Senator Francis Escudero with girlfriend Heart Evangelista in an out-of-town vacation. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines—“Why? Why are you doing this?” an emotional Heart Evangelista asked her mom, Cecile, in a television interview on Sunday.
“Mahal na mahal naman kita at hindi naman kita iiwan. Wala naman sa usapan na iiwanan kita. Anak mo ako, pamilya tayo. Tama na, tama na, mom (I love you very much and I will not leave you. There’s no discussion that I’m going to leave you. I’m your daughter. Stop, please stop mom),” said Evangelista in between sobs.
“Walang mananalo dito. Lahat tayo masasaktan. Lahat tayo talo dahil nawala tayo sa isa’t-isa. Walang mananalo. Tama na (No one is gonna win here. We will all get hurt. We will all lose because we lost each other. No one is gonna win. Please stop),” she said.
It was the first time that the actress gave an interview and broke down on television since the controversy between her parents and her 43-year-old boyfriend, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, erupted last week.
Evangelista reiterated that her parents’ allegations against Escudero—disrespectful of them, always appearing drunk in their own house, seducing their daughter with false promises, among others—were all lies.
She became emotional again when she addressed her 70-year-old ailing father, Rey, : “I love you very much. I know you’re watching me now. Ok naman tayo. Please, please relax and feel better kasi yun lang ang magagawa nating lahat, ikalma ang sarili natin (that’s all we can do, let’s be calm).”
“At sana magdasal sya na lumabas na lang ang lahat nang kung ano ang totoo para malinawan sya dahil sya naman talaga ang kakampi ko kahit kailan e (I hope he prays for the truth to come out so he it will all be clear to him because he is the one who is always there for me, the one who’s always on my side) ,” she said.
Evangelista, meanwhile, thanked Escudero for having the “courage” to stand by her as she apologized to him and his family for getting dragged into her problems with her family.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry kung nadamay ka (if you’re dragged into this). Napakabuti mong tao (You’re such a good person),” she said.
“ I’m so sorry to his family at sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa kanya. Sana suportahan nyo sya dahil mabuti syang tao, nahihiya ako sa inyong lahat (I hope you’ll support him because he’s a good person, I feel ashamed). Thank you that you had the courage to stand by my side dahil yung iba nahirapan (because other’s find it hard to do that). So thank you so much.”
She also thanked Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who is close to her family, for not taking sides. Santiago, in an earlier interview, said that though she’s disappointed of what’s happening with Evangelista who seemed to be rebelling, she made an appeal to her parents to let her go.
“I haven’t spoken to her becasue I am afraid that just like some people, baka kumampi sya sa kanila pero hindi naman pala so thank you,” said Evangelista.
She likewise apologized to the public “for this circus” and appealed those who want to ride on the issue to stop meddling, saying they were destroying their family.
“Tama na sa mga gustong mag-abuse sa nangyayari sa amin para sa kanila. Tama na. Tama na (To those who want to take advantage of what’s happening, for their own end. Stop it. Just stop),” she added.
Evangelista had two serious past relationships, both from show business. She was first involved with actor Jericho Rosales.
“When I was with Jericho, they (parents) didn’t see me for three years.”
Before Escudero, she was romantically linked with Brazilian-Japanese actor-model Daniel Matsunaga. The relationship also didn’t earn the approval of the Ongpauco couple.
“They (parents) want me to separate from Chiz (Escudero). I’ve lost a lot of great people in my life because of them. But I love them.”
Before ending the interview, TV host Raymond Gutierrez asked her how she wanted this “matter” to end.
“I honestly don’t know how it will end. All I know is I will do what’s right and what’s in my heart. I will pray a lot…
“And maybe in time it will end…basta wala akong nasasaktan itutuloy ko ano sa tingin ko ang tama at magpapasaya sa akin at sa iba (as long as I am not hurting other people I will continue doing what’s right and what makes me happy, and others too),” Evangelista said.
A slow, instrumental music was playing in the background throughout the 25-minute interview.