Heart Evangelista

Filipina actress (born 1985) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco-Escudero (born February 14, 1985), known professionally as Heart Evangelista, is a Filipina actress and model. She is the second wife of politician Francis Escudero (his first marriage was annulled in 2011).

Born
Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco

(1985-02-14) February 14, 1985 (age 41)
Manila, Philippines
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • model
  • endorser
  • visual artist
  • businesswoman
  • VJ
Yearsactive1998–present
Agents
Quick facts Born, Occupations ...
Heart Evangelista
Evangelista in 2025
Born
Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco

(1985-02-14) February 14, 1985 (age 41)
Manila, Philippines
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • model
  • endorser
  • visual artist
  • businesswoman
  • VJ
Years active1998–present
Agents
Spouse
(m. 2015)
Relatives
Websitelovemarieescudero.com Edit this at Wikidata
Signature
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Early life

Evangelista was born as Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco on February 14, 1985, in Manila, Philippines.[1] She is the last child of businessman Reynaldo Evangelista Ongpauco and Maria Cecilia del Gallego Payawal.[2] Her Chinese-Filipino family founded the Barrio Fiesta chain of Filipino restaurants[3] and her mother's family owns a sugar plantation in Camarines Sur.[4] She is a second cousin of actress Jodi Sta. Maria.[5] Her family moved to San Francisco during her early years – before returning to the Philippines in her early teens.[1]

Evangelista attended Colegio de San Agustin (CSA) in Makati upon returning to the Philippines.[1] She enrolled in ABS-CBN's Distance Learning Center.[6] Her nickname "Heart" originated from her birthday on Valentine's Day. She adopted Heart Evangelista as her screen name in the late 1990s.[1][4]

Career

1998–2008: Star Magic

Evangelista joined Star Magic's Star Circle Batch 9 in 1999 when she was thirteen.[1] She made her television debut in 2000 as part of the ABS-CBN series G-mik!, where she played the role of Missy.[4] Her G-mik! role earned her a PMPC Star Award for Best New Female TV Personality in 2001.[7] Evangelista and her love team partner John Prats starred in teen-focused programs like G-mik! and Berks,[8] and co-hosted the variety show ASAP.[9]

Evangelista and John appeared in My First Romance (2003), a two-part film.[10] She had supporting roles in the comedy Ang Tanging Ina (2003) and the romance Bcuz of U (2004)[1] with Geoff Eigenmann.[11] In 2004, she and Eigenmann joined the television drama Hiram alongside Kris Aquino and Anne Curtis, for which she received a nomination for Best Drama Actress.[1] Around the same time, Evangelista became a video jockey for the music channel Myx.[10]

In 2005, Evangelista took on the lead role of Eden in ABS-CBN's fantasy-action series Panday, starring opposite Jericho Rosales.[12] In 2006, Evangelista left Star Magic and signed a contract with Manila Genesis Entertainment under Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, the wife of singer Gary Valenciano and the sister of Senator Kiko Pangilinan.[13] In 2007, she ended her stint as a VJ on Myx.[10] She starred in a television adaptation of the 1992 drama film Hiram na Mukha, again opposite Geoff Eigenmann. She was in Pangarap na Bituin, andYour Song under the title "Muntik Na Kitang Minahal".[14] In 2008, Evangelista left ABS-CBN.[15]

2008–present: GMA Artist Center

Evangelista (right) with Daniel Matsunaga (center) and Jonha Richman (left) in 2011

In early 2008, Evangelista signed a two-year exclusive contract with the GMA Network through the GMA Artist Center. Under the management of her father, Rey Ongpauco, and Annabelle Rama.[16] She started her first show Codename: Asero as the leading lady of Richard Gutierrez.

She played one of the twins in the fantaserye Luna Mystika and in the first afternoon TV soap Sine Novela: Ngayon at Kailanman until 2009. She appeared in a TV series, Full House, Party Pilipinas, Puso ng Pasko: Artista Challenge and in Dwarfina.

