Kapuso star Heart Evangelista publicly declared her love again for Sen. Chiz Escudero and promised to support and stand by him no matter what.

"I will stand by you with whatever you choose to do. Tatanda ako na kasama mo," said Heart when asked about her message for Chiz, during an interview after she renewed her contract with GMA Network on July 29.

Heart added: "I am so thankful for the time I have with my family and. my husband. So sana ibigay na sa akin ni Lord na matagal na matagal kaming magkasama. If not, ako na lang po ang mauna. Di ba? Minsan kapag iniisip mo ang marriage. Yun na lang talaga ang hihingi ko kay Lord."

Heart, 39, acknowledged there was an "episode" in their relationship, but she's relieved she's moved on from it. "Kaya huwag na tayong humingi ng kahit ano kay Lord. Just like this."

Moments after she renewed her contract with GMA, Heart said that she would do something she had never done before: "I'm very excited to collaborate with them on this one project. There's one script na matagal na naming inaayos. The stars need to align first."

Heart has been in the industry for almost 27 years and she expresses that she truly enjoys being in showbiz. "That's a long time but I love it."

At this point, Heart said she has no dream roles; she's just grateful for her journey in the entertainment industry.

"I have no dream role or plans. I'm just grateful that after so many years, almost three decades, I'm still working. Everything is a blessing so everything is a dream," she said.

Grateful

Asked why she lasted this long, Heart said: I'm very grateful. I value utang na loob. Ang utang na loob never siyang nababayaran. If you're grateful, no matter how much or little they give you, you still have a smile.

Heart said that she would always be forever grateful to star-maker Mr. M or Johnny Manahan.

"I really look up to him. Parang siya ang pangalawang tatay ko. He plucked me out from the crowd. I will always be thankful to Mr. M. It's nice that I can share whatever journey I'm in with him," she said.

Heart recalled Mr. M telling her she was thin for her body frame. But Mr. M realized: "Ikaw lang ang makakapagdala niyan. He's so fulfilling because after every performance, I would look at the director, and he would say, 'Good job, daw.'

Seamless & effortless

Asked where she gets the energy to do many things at once, Heart said, "I don't know. But you know, masandal lang ako, tulog na ako. I truly love working. And because of that, it becomes seamless and effortless for me."

"All of them are my priorities. It's just the art of balancing things. Kaya naman eh. I start my day at  4 a.m. or 4:30 a.m. I'm done with photoshoots by 11 a.m. or 12 noon. And then I got to the next. But I make sure I try to get myself as much sleep as I can, at least eight hours of sleep, or six minimum," she said.

"I try to sleep at 9 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. I really have no time to distress, but going back, I love working, so in a sense, yun din ang distress ko. Minsan pag nabibigyan naman ako ng sobrang pahinga, nadi-depress naman ako. Okay lang sa akin ang mag work," Heart said.

"I have no dream role or plans. I'm just grateful that after so many years, almost three decades, I'm still working. Everything is a blessing so everything is a dream," she added.

First paycheck

Heart remembered buying herself a branded bag on her first showbiz paycheck.

"I went to Louis Vuitton, and I bought myself an epi and drawstring na bag. I also got myself a Murakami wallet. That's what I got myself. And I went to People Are People. The bag is nasa akin pa," she said.

On lessons learned from her trips and shoots abroad, Heart said: "Be yourself. Filipinos are naturally charming. We strike a good balance between being shy and not too outdare. It's not intimidating. Sweet lang. So just be yourself and have confidence in yourself, and they appreciate that."

Senate Spouses Foundation

Heart said she enjoys being president of the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc., which is involved in socio-civic activities such as building homes for the elderly, conducting medical and dental missions, gift-giving and feeding programs for street children and the needy in marginalized communities, and carrying out relief operations during disasters, among others. 

"I enjoy it because politics is never really for me. But it's not politics. It's a different entity, and it's for love. It's fulfilling that, finally, I can be an instrument. At least I'm doing more," she said.

Heart said she has lined up several projects for the group.

"Usually mga ber-months active ang Senate spouses. We have a full calendar for the whole year. I don't know how long I have, but I am rushing to do as much as possible with the given time," she added.

"Okay naman sila," said Heart about her fellow Senate spouses. I wasn't given a whole brochure to study what I needed to or how I needed to be. But marami naman akong gustong gawin. But I'm very lucky because I work with many companies that are so generous. I just implement them. So I'm also active in our social media because I want more people to come in and get together."

On her reaction when Chiz was elected Senate President, Heart said: "Na-shock ako. But I was happy for him. But I had no idea I was legally involved. And I am sensitive to those things because sometimes, in politics, I don't want to be in any color. After all, I am sensitive to people interpreting my sincerity. I love it. I have more purpose."

Heart's prayer

With a wonderful family and career, Heart said she prays for good health as she ages. "Just good health for me and my loved ones. That's all I pray for. Habang tumatanda tayo, that's what you value the most. Mawala ng lahat huwag lang yung pamilya mo."

Present at the significant event were GMA Network President and Chief Executive Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group and President of GMA Films Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, and Vice President for Musical Variety & Specials for the Entertainment Group and Heart’s Manager Gigi Santiago-Lara.

The contract signing event was also attended by Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sales and Marketing Group Lizelle G. Maralag, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Planning and Business Development and Concurrent Chief Risk Officer, and Head of Program Support Regie C. Bautista, Executive Vice President for GMA Pictures and First Vice President for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon.

Also celebrating Heart’s milestone were Vice President for Business Development Department II Janine Piad-Nacar, Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier-Cruz, Assistant Vice President for Drama Helen Rose Sese, Officer-in-Charge of Program Management Mitzi Garcia, and Consultant of Sales and Marketing Group Riza Garduque.