Timeline

A Photo Timeline: Life Goes On for This Asthmatic Actress

by Can Elayda

[tab:Rumor]
Birth of Rumor

Last year, Dolly Anne Carvajal wrote not once but twice in her Philippine Daily Inquirer column that Heart Evangelista was the “prima donna” the blind item writers pictured her to be. In defense of Heart, I wrote two articles, one of which tried to explain to Ms. Carvajal the logic behind subscribing to Heart and Echo’s Ktexts. That way, she’d find out the what and who and where and when and how. I ended it by saying that “I’d love to gather all those Ktexts that have all the dates so we can do a proper timeline. So Dolly and the other Echo-Heart/Panday haters can do the math. Maybe I will. When I find the time. Right now, I’m too busy.”

Two years later, I find out that times haven’t changed that much: I’m still busy, and there’s still someone out there who has an awful lot of axe to grind. Except that, this time, he gets a blog to manipulate the truth by repeating the same lies until they begin to sound like the truth. And I’m left with nothing but the shadow of a timeline in my head.

Ironically, the paper that publishes Ms. Carvajal’s column is the same paper that was able to assess the situation more accurately. Ruel S. De Vera wrote in the paper’s Sunday magazine last November 19, 2006 that despite Heart and Echo’s valid reasons for lying low, “tongues wagged furiously about their [Heart and Echo's] retreat from the spotlight. It wasn’t so much the talk itself, but the bile that accompanied the gossip that took them by surprise. There was a rumored network tug-of-war (denied), conjecture that they were living in (denied) and even news that Heart was pregnant (vehemently denied).”

To make a long story short, once I got the other bagets Heartists committed to doing some of the research for me, I was finally able to come up with a decent timeline, a photo timeline that documents, once and for all, Heart’s activities and whereabouts from December 2005 to March 2006, including the Holy Week in 2006 when that Sexy Nomad blogger took pictures of Heart and Echo while surfing in La Union. The very same pictures that a certain Spanish-speaking Kristine Hermosa-Isabel Preysler admirer recently used on his/her site to accompany a very misleading post, a post purporting to be factual — even going to the extremes of making it sound as if Heart was finally admitting to having had an abortion — when in truth and in fact, it is still so much based on careless unfounded rumors that originated from a blind item in a tabloid written by Ogie Diaz (who else?) almost two years ago. The good news is that this blogger already edited his/her post for fear of being sued for slander. The bad news is that another site, which acts as a repository for popular blogs, is still keeping the unedited version of the said post intact. Here’s hoping and praying this timeline will finally serve as the FINAL NAIL in the near-two-year-old scandal’s coffin.

Hold on tight. The journey into the past is just a tab away.
[tab:QC]
Fateful Night in Mother Ignacia, Quezon City

2005

December 4 – Philippines

Live telecast of ABS-CBN’s ASAP: ASAP Platinum Circle Awards 2005

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Dec 8 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Merry Xmas from us!”

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Dec 10 – Philippines

Live telecast of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition: Heart sang with Jericho. (Sam Milby and Say Alonzo were also part of this number.)

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Dec 11 – Philippines

ABS-CBN’s At Home Ka Dito: Heart did this episode in early December. (See promotion here.)

