a conscientious voter and citizen, urging the 67.5 million Filipino voters to be discerning in choosing their leaders in the May 9 national elections. Photo from Team Escudero
Evangelista shared that while she was really impressed by the information she read about the Bicolano legislator, she was also somehow disappointed that Escudero was married at the time.
“That was the end of the road for me. But eventually, he became my husband,” the actress said.
“So, we need to do our research para alam natin kung tama ba ang ating mga pinipili,” she added.
Evangelista said that she and Escudero is still discussing and assessing the candidates for president and vice president so they cannot yet say who they prefer.
Escudero is running under the slates of presidential candidates Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Panfilo Lacson.
“Mayroon akong napupusuan pero again ayokong magmadali… We both respect each other’s choices, hindi kami nag-aaway ng dahil lang doon at hindi tayo dapat nag-aaway-away dahil lang sa politics,” Evangelista said.
(I have my eye on someone but I don’t want to rush it. We both respect each other’s choices, we don’t fight over it. We shouldn’t fight because of politics.)
Heart Evangelista in Cebu City where she campaigned for her husband Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, who is seeking a fresh six-year term in the Senate. The social media superstar says on Monday, April 4, 2022, that she is doing her part as a conscientious voter and citizen, urging the 67.5 million Filipino voters to be discerning in choosing their leaders in the May 9 national elections. Photo from Team Escudero
The actress also defended her husband’s policy to declare Sorsogon as an “open province” to all political parties and candidates who want to campaign, saying the move is benefitting the Sorsognanons as they get to hear the platform of governance of each candidate.
“Si Chiz bilang ama ng Sorsogon, kaya wala siyang isang taong pinipili, you don’t want to give an impression that you want them (the people of the province) to just vote for one person. He wants them to see everyone (the candidates) so people can have a choice. It is democracy that you have to introduce everybody and you are not biased to any of them because everybody has a choice. Iyon siguro din ang dahilan niya kaya lahat sila, dinadala at hino-host sa Sorsogon. And I think that is beautiful,” she said.
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