Heart & John Interactive

by: Patty Ramirez

If you don't have a quick eye you'll likely miss the dirt road leading to teen star Heart Evangelista's
cozy (in design) but hacienda-like (in size) home in Carmona, Cavite. The setting is quite rustic with
trees lining up the gravel road leading to the white gate which Heart says used to be covered with red
roses during December. "It's like a fairy tale," she says. Just beyond the gate was a little shack where,
after a little snooping, revealed a pair of miniature horse named Millie (because she was born in the new
millennium) and La Niña (because she was born at a time the El Niño phenomenon was news). "They're
my pets, plus the dogs at the back," she declares. "Dogs" being five huge champion-lineage German
Shepherds, with one of them, Bertha, nursing six puppies born during the Trip premier. So that's 11
dogs in all.

Home is a mansion on a hill; a not-so-little house on the prairie; a picture-pretty structure surrounded
by tress, fresh air, and open spaces; visited by birds in the daytime and fireflies at night.

Six years ago, the place was just a weekend vacation house. The family used to live in Makati, when
a fire hit a building very close to their house.

The proximity of the fire was such that they needed to evacuate - dogs and precious possessions in
tow. It was, in short a traumatic experience. Alarmed, Heart's Dad decided to move. The plan was to stay in
this weekend house - but only, supposedly, during the house-hunting stage. "But once we go settled, "
Heart relates, "we couldn't get enough of this house. It looks like at kubo outside but modern inside."

They must really like the place so much for they are not even getting some kind of a half-way house-
closer to Heart's ABS-CBN, or her older sister Camille's Ateneo. Metro Manila, in short. Even if Heart has
out of town shows or late night tapings she still comes home here. "Of course I have to wake up earlier so I
can reach the location on time. I guess I got used to that already."

The only downside for Heart is being so far away from friends and relatives, especially cousins her age.
Their place is literally "dinadayo", a good 2 hours from Makati on moderate traffic. This is why Heart so very
much enjoyed this last Yuletide season. "Almost all our relatives, titas, titos and cousins stayed here," she
remembers. "My cousins all squeezed in my room and the rest of them stayed in the living room or dun sa
may kitchen. And outside, the trees were filled with Christmas lights and may mga umbrellas, tables and
chairs. Masaya talaga because all of them were here."

The TV room where al the guests relax is pretty impressive. Like the rest of the house, its floors are
made of big, solid panels of wood. In keeping with the American country look, the walls are designed a la
log cabin. On the walls were the framed, mounted fish that Heart's Dad, a true-blue outdoorsman, caught
during his fishing trips. Heart boasts that the mounted fish near the TV was the one she caught in Caliraya,
Quezon. "I used to join him in his fishing trips.

It was a lot of fun but I don't go anymore. Natakot na ako sa araw," she says with a laugh.

Just outside the room are the six German shepherd pups. The kennel is actually part of the balcony
where a partition is set so the house. Heart inherited her fascination with animals from her Dad who is an
animal lover.

Heart's Dad tells us that even if the fences are not that high, the house is secure because of the dogs.
Once, a group of robbers dared enter the premises armed with iron tubo. They did not stand a chance against
the guard dogs. "Dinala pa namin sa ospital kasi nga nakagat," the man of the house relates.

Heart was pretty excited when we reached the next stop. "Welcome to my room!" she says leading us
into her newly painted RED bedroom. The yellow bed decorated with bears and butterflies is at the foot of the
bed. A red dresser is at the foot of the bed. A curtain separates her sort-of dressing room which displays some
of her clothes, stuffed toys and her bag collection which she started when she was 12 after watching the movie
Clueless. "When I saw Alicia Silverstone, nabaliw ako! We went to L.A. tapos my mom gave some pocket
money. Pagbalik ko puro ganyan ang binili ko. Nagalit nga si Mommy dahil gusto niya clothes and shoes pero
puro hats and bags ang binili ko."

The young lady also collects angels, which were overflowing in a corner stand. "Everytime I get a my
talent fee sa ABS, bibili ako ng isang angel, parang remembrance."

Red may not be the color associated with angels but Heart likes it very much. "Actually, ayaw nga ni
Daddy ng red. He wanted maroon kaso di ba parang patay, dark. I thought of the décor, the bed spread, pillows.
But my mom helped me with the flowers. Kaya yellow yung bed-it complements the color red kaya ang ganda
when combined."

One of the most favorite things she does in her room is arranging the crowded picture frames on her
dresser. She doesn't get tired of arranging it again and again. A funny picture of Heart with friends and co-stars
Camille Prats and Angelica Panganiban steers the conversation to slumber party here unless you count my
cousins sleeping over. It's okay with my mom but the problem is sina Camille at Angelica hindi pinapayagan.
Kaya madalas sa phone kami nagtatagal."