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Dec 13 – Philippines

Fateful Night in Mother Ignacia, Quezon City, behind the scenes on ABS-CBN Christmas Special, which aired on Dec. 17, 2005 (Heart in the dressing room, being photographed by Resty, a.k.a. Baliw 2 1/2, of Heartworld): In John Lapuz’s SMS, Sweetalk (powered by Smart) dated Dec. 14th, he said, “Sinugod ni Echo sa hospital si Heart E. kagabi matapos atakihin ng asthma sa taping ng ABS Xmas special. Sa fashion show kasi ng Star Magic artists nalanghap ni Heart ang smoke ng fireworks and fog machine. Di na tuloy nakapag-closing number ang mag-sweetheart.” YES! magazine (June 2006) asked Heart to trace the beginnings of the pregnancy talk: “My makeup artist, Glorious, was the one who told me about the rumors. During that time, marami akong mga problems. I was also getting sick because I was pagod from Panday and taping. Talagang hindi nakayanan… The Panday staff knew that I was already having health troubles, but not everybody in Talent Center, until I did the [ABS-CBN] Christmas Special. I was supposed to sing, so pumasok na kami sa studio for blocking. During the show, nag-fireworks sila sa loob. Siguro I got irritated. I started to cough, until my bronchial tube’s masakit and mahapdi na. Namamaga na dahil sa smoke… Echo carried me kasi I couldn’t breathe, and my Ventolin didn’t work anymore. I needed to go to the hospital, so [on the way out of the ABS-CBN complex] we went through Cork [a restaurant in the complex]. People thought that I was throwing up. I think that’s what provoked the buntis issue.” Star Studio (March 2006) talked to Panday executive producer Grace Ann Casimsiman over the phone. “Down to earth siya. She can be sosyal, she can be jologs. Kahit saan mo siya dalhin. Ang mga shoot pa naman namin, mostly outdoors: putik, gubat, bundok, okey lang sa kanya. Walang reklamo. Kaya nga hindi ako naniniwala sa tsismis na buntis daw. Eh, may mga fight scenes kami sa Panday, siya mismo ang gumagawa. Eh, di na-endanger ‘yung bata if she were, in fact, pregnant.” Heart’s former road manager Leah Lao also agreed. “I never once believed it. Eh, ang alam ko nagwu-wushu (a form of martial art) pa siya for Panday, eh.”

***

Dec 18 – Philippines

Live telecast of ABS-CBN’s ASAP Christmas Celebration: Heart wore two outfits here that exposed her flat tummy. After this episode, she never came back anymore as a regular cohost…

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Dec 19 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Hmm, magkano kaya itong doll na ito?”

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Dec 23 – Philippines

Studio 23′s My MYX (Heart with pets Al and Davis): She did this Christmas episode in early December.

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Dec 24 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Merry Christmas po. God bless.” On Christmas, the Rosales family welcomed Heart into their home. It was her first-ever Christmas away from the Ongpaucos. (Heart’s real name is Love Marie Ongpauco.)

[tab:Pagudpud]
Beautiful Day in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

2006

January 2 – Philippines

Live telecast of Studio 23′s Wazzup Wazzup: In this particular episode where they guested a feng shui expert, Heart carried all by herself a low table to help in rearranging the furniture around the set for good luck; not contented, she went ahead half-lifting and pulling an armchair (as shown in the picture above) when the men on the set, including cohost Archie Alemania, took their sweet time to warm up to the idea of moving furniture. Star Studio (March 2006) further reported, “Since [the December 13, 2005 asthma attack]…she’s had several other attacks in varying degrees: when she took the place of Toni Gonzaga (who was in the States that time) in an episode of Wazzup Wazzup (she was able to make it through the live airing, but Lao [Leah Lao, Heart's former road manager] recounts, ‘She was supposed to tape two more episodes pero hindi na niya kaya. Sabi ng doktor, maghinay-hinay siya kasi the next attack could be fatal.’), and a more recent one which resulted into a three-day confinement in a Quezon City hospital.”

***

January 5 – Philippines

Behind the scenes on Studio 23′s MYX (photo taken by Resty of Heartworld): Heart in the dressing room during a break from taping for MYX

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January 6 to 9 – Singapore

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Have a colorful day!” Jericho attended a friend’s birthday party and took Heart, his mom, and younger brother Jeremiah with him for a three-day vacation.

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January 10 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Shampoo lang? That’s kulang!”

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Helow…taping Myx now. Really low batt. He, he. Start na kami Panday tomorrow! Yahoo!”

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January 11 – Philippines

Behind the scenes on ABS-CBN’s Panday (a playful Heart in her Camia costume, sticking her tongue out at her detractors; picture courtesy of Heartworld’s Pinay and Resty who visited her on the set): The sineserye finally resumed taping a month after ABS-CBN stopped airing it. When Heart learned that some people from the press were spreading rumors about her being pregnant, she asked Pinay to post in Heartworld (Pinoy Exchange’s No. 1 celebrity thread) what she thought of these people who didn’t have anything better to do, except make up stories to ruin someone’s name. “For the people who don’t know how to differentiate artista’s life from Reel to Real…they need to grow up and act their age because it’s not like they don’t have the brain to tell the difference between the two… They need to learn to respect people’s private lives because that is their life…no one is asking for their opinion on how to run their lives. And whoever you are pretending to be Jericho Rosales…you are CRAZY!!!!”

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January 12 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “I’m on my way to Dr. Roa, my asthma doc here in San Juan De Dios… Nice sunset.”