In 2012, she starred in the TV series Legacy, the afternoon drama Forever and in Luna Blanca Book 3 till its finale. In 2013, she was reunited with De Rossi in the Afternoon soap Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig? under the direction of Maryo J. de los Reyes. In 2015, she and Legacy co-star Lovi Poe were reunited in the soap Beautiful Strangers, a melodrama. This was Evangelista's second time working with veteran actress Dina Bonnevie in a series with a huge ensemble cast. In 2016, she was reunited with Dwarfina co-star Dennis Trillo in the primetime rom-com Juan Happy Love Story.[17] In September 2016, Evangelista experienced a series of depression after the passing of her mentor and 'close friend', former senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.[18]

In 2017, Evangelista starred in Mulawin vs. Ravena. She also starred in My Korean Jagiya, paired with former U-KISS member Alexander Lee. The show aired with a total of 105 episodes.[19]

In 2019, she served as a judge on the seventh season of the reality talent television show StarStruck.[20] Evangelista then portrayed a Sorsogon fashion designer and socialite Celeste in the television drama romance series I Left My Heart in Sorsogon (2021–2022).[21] She also appeared in the series Bling Empire.

In August 2023, Evangelista renewed her exclusive contract with GMA Network.[22]

In 2024, Evangelista will star as Mei in upcoming film Infamous 6 directed by Anthony Hickox.[23]

Visual artist

Evangelista held solo exhibitions showcasing her artworks, where she used, Love Marie as her artist name.[24] Her first solo exhibition was held at the Ayala Museum in 2014, entitled I am Love Marie: The Art and Works of Love Marie Ongpauco. In the same year, she participated in the Visual Arts Festival through the Focus on the Arts: Art in Transit exhibitions. She also held her second solo exhibition in the same year at Galerie Joaquin through her Love Marie gallery. Her third solo exhibition, Love Marie: A Solo Exhibition of a World-Class Filipina, was held at the Raffles Hotel's Chan Hampe Galleries in Singapore in 2015.[25]

In 2016, she collaborated with designer Mark Bumgarner through the LMxMB: when art meets fashion, as well as with A.A. Patawaran for his book HaiNAku and other poems. In the same year, Evangelista launched her fourth solo exhibition titled Oceans Apart held at the Ayala Museum. Her hand-painted bags were also introduced in the same year at BMW BGC through her exhibition, Carry your heART. In 2017, she collaborated again with A.A. Patawaran for the HaiNAku 1st Anniversary Exhibit at the S Maison Conrad Hotel in Manila. She also held HEART & Style, a public exhibition of her works of art at the Fashion Hall of SM Megamall. In April 2018, she launched another art exhibit at ArtistSpace Gallery of Ayala Museum.[26] In the same year, she partnered with A.A. Patawaran for his book, Manila Was A Long Time Ago, which featured her pet dog named Panda.[27][28] Her Follow Your Heart artwork was featured in the February 2019 US edition of Harper's Bazaar.[29]

In 2021, Evangelista collaborated with Incubus lead vocalist Brandon Boyd for Moonlight Arts Collective, an organization founded by Boyd himself showcasing art by various cultural icons that moonlight as visual artists.[30] Called Neon People, their first collaboration was released in July 2022.[31] In 2023, Evangelista dropped her solo print debut of her artwork, Love's First Bloom, on Moonlight Arts Collective.[32]

Fashion

Heart Evangelista is regarded by the media as a fashion icon.[33] In 2017, Evangelista attended Paris Fashion Week for the first time and was present at notable fashion houses like Maison Schiaparelli, Georges Hobeika, Giambattista Valli, Elie Saab, Ulyana Sergeenko, Ralph & Russo, and Zuhair Murad.[34] In 2018, Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan invited her to be part of Harper's Bazaar's The Real Crazy Rich Asians feature highlighting "Asian style icons shaking up the world of couture."[35] Afterwards, Evangelista became a staple at fashion week, attending shows in Paris, New York, and Milan by top designers like Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi, Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Balmain, among others. In the same year, she was selected as the spokesperson for the Spring Summer 2019 collection of the French label Sequoia.[36]