Near the door is a painting of a boat on an easel near the dresser-painted by Heart herself, revealing a
not-so-known artistic side. "I started painting when I was about 12. I learned oil painting sa Ayala Museum.
The boat theme of the painting is for my dad. He likes fishing so usually, to make him proud, boats ang
pini-paints ko."

Heart's other pastimes also include drama scenes in front of the mirror. But Heart treasures relaxation
above all. "I love lying down on my bed, listening to Enriquez Iglesias and thinking of… nothing."

The red also reminds us of Heart's birthday - as red is the color of Valentines. Are her birthdays different
because the date falls on Valentine's Day? "No, not at all. Pero thinking about it, pag nagka-boyfriend na ako,
ang daya kasi isa lang ang gift ko! Uy, hindi pa ngayon ha. Pag 18 pa ako puwede mag-date," she adds.
"But I'm used to it na-pagsiksikan sa mga restaurants. I usually eat out with my family then have a separates
party for my friends."

On love-team partner John Prats also celebrating his birthday on Valentines, does this mean the get
along with each other well? (As in: how many love-teams do you know na magka-birthday na, Valentines pa
pareho ang birthday!)

"Sometimes I think siya yung opposite ko but madalas I think na siya ako na ginawang guy! Kasi lahat
ng gusto ko, gusto niya. Guy version ko siya na sa sobrang pareho namin minsan we fight." She like John
because she has seen the way he treats his parents. "He's pretty close to his mom and dad, dahil yung iba
they don't want to be seen with their parents. Sobrang gentleman and ang lambing-lambing niya. Though you
wouldn't believe it, malambing siya kahit palabiro at makulit. And when he says sorry, he's super sincere."

Heart shows us a basket full of stuffed toys. Two of the toys, a bear and a Blue's Clues dog were given
by John last Christmas. Heart gave him a cap last Christmas but still has no idea what to give him on their
common birthday Valentines. Another kilig factor for Heart is that John calls her O.O.M.A. "At first I didn't
have a clue what that meant. It was a brainteaser and really racked my brain trying to figure it out. Finally,
with a little help from Camille, I got it. Object Of My Affection pala!" Heart says.

Heart is sure full of surprise, but a trip to her home has revealed that she is just like any normal teenager:
kikay, full of stories, undecided if she'll be taking Fine Arts or HRM to help out in the family business (the
family owns Barrio Fiesta) while pursuing an acting career or keeping track of her favorite TV shows. A
homebody, Heart says there is no place like home and home is really where Heart's heart is