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Haha… Now it’s her turn on the hospital bed for her asthma checkup… She had a bad attack last night sa taping ng Panday.”

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January 14 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Harana?” Jericho and Heart relaxing in between takes on the set of Panday.

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January 15 – Philippines

Taped interview on ABS-CBN’s The Buzz: Heart finally talked to The Buzz about the pregnancy rumor. “It’s an insult. If I were to be pregnant, I’d get married first. Am I four months pregnant?” [She] laughs, stands up and shows her tummy. “Nag-start din tong balitang to from…’nung Christmas special ng ABS [December 13, 2005], sabi daw nila hinimatay daw ako at kinarga ako ni Echo which is not true. May fireworks po dun sa loob ng studio na hindi ko kaya…hindi ko kayang huminga, kaya nabuhat ako ni Echo papuntang hospital. Yun lang yun.”

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “I am not preggy. I’m taping for Panday now.”

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Yummy yum yum! Dinner time with a samurai!”

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Yummeh!!! Kumakain na ako ng jap food!!! Ay kay sarap! May kasama pa kong maganda ang mata! Mmwah sa inyo. Bon appetit!” Jericho used to hate Japanese food. Thanks to Heart, he has rediscovered the “joy of Japanese food”.

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January 17 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Helow my good friends. Meet Sky. Super cute. Al’s best friend. Although he attacked Al. He, he.” Sky’s owner is Mr. Jericho Rosales.

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January 18 – Philippines

Manila Surfers Cup Launch Party (Heart came with her boyfriend, Jericho; this photo of her and a friend was taken by Sidney Catindig): The couple were expected to go to San Juan, La Union on January 21, 2006 to participate in the Manila Surfers Association’s first-ever surfing competition, Manila Surfers Cup, but she had another asthma attack. In Ogie Diaz‘s People’s Tonight column dated January 23, 2006, he wrote, “Kung hindi nagkakamali ang aming source, in-admit sa isang ospital sa Kyusi si Heart Evangelista due to bronchial asthma in acute exacerbation at naroon daw si Jericho Rosales last January 21 para samahan ang aktres.”

***

January 21 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Hika na naman si Heart!!! Wwaaahhh!!!”

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Hi guys! Echo here. We’re in the ER. Here’s Heart being convinced by docs to put IV. Takot sa needles! First time! Whattamoment!” Jericho was using Heart’s Ktext here to update the fans. That day, Echo proved once again that he’s Heart’s knight in shining armor, her hero.

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Hello? Ktext friends? Hay naku, hika na naman…”

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January 22 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Malapit na siya gumaling.”

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Back to bed after all the tests. . .was looking at Pex. I’d like to say thank you to all of the people who care. I love you all so dearly.”

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Here’s your friendly doctor.”

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January 23 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “I’m checking out now. This is Ate Nona, my nurse. Thank you for all the prayers. Under medication so, hopefully, I’ll be fine. God bless.” Unknown to the public, the tabloid assault (as YES! magazine would call it) didn’t spare the bed-confined Heart. She finally revealed to YES! magazine (June 2006) that “…there was also a time na na-ospital ako sa St. Luke’s for two days. And then, may sumilip galing don sa katapat kong room, at tinanong yong yaya ko, ‘Buntis ba si Heart kaya siya nandiyan?’”

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January 24 – Philippines

Beautiful Day in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte (screencap from Rated K): Travel writer and photographer Ferdinand L. Decena chanced upon the two as he was exploring the beauty of Pagudpud. On his blog, he posted, “Pasenya na lang ke Jericho Rosales di ko sya nakilala nung nakasalubong ko sya. Di kasi ako mahilig sa showbiz eh. Pero nung makita ko si Heart Evangelista na parating na nakaputing damit nakilala ko kasi madalas ako manood ng MYX. Akala ko Panday ang i shoot nila pero mukhang Music Video…” Heart and Jericho’s trip to this beautiful island was also featured on Rated K, aired on April 30, 2006.

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January 29 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Shhhh. Lil boy sleeping in a cart.”

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January 31 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Si Julius the bonsai, kalbo na! Trimming day nya.” From left to right–Nookie (Jeremiah Rosales), Heart, and Echo.

[tab:Maui]
Happy Day in Maui, Hawaii

2006

February 3 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Helow everyone! Yeah, I’m with Genesis na. I’m very happy. But I’m not leaving ABS, don’t worry.” This was the first time that Heart went public about her decision to switch managements. She was part of Star Magic Batch 9 which was launched in 2001.