In 2021, Evangelista was announced as a face of the French luxury bag brand Lancaster, alongside Barbara Palvin.[37] Evangelista was also one of the 25 worldwide personalities selected for Salvatore Ferragamo's Silk Your Style campaign.[38]

Heart Evangelista has been featured on the covers of various East Asian magazines, including Harper's Bazaar Singapore,[39] Harper's Bazaar Indonesia,[40] Vogue Philippines,[41] L'Officiel Philippines, Tatler Philippines, and ICON Singapore.[42] She has dedicated features in Vogue Singapore,[43] Vogue Thailand,[44] Harper's Bazaar Taiwan,[45] and Harper's Bazaar Singapore.[46]

Other ventures

Evangelista has authored two books: This is Me, Love Marie, a beauty book published in 2015,[47] and Styled with Heart, a fashion book published in 2019.[48] Evangelista is the co-founder and co-CEO of Pure Living, a beauty and wellness company.[49] She is also a co-owner of Harlan Beach Resort in Boracay.[50]

Charities and advocacies

Charities

Her foundation Heart Can aims to help children with respiratory diseases. Evangelista also supports the Balikatan Thalassemia for children with rare diseases,[51] Corridor of Hope for children with cancer,[52] and the Cerebral Palsy Association of Sorsogon.[53] In 2024, as her husband, senator Francis Escudero, was elected as the new Senate President, Evangelista assumes the position as the head of Senate Spouses Foundation.[54][55]

Advocacies

Evangelista is an LGBT ally[56] and a recipient of Lagablab Network's Equality Champion Award.[57] During the 2018 State of the Nation Address in the Philippine Congress[58]

Evangelista is also a spokesperson for PAWS or (Philippine Animal Welfare Society)[59][60] and Have a Heart for Aspins campaign.[61] Evangelista also advocates for mental health.[62]

Personal life

Evangelista and Escudero's wedding at the Balesin Island Club in February 2015
Evangelista with her sister-in-law, Sorsogon's 1st district congresswoman Dette Escudero, on the sidelines of the 2025 State of the Nation Address

Evangelista is the second wife of Senate President Francis Escudero co-parenting Escudero's fraternal twins, Quino and Chesi,[63] She assumed the role of first lady of Sorsogon province from 2019, until her husband was elected Governor of Sorsogon.[64]