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		Star Studio Magazine Cover Story: Home is where the Heart is February, 2002
		by: Patty Ramirez If you don't have a quick eye you'll likely miss the dirt road leading to teen star Heart Evangelista's cozy (in design) but hacienda-like (in size) home in Carmona, Cavite. The setting is quite rustic with trees lining up the gravel road leading to the white gate which Heart says used to be covered with red roses during December. "It's like a fairy tale," she says. Just beyond the gate was a little shack where, after a little snooping, revealed a pair of miniature horse named Millie (because she was born in the new millennium) and La Niña (because she was born at a time the El Niño phenomenon was news). "They're my pets, plus the dogs at the back," she declares. "Dogs" being five huge champion-lineage German Shepherds, with one of them, Bertha, nursing six puppies born during the Trip premier. So that's 11 dogs in all. Home is a mansion on a hill; a not-so-little house on the prairie; a picture-pretty structure surrounded by tress, fresh air, and open spaces; visited by birds in the daytime and fireflies at night. Six years ago, the place was just a weekend vacation house. The family used to live in Makati, when a fire hit a building very close to their house. The proximity of the fire was such that they needed to evacuate - dogs and precious possessions in tow. It was, in short a traumatic experience. Alarmed, Heart's Dad decided to move. The plan was to stay in this weekend house - but only, supposedly, during the house-hunting stage. "But once we go settled, " Heart relates, "we couldn't get enough of this house. It looks like at kubo outside but modern inside." They must really like the place so much for they are not even getting some kind of a half-way house- closer to Heart's ABS-CBN, or her older sister Camille's Ateneo. Metro Manila, in short. Even if Heart has out of town shows or late night tapings she still comes home here. "Of course I have to wake up earlier so I can reach the location on time. I guess I got used to that already." The only downside for Heart is being so far away from friends and relatives, especially cousins her age. Their place is literally "dinadayo", a good 2 hours from Makati on moderate traffic. This is why Heart so very much enjoyed this last Yuletide season. "Almost all our relatives, titas, titos and cousins stayed here," she remembers. "My cousins all squeezed in my room and the rest of them stayed in the living room or dun sa may kitchen. And outside, the trees were filled with Christmas lights and may mga umbrellas, tables and chairs. Masaya talaga because all of them were here." The TV room where al the guests relax is pretty impressive. Like the rest of the house, its floors are made of big, solid panels of wood. In keeping with the American country look, the walls are designed a la log cabin. On the walls were the framed, mounted fish that Heart's Dad, a true-blue outdoorsman, caught during his fishing trips. Heart boasts that the mounted fish near the TV was the one she caught in Caliraya, Quezon. "I used to join him in his fishing trips. It was a lot of fun but I don't go anymore. Natakot na ako sa araw," she says with a laugh. Just outside the room are the six German shepherd pups. The kennel is actually part of the balcony where a partition is set so the house. Heart inherited her fascination with animals from her Dad who is an animal lover. Heart's Dad tells us that even if the fences are not that high, the house is secure because of the dogs. Once, a group of robbers dared enter the premises armed with iron tubo. They did not stand a chance against the guard dogs. "Dinala pa namin sa ospital kasi nga nakagat," the man of the house relates. Heart was pretty excited when we reached the next stop. "Welcome to my room!" she says leading us into her newly painted RED bedroom. The yellow bed decorated with bears and butterflies is at the foot of the bed. A red dresser is at the foot of the bed. A curtain separates her sort-of dressing room which displays some of her clothes, stuffed toys and her bag collection which she started when she was 12 after watching the movie Clueless. "When I saw Alicia Silverstone, nabaliw ako! We went to L.A. tapos my mom gave some pocket money. Pagbalik ko puro ganyan ang binili ko. Nagalit nga si Mommy dahil gusto niya clothes and shoes pero puro hats and bags ang binili ko." The young lady also collects angels, which were overflowing in a corner stand. "Everytime I get a my talent fee sa ABS, bibili ako ng isang angel, parang remembrance." Red may not be the color associated with angels but Heart likes it very much. "Actually, ayaw nga ni Daddy ng red. He wanted maroon kaso di ba parang patay, dark. I thought of the décor, the bed spread, pillows. But my mom helped me with the flowers. Kaya yellow yung bed-it complements the color red kaya ang ganda when combined." One of the most favorite things she does in her room is arranging the crowded picture frames on her dresser. She doesn't get tired of arranging it again and again. A funny picture of Heart with friends and co-stars Camille Prats and Angelica Panganiban steers the conversation to slumber party here unless you count my cousins sleeping over. It's okay with my mom but the problem is sina Camille at Angelica hindi pinapayagan. Kaya madalas sa phone kami nagtatagal." Near the door is a painting of a boat on an easel near the dresser-painted by Heart herself, revealing a not-so-known artistic side. "I started painting when I was about 12. I learned oil painting sa Ayala Museum. The boat theme of the painting is for my dad. He likes fishing so usually, to make him proud, boats ang pini-paints ko." Heart's other pastimes also include drama scenes in front of the mirror. But Heart treasures relaxation above all. "I love lying down on my bed, listening to Enriquez Iglesias and thinking of… nothing." The red also reminds us of Heart's birthday - as red is the color of Valentines. Are her birthdays different because the date falls on Valentine's Day? "No, not at all. Pero thinking about it, pag nagka-boyfriend na ako, ang daya kasi isa lang ang gift ko! Uy, hindi pa ngayon ha. Pag 18 pa ako puwede mag-date," she adds. "But I'm used to it na-pagsiksikan sa mga restaurants. I usually eat out with my family then have a separates party for my friends." On love-team partner John Prats also celebrating his birthday on Valentines, does this mean the get along with each other well? (As in: how many love-teams do you know na magka-birthday na, Valentines pa pareho ang birthday!) "Sometimes I think siya yung opposite ko but madalas I think na siya ako na ginawang guy! Kasi lahat ng gusto ko, gusto niya. Guy version ko siya na sa sobrang pareho namin minsan we fight." She like John because she has seen the way he treats his parents. "He's pretty close to his mom and dad, dahil yung iba they don't want to be seen with their parents. Sobrang gentleman and ang lambing-lambing niya. Though you wouldn't believe it, malambing siya kahit palabiro at makulit. And when he says sorry, he's super sincere." Heart shows us a basket full of stuffed toys. Two of the toys, a bear and a Blue's Clues dog were given by John last Christmas. Heart gave him a cap last Christmas but still has no idea what to give him on their common birthday Valentines. Another kilig factor for Heart is that John calls her O.O.M.A. "At first I didn't have a clue what that meant. It was a brainteaser and really racked my brain trying to figure it out. Finally, with a little help from Camille, I got it. Object Of My Affection pala!" Heart says. Heart is sure full of surprise, but a trip to her home has revealed that she is just like any normal teenager: kikay, full of stories, undecided if she'll be taking Fine Arts or HRM to help out in the family business (the family owns Barrio Fiesta) while pursuing an acting career or keeping track of her favorite TV shows. A homebody, Heart says there is no place like home and home is really where Heart's heart is Copyright © 2002 Star Studio Magazine. All rights reserved. © 2003 Heart & John Interactive and may not be reproduced without expressed written permission of the site owner. All Rights Reserved. Heart & John Interactive is owned, designed and maintained by Beth.