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Halu! How are you, guys? Mis ko na kayo!” Although she wasn’t alone then when she made this big step, Heart must have felt a little scared just the same to face unchartered territory. But as long as she continues to put God first in everything, she will find Him at her side every step of the way.

***

February 7 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “I’m getting a wax, guys! Scary! Missed you all!”

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February 8 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Getting a facial. Yahoo!”

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February 9 – Philippines

Heart’s Ktext (her MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Helow! Taping for Panday! Last scenes here in Bulacan, then pictorial for a commercial. Praise God.”

February 9 – Hong Kong

Smart All Text TV Commercial (which started showing in the Philippines in February 2006): Heart did the commercial shoot before she and Jericho went to Malaysia.

***

February 10 – Philippines

Studio 23′s My MYX: Taped before she went to Hong Kong, Heart was doing her best to be all blase here, just laughing off the preposterous rumor that she was pregnant as she showed everyone for the nth time how flat her tummy was.

***

February 13 – Malaysia

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Jericho’s Jeans album launch (LOOSE FIT) in Kuala Lumpur, Feb 13. Comin’ soon to Manila. Yehey!” Jericho took Heart with him when he went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for his Loose Fit album launch and presscon. Although there was no photo taken of the two of them together, Heart confirmed to us that she did go there to support Echo. This was also mentioned by Malaysian journalist Fariza Saidin in her article which later underwent two translations (see first translation and second translation) done by Heartworld’s very own, Booey.

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February 14 to 20 – USA

An Echo-Heart Sighting in Maui, Hawaii (photo taken from YES! magazine’s June 2006 issue and scanned for us by one of Heartworld‘s dearest friends, Mrs. Pitt): When Allan Diones of Abante Tonite (March 11, 2006) asked her, “Ano ang ginawa [ninyo] ng nobyo [mong] si Jericho Rosales sa Hawaii nu’ng Araw ng mga Puso (na kaarawan [mo rin])?”, Heart opened up. “I was in (Maui) Hawaii for a week with Echo. Nagpahinga ako, fresh air, gano’n! Dapat magsi-surf kami roon, but since I can’t really surf now kasi, hindi ko pa kaya; sabihin na natin na mahina pa ‘yung kalusugan ko at resistensiya ko ngayon… Dapat siya ang magsi-surf, pero I think ‘yung weather doon, medyo mainit siya pero ‘yung tubig is masyadong malamig. So, medyo hindi magandang mag-surfing.” Star Studio (March 2006) added that they were not alone but “with another couple friends, Boogie and Micky [this could have been a typo, because Heart and Echo's dearest friends are the surfing couple Bujie and Nikki]…” This last part was also confirmed to us by Ms. Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano herself.

Whalers Village Shopping Center (Maui’s premier beachfront shopping village): Alex Datu of Taliba wrote in his column, dated Feb 23, 2006, that he had received a text message from the manager of the David & Goliath Stupid Factory store at Whalers Village, saying that they saw the couple last Feb 15th and 16th. The rest of the message said, “Jericho was wearing a hooded jacket with HI! print and Heart was wearing a hooded jacket also with Roxy print. Heart looked like she gained weight…are they a couple?” The two didn’t appear that bothered for being recognized because “very accommodating daw ang dalawa sa pagpapakuha ng photos with people around them.” As to the weight gain, Heart told Kaye Villagomez of Manila Bulletin (Mar 11, 2006) that she is “taking steroids to open [my] breathing path…tumataba ako because of the steroids; what the attacks do is close it so the steroids keep it open…otherwise it could be fatal.”

Happy Day in Maui, Hawaii: This photo of the two, who still didn’t look like they minded the attention at all, found its way to Heartworld via a good friend who lives in Hawaii. Her name is Mel and she used to make all those amazing banners for Heartworld. It wasn’t her, though, who took this picture but a friend of hers. The sweethearts looked so happy here. They didn’t look at all like a couple who were about to have their “baby” aborted. In fact, Heart was so happy for this time off away from showbiz that she sent three Ktext messages (her SMS also powered by ABS-CBN Interactive) on her birthday, February 14th. The messages were (1) “Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! Hahaa! Happy day!” (8:06am)…(2) “Thank you, Lord, for another year. Thank you for all the blessings!” (2:06pm)…and (3) “I just love this day! How about you?” (5:14pm)

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Both are and have.” According to Ricky Lo of Philippine Star (March 8, 2006), “Jericho and Heart spent Valentine’s Day in Maui, playfully taking pictures of each other.” Just like in this Ktext photo. The two seemed to be inside what looks like a surfing store in Maui, with Echo being his playful and truthful self as he gamely texted his answer to the question, “Have you hugged a surfer today?”