Evangelista revealed losing another baby after the 2018 miscarriage of her twins, adding that she had named her unborn daughter "Sophia Heart".[65] Evangelista had a fourth miscarriage.[66][67][non-primary source needed]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role
2001 Trip Faye
2002 Jologs Pedestrian (cameo)
2003 My First Romance Jackie Ocampo
Ang Tanging Ina Portia "Por" Montecillo
2004 Bcuz of U Cara
2008 Ay, Ayeng Ayeng
2009 Nobody, Nobody But... Juan Young Aida
Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love Stephanie Uy
2010 Tingala sa Pugad Aileen
Inno Sotto's Muse
2011 Joey Gosiengfiao's Temptation Island Virginia P.
2012 Sosy Problems: It Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Claudia Ortega
2014 Trophy Wife Gwen
Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess Lucy Heartfilia (voice)
2015 Felix Manalo Cristina Villanueva-Manalo
2019 Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry Lucy Heartfilia (voice)
2023 The Wedding Hustler Heart
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
YearTitleRoleNotes
2000–2002 G-mik! Missy Sandejas
2001 Da Pilya en Da Pilot Heart
Maalaala Mo Kaya Irene Acosta Episode: "Exchange Gift"
Jenny Castaneda Episode: "Burda"
2001–2008 ASAP Herself (Co-host, performer)
2002 Maalaala Mo Kaya Episode: "Sanggol"
2002–2003 Arriba, Arriba! Monina Arriba
2002–2004 OK Fine, 'To ang Gusto Nyo! Yoko
Berks Gwyneth
2002–2007 Myx Herself Video jockey
2003 Maalaala Mo Kaya Dianne Episode: "Ferry Boat"
Lei Episode: "Flat Tire"
Heart Evangelista 18th Birthday Special Herself Documentary
Tara Tena: Share A Home, Share A Heart Anna
Wansapanataym Presents: Thumbgelina Liit / Laki / Angelina / Thumbgelina
2003–2005 Ang Tanging Ina Portia "Por" Macaspac
2004–2005 Hiram Margaret Benipayo
2004–2006 ASAP Fanatic Herself (Co-host)
2005 Ang Panday: Book 1 Eden Roxas
Maalaala Mo Kaya Emily Roxas Episode: "Painting"
2005–2006 Close Up to Fame Herself (host) seasons 1 and 2)
2006 Ang Panday: Book 2 Eden Roxas / Camia
I ♥ Philippine Idol: Exclusive Herself (host)
Your Song Missy Episode: "Ngayong Gabi"
Maalaala Mo Kaya Maricel Episode: "Lampara"
Your Song Ria Episode: "Wish"
2007 Hiram na Mukha Carissa de Leon / Alicia Roldan
Pangarap na Bituin Cassandra "Cassie" Salcedo
Your Song Melanie Episode: "Sana Ngayong Pasko"
Maalaala Mo Kaya Kaye Chua Episode: "Singsing"
Your Song Aschelle Episode: "With You"
2008 Codename: Asero Emily San Juan
Your Song Arah Episode: "Muntik Na Kitang Minahal"
Dear Friend Anna Episode: "Chinoy"
2008–2009 Luna Mystika Luna Sagrado-Samaniego / Celestina Sagrado
2008–2010 SOP Herself (co-host, performer)
2009 Fashionistas by Heart Herself (host)
Sine Novela: Ngayon at Kailanman Ayra Noche-Torres / Ayra Noche-Villaflor
2009–2010 Full House Maria Jesusa "Jessie" Asuncion-Lazatin
2010 Langit sa Piling Mo Margarita "Marj" Rosales / Marietta Flores
2010–2013 Party Pilipinas Herself (co-host, performer)
2011 Dwarfina Dwarfina / Yna / Fina
2012 Legacy Diana Calcetas
Luna Blanca Adult Blanca
2012–2013 Watta Job Herself (host)
2012–2015 iBilib Herself (guest host)
2013 Forever Young Adora del Prado / Isadora
Wagas Miriam Defensor-Santiago
2013–2014 Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig? Eloisa Aguirre
2013–2015 Sunday All Stars Herself (co-host, performer)
Startalk Herself (co-host)
2014 Weddings TV Herself (host)
2015 Beautiful Strangers Kristine de Jesus
2016 FoodTrip Herself (host)
Juan Happy Love Story Happy Villanueva-dela Costa
2017 Follow Your Heart Herself (host)
Mulawin vs. Ravena Alwina
2017–2018 My Korean Jagiya Guadalupe Immaculada "Gia" Asuncion-Kim
2019 StarStruck Herself (judge)
2021–2022 I Left My Heart in Sorsogon Celeste Diesta Estrellado
2022 Bling Empire Herself
2024–2026 Heart World Herself
2025 Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition Herself (houseguest) Day 92
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Theater

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role
2003Beauty and the Beast (Leprince de Beaumont)Belle
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Discography

Studio albums

More information Year, Album ...
Year Album Record label
2003HeartStar Music
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Compilation albums

More information Year, Album ...
Year Album
2002Himig Handog Love Songs
2003My First Romance (OST)
2004OPM Acoustic Hits
2005OPM Acoustic Hits 2
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Music videos

