(From left) Cecilia Ongpauco and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero shared a heartwarming moment during the afterparty of Heart Evangelista and Escudero’s renewal of vows. Images: Screengrabs from Instagram/@ilove_lovemariee, @patrkcostales
All is truly well between two of the people closest to Heart Evangelista — her mother, Cecilia Ongpauco, and her husband, Sen. Chiz Escudero — after they were seen hugging and laughing during the afterparty of the actress-fashionista’s renewal of vows with the lawmaker in Balesin.
The heartwarming moment between Ongpauco and Escudero was captured by one @ilove_lovemariee on Instagram on Sunday, Feb. 18, where the former had her arm slung around the politician’s neck.
“A living testament that time [heals] all wounds. What a lovely moment to see,” the post read.
One Patrick Costales Mercado, seemingly invited to the event, also shared on his Instagram Story a photo of Ongpauco and Escudero seemingly engaged in a light conversation .
“What a moment,” he wrote in his post.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@patrkcostales
Ongpauco made headlines after she witnessed her daughter walking down the aisle, nine years after her and her husband’s absence from Evangelista’s wedding to Escudero in Balesin.
“So happy for her. And I’m happier because I am around to witness this. Finally, I arrived. Nine years too late, but made it still,” she said in a highlights clip of their vow renewal.
Evangelista’s relationship with her parents went through a highly publicized spat, particularly when it came to her relationship with Escudero, with Ongpauco calling the senator a “manipulative opportunist” in 2013.
The couple and her parents eventually reconciled months after their Balesin wedding. In 2021, Cecilia thanked Escudero for allowing her daughter to “grow.”
Evangelista and Escudero’s renewal of vows was also a special moment for the couple as it reaffirmed their commitment to one another on their 9th wedding anniversary. The couple went through a rough patch in 2022 but repaired their relationship before the year ended.