***

February 20 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “World peace please… God bless us all.” A praying man, Jericho looked wistful in this Ktext photo of his. Although he sent this one on Feb 24th, I decided to use it here anyway because it mirrored best the emotion that was apparent in his Feb 20th Ktext message. “Back to reality…hehehe.” If Echo’s words couldn’t hide his feelings, Heart’s tried to hide hers. In her Feb 20th Ktext message, she showed more control, wanting everything to be back to normal. “Hey! Were you able to watch MYX this morning? We did Take 5 of Orange and Lemons.”

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February 24 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Hi guys. Watch out for this… A part of the music video I directed for our album single. Jericho’s Jeans is my band.” They haven’t shown this music video yet. I don’t recognize Heart’s green dress here. The “Tuwing Nakikita Ka” music video being shown on MYX though has photograph-like shots of Heart being interspersed here and there as Jericho goes around town on his bike.

[tab:Rizal]
Early Christmas in Pililia, Rizal

2006

March 4 – Philippines

ABS-CBN’s Entertainment Konek: Heart did another taped interview, this time, for ETK. There was nothing new to find out, really. It was the same old issue and very much similar to her January 15, 2006 interview on The Buzz.

***

March 5 – Philippines

Behind the scenes on ABS-CBN’s The Buzz (photo courtesy of Heartworld’s Resty): This was Heart’s first live interview since the blind item began spreading like wildfire. With rumors still flying about and showing no signs of disappearing for good, she thought enough was enough. Unless she nipped it in its bud, this type of thinking would only continue to haunt her. The viewers got more than they bargained for. Most especially when she revealed that she hadn’t seen her dad since October of 2005. “Two months ago, sinabi po n’yo na I was four months pregnant. Hindi po ako buntis and I was never pregnant at hindi po ako nagpalaglag. Marami lang talaga akong pinagdadaanan ngayon…so, tama na.”

***

March 9 – Philippines

ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol World: Heart showed up at the presscon for Ruffa Gutierrez-Bektas’s Celebrity Bazaar for Leyte (mudslide victims) to lend her support. After her emotional interview on The Buzz last Mar 5th, you’d think the press would let her be. Guess again. Reporters still took advantage and pinned her down to get some answers to their nagging questions, “Is she or isn’t she? Did she or didn’t she?” Did they even watch that live interview or didn’t they? Good thing Heart didn’t lose her cool. Her only reply? “Ay, hindi totoo ‘yon! That’s not true. Period!“

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March 12 – Malaysia

Jericho’s Concert in Nilai, Malaysia (photo taken by Minaq Jinggo): The special guest performer at Jericho’s Jeans concert was no other than Miss Heart Evangelista. She and Jericho sang “You’re So Beautiful”, the song that he especially wrote for her. In the Philippine Star column of Ricky Lo dated Feb 15, 2006, Echo revealed, “She’s the first girl I wrote a song for. She’s very special to me.” He became more enthusiastically open about how this particular song came into being when he talked to Antonette Valdez-Pua of Manila Bulletin in the article dated June 25, 2006. “While recording the songs of “Loose Fit” with my band in the studio, I was thinking of Heart then I suddenly found myself singing freestyle the lyrics of “You’re So Beautiful.” The lyrics just flowed from me so I sang and sang until our keyboards player just hit on his keys. That’s how we got to record “You’re So Beautiful.” It’s really for Heart because she is my major inspiration…”

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March 14 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Hi guys. We’re back! Kain mais! Lapit na Panday! Yahoo!”

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March 18 – Philippines

Celebrity Charity Bazaar for Leyte at Market! Market!, The Fort, Taguig (photo borrowed from Unleashed: In the Mar 29, 2006 issue of Tempo, it was reported that, “At the celebrity tiangge initiated by Ruffa Gutierrez, Jericho Rosales came with Heart Evangelista, performed, and donated P20,000.” Heart also shared a booth with Donita Rose. People who went to their booth had to pay ten pesos for the chance to have the two lovely ladies pose for them. All for a good cause.