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Artist
2002"Love Has Come My Way"Heart Evangelista
2003"One"
2003"Please Be Careful with My Heart"
2007"Tuwing Nakikita Ka"Jericho Rosales
2009"Bahay Kubo"Hale
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Awards and nominations

More information Year, Award ...
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2001PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest New TV PersonalityG-mikWon
2002Himig Handog AwardsListener's Choice AwardLove Has Come My WayWon
Himig Handog AwardsTexter's Choice AwardWon
Himig Handog AwardsAlbum Platinum AwardWon
PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest New Movie ActressTripWon
2003Awit AwardsBest Performance by a New Female ArtistLove Has Come My WayWon
Asia Pacific Excellence & Handog Kay Ina AwardsYouth Achiever for Arts & EntertainmentWon
Ivan Entertainment Productions: Circle of 10 Modeling AgencyCelebrity Endorser of the YearWon
33rd GMMSF Box-Office AwardsMost Popular Love Team of RP Movies (with John Prats)Won
Himig Handog AwardsAlbum Platinum AwardWon
2004FAMAS AwardsGerman Moreno Youth Achievement AwardWon
34th GMMSF Box-Office AwardsPrincess of RP MoviesWon
200519th PMPC Star Awards for TVBest Drama ActressHiramNominated
2007PMPC Star Awards for MoviesFemale Face of the NightWon
20092009 Metro Manila Film FestivalBest Supporting Actress[68]Nobody, Nobody But... JuanNominated
Mano Po 6: A Mother's LoveWon
23rd PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Lifestyle Show HostFashionistas by HeartNominated
57th FAMAS AwardsBest ActressAy, AyengWon
201058th FAMAS AwardsBest Supporting ActressMano Po 6: A Mother's LoveNominated
7th Golden Screen AwardsBest Supporting ActressMano Po 6: A Mother's LoveNominated
26th PMPC Star Awards for MoviesBest Supporting ActressMano Po 6: A Mother's LoveNominated
12th Gawad PASADOBest Supporting ActressMano Po 6: A Mother's LoveNominated
Myx Music Awards 2010Favorite Guest Appearance in a Music VideoBahay KuboWon
201428th PMPC Star Awards for TVBest Female Showbiz Oriented Talk Show HostStartalkNominated
Yahoo! Celebrity Awards 2014Female TV Host of the YearStartalkNominated
201630th PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Drama ActressBeautiful StrangersNominated
20177th EdukCircleAwardsBest ActressMulawin vs RavenaNominated
201933rd PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionTV Queens at the Turn of MillenniumWon
People AsiaPeople of the Year 2018–2019Won
COMGUILD Academe's AwardsMost Admired Social Media InfluencerWon
2020Face of The Year Awards of TodayTV VietnamFavorite Foreign ActressJuan Happy Love StoryNominated
FEU Marketistas Choice Awards 2020Content Creator of the Year for Fashion CategoryWon
FEU Marketistas Choice Awards 2020Social Media Impact Awardee for Fashion CategoryWon
FEU Marketistas Choice Awards 2020Content Creator of the YearWon
2021MEGA Fashion Awards 2021Most Influential Social Media Personality for FashionWon
2022GMA Thanksgiving GalaGlamorous Star of the NightWon
2023GMA GalaSparkle Star of the NightWon
20245th VP Choice AwardHeadliner of the YearWon
GMA GALAHALL OF FAMEWon
GMA GALA (McDonald's Philippines)The Perpect McCafe Blend of the NightHeart and ChizWon
MEGA FASHION AWARDS 2024Mega IconWon
THE FASHION FACTORFashion Icon AwardWon
2025The 7th Gawad LasallianetaMost Outstanding Brand EndorserWon
The EMIGALA Fashion and Beauty AwardsGlobal Fashion Influencer of the YearWon
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References

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