ABS-CBN’s Entertainment Konek: On their top ten stories of the week list, the news of Heart having a nurse to watch her on the set of Panday landed on No. 10. Tempo‘s Rowena Agilada confirmed this from Ms. Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano in her column (March 3, 2006). “Ayon sa kanyang manager na si Angeli Valenciano, madalas atakihin ng asthma si Heart. Nag-zero nga raw ang oxygen nito noong nag-taping sila sa Bulacan. Sa talahiban ang eksena at inatake ng asthma si Heart. Dalawang beses na rin daw naitawag ng ambulance ang dalaga nang sumpungin ito ng asthma… Ayon pa kay Angeli, may requirement ang doctor ni Heart na kapag may taping ang dalaga, kailangang may nakaantabay na nurse. ‘Pag inaatake na kasi si Heart, nahihiya siyang magsabi sa staff,’ ani Angeli. ‘She’s going through personal trials, kaya nai-stress siya. Factor ‘yon kaya inaatake siya.’”

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March 19 – Philippines

ABS-CBN’s The Buzz (this taped interview’s transcript was done by Elm): Jericho spoke for the first time about the pregnancy issue. “Medyo nagagalit ako dahil, kasi…yung tipong, ang masakit dun yung nakikita mong naa-ano sya [Heart] di ba… nahuhusgahan? Ako naman ang attitude pagdating dyan…relax ka lang, alam mo yun, kasi alam mo yung totoo.” Seated next to him and listening to him defend her, Heart must be thanking the Lord for sending her way a hero in the true sense of the word. In its February 2006 issue, Metro magazine said that their scenes on Panday couldn’t “compare to the drama and gravity of a recent real-life incident in La Union. While surfing, Heart suddenly had an asthma attack, prompting Jericho to drive them back to their resort at breakneck speed, just in time to get her inhaler. ‘He saved my life’, says Heart today. ‘I literally almost died.’” Heart echoed the same lines in this interview. “Oh yeah…how many times niya akong sinave. Talagang sinave nya yung buhay ko, ganun. Talagang masasabi ko yun…he literally saved–he literally gave me air to breathe. There was a time na talagang ganun, locked na, and ginawa nya, he blew air in my mouth, talagang to push it.”

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March 20 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Hi guys! We’re blessed! Bless your eve too!”

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March 28 – Philippines

Behind the scenes on ABS-CBN’s Panday (photo taken by Resty of Heartworld): This was the last shooting day of Panday, shot somewhere in Pililia, Rizal. It would also be Tristan (Jericho) and Eden‘s (Heart) last day in the town of Sto. Sepulchro (Panday’s World 2 setting) before they returned to present-time Manila (World 1). By the way, that’s Ate Lolit of Heartworld standing on the other side of Eden! It would’ve been really cool had they included one of the Heartists to be a part of any of the last few scenes from Panday. Classic.

Early Christmas in Pililia, Rizal (photo courtesy of Resty): Heart is the type who has no reservations about inviting the fans to be a part of her world. Her special bond with the fans is what has made Heart Can raise a lot of money to help those children with respiratory diseases. This special bond is also what has made Heartworld (now on its sixth year) reach the 124th part, the only one on Pex (Pinoy Exchange) to have reached that part so far. Go to Pex and look at the loyal kind she attracts. You’ll find out how protective Heartworld can be when it comes to their princess. You’ll see the relationship she has built with Hearties (or Heartists). Case in point is her relationship with Resty. And now, Ate Lolit who loves to pamper Heart and treats her like her own daughter. Ah, the fans simply love it every time she wears the clothes or shoes they bought for her. It’s a different high altogether. No wonder Christmas comes not just once a year for this rare breed of celebrity.
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March 31 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Yes mag most handsome celebrity?! Asus! Hehe! Parang Mr. Pogi 1996 flashback!” Jericho was that year’s Readers Choice Awards’ Most Handsome Celebrity. And as expected, his lady love was by his side to share in his happiness.

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Us at beach tower. Me relaxing. Heart painting. God bless!”

[tab:LU]
Holy Week in San Juan, La Union

2006

April 1 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “PBB Finals Night. Trip nyo nood? Kakanta kami to promote Panday. Monday na!”

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April 3 – Philippines

ABS-CBN’s Panday (Ika-2 Yugto): Panday finally returned to our TV screens.

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April 8 – Philippines

The Inquirer Entertainment Interview (photo taken by Jim Guiao Punzalan): Heart had a question for her detractors. “Was there ever a time when people saw me with a really big tummy? Apart from the time that I was hospitalized because of asthma, I was never absent from the set. In fact, I never disappeared. People would see me everywhere–in parties or at the malls–especially when ‘Panday’ wasn’t airing,” Heart pointed out to Marinel R. Cruz of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

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April 9 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Summer na! Here in La Union for Smart Talk n Text anibersaya! Liquor Kisso is our new puppy!”

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April 10 – Philippines

Jericho’s Ktext (his MMS powered by ABS-CBN Interactive): “Me, Heart and our new puppy KISSO!”

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April 11 – Philippines

MYX Take Five (screencap by Fay): Featured artist was Jennifer Lopez.

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April 12 – Philippines

Cinema One’s Persona: Heart interviewed Jamie Rivera who is also a born-again Christian like her. In her previous Persona appearances, Heart was the one being interviewed, the first by best friend Sarah Christophers in 2004, and the second by boyfriend Jericho Rosales in 2005.

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April 13 – Philippines

MYX Take Five (screencap by Fay): Featured artist was Jamie Rivera.

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April 15 – Philippines

Holy Week in San Juan, La Union (photo courtesy of Sexy Nomad): The Sexy Nomad blogger took Heart and Jericho’s surfing pictures on April 15, 2006, but she only posted them on her blog six months later (on October 21, 2006). The Philippine Daily Inquirer also wrote about the surfing duo in their April 20, 2006 issue. Entitled “Black Saturday, sun tan day,” the tidbit went on to say that “Hot couple Jericho Rosales and Heart Evangelista hit the waves in San Juan, La Union during the holidays. The two were spotted getting a tan on Black Saturday near Echo’s beach-front property.”

Taped episode of MYX Take Five (screencap by Fay): Featured artist was Piolo Pascual.

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April 16 – Philippines

Taped episode of MYX Take Five (screencap by Fay): Featured artist was Amy Grant.

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April 19 – Philippines

MYX Take Five (screencap by Fay): Featured artist was Sugarfree. “Ipaglalaban ko…ang ating pag-ibig…”

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April 22 – Philippines

MYX Take Five (screencap by Fay): Featured artist was Mariah Carey.

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April 23 – Philippines

MYX Take Five (screencap by Fay): Featured artist was *NSync.

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April 28 – Philippines

ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol World: Heart was chosen to host the new talent search, Close Up to Fame 2, together with Bianca Gonzales.

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April 29 – Philippines

ABS-CBN’s Quizon Avenue: Here with Vandolph, Heart showed once again just how great she is in comedy too. Makes you wonder when she would ever do a romantic comedy like The Devil Wears Prada. Hopefully soon?

[tab:Truth]
Bite of Truth

Riiiiingggg!

In my bed, I was thinking it was probably just my sister. She forgot to give me her regular PNB (ABS-CBN’s Pangarap na Bituin) reports! Half of me wanted to ignore it. To be truthful, her Emerrence gushing is kind of getting on my nerves already. It was too late in the night anyway to pretend that I was into Emerrence (Jericho Rosales’s Terrence and Sarah Geronimo’s Emerald). I wanted my Caster (Jericho’s Terrence and Heart Evangelista’s Cassie)! And bad! But the other half of me knew I always answered my cell phone.

Riiiiingggg!

Which is why you should know in a second that I did get up to answer that call. And which is why it’s so unfair when I’m the one calling and a friend chooses her precious cents over me. “Can you just send me a text message, instead? Ha?” she would sweetly ask. So if the shoe was on the other foot, what then? The rule doesn’t apply anymore?

Riiiiingggg!

What if the caller ID hadn’t been invented? It doesn’t matter. I would have answered the phone just the same. I’m that kind of person. Lucky caller.

Oh. My. Dear. Lucky me. It’s Cassie on the phone. The other half of Caster. Or was that Carissa? Or Camia? Or Eden? Or Margaret? Why is she calling me again? Who can tell me, please? When is the right time to say hello? What–now?! How did I get to this point, can someone enlighten me? Where is my brain?

“Hello…?”

“Hello, Can? It’s me. Heart! Hello?”

Pretending that I still didn’t know who was on the other line and making it sound as if I could barely hear her, I said that dumb word again, “Hello?”

“Hello? This is Heart!!!”

“Oh, hi! Hi, Heart!”

“Can, I heard the bad news. How can they say all those lies about me?”

“You did? Have you been to that website?”

“No, I don’t want to see it! Ma-upset lang ako lalo.”

“Okay.”

“Can you do me a favor? I need you to do something for me.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Can you please look for some pictures of me and Echo in Hawaii? Like, the one from Yes magazine.”

“Sure, sure.”

“This has to stop. I have an idea who’s behind this. But this has to stop.”

“I know. I was shocked too.”

“Yeah! Di ba? I thought this was all over.”

“That blogger even used your pictures when you were surfing–”

“What?! Which ones?”

“It’s the one where you were up on your surfboard and you were riding the clouds–no, the clouds were the ones covering ‘it’ and Echo even said we were sweet for making the clouds go down on you.”

“Huh?” I can’t remember the exact words I said to her about the “cloud” skirt but more or less, that was the gist of it. “Oh, yeah! From that girl. From My Space. Yeah. Can, can you say they came from My Space?” Why can’t I have a longer name? Sshh. I know I have a longer name. But I’d rather not use it. Argh. I’m stuck with Can then.

“Yeah, I will. You know what? That blogger made it look like you and Echo just went surfing. And he had a magazine cover posted too. Obviously, his intention is to make you look bad, to make it sound as if you got recently interviewed by some magazine. And he’s, like, quoting you. That you went to Hawaii for a reason.”

“We did go to Hawaii! It was never a secret!”

“When did you go?”

“On my birthday.” (February 14th.)

“Okay. How long were you there?”

“Two weeks? We went to Malaysia first. Then Hawaii. Can, please help me! Paki-post naman the pictures ha.” Well, Hearty, according to the grapevine, you were there for only a week. But then you went to Hong Kong for that commercial, and then to Malaysia…so you could be right. That settles it.

“Sure, sure. No problem. By the way, what did Echo say?”

“He said ignore it. But I can’t. This has gone on for too long now. I mean, I have a presscon to go to.”

I felt the hurt in her voice. Then it suddenly hit me. Oh my goodness. Presscon. Reporters. Here we go again. “Heart, what time is the presscon?”

“Six o’clock. Tonight. I intend to bring that picture from my condo. Just in case.”

“Yeah, just in case. Better be prepared.”

“Well, thank you talaga, Can! Thank you. Favor lang talaga.”

“Ay, no problem! I’ll take care of it. Basta, stay calm. We’ll do something about it. I’ll make a timeline–”

“Just please include the girl’s My Space. That’s important.”

My Space? No, Heart, it was–never mind. “Yeah, sure. Okay, pahinga ka na.” Wait. Did I say that? Was I the one who said bye first? Hmm. I think so. I really felt her pain. I didn’t want her to go but I had to. I could almost hear her heartbeat. Wow, she was still so affected by this ugly rumor that wouldn’t just die! And who wouldn’t be? The girl has her values intact. Good gracious–I almost forgot! Heart has just made peace with her dad! Oh, I wanted to hug her then. And I wanted to slap that Spanish-speaking catty gossip of a blogger. Ah, yes. How could I have forgotten? Heart speaks Spanish too. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see Heart and this slanderer engage in a word slugfest, with Heart spurting Spanish words, like really letting loose a stream of cutting words that would finally put this shameless pretender in his place?

“Can?”

“Yeah?”

“Please lang, ha? I really need you to do this for me. This is important to me.”

“Heart, you don’t need to ask me twice. I will do that timeline. Don’t you worry anymore.”

“Thanks! Okay, bye! I have to go. Thank you, Can!”

“Okay. Ingat!”

Huhuhu…she was gone. I looked at my cell phone again and checked my Received Calls. There it was. I did receive a call from the other half of Caster at half past midnight on September 26, 2007 (or make that half past noon in Manila). Eleven precious minutes. For eleven minutes, I had Cassie or Carissa or Camia or Eden or Margaret to myself. And in all that time, I forgot she was Heart Evangelista, the celebrity. What I heard was the call of a friend in need. And I just responded to it.

That is probably the longest eleven minutes of my life. And that’s the bite of truth.

A million thanks to Heart, Ms. Angeli, Annie, Stacey, Chetz, Mayumi, Mich, Booey, Ate Lolit, and Resty for their contribution.