Heart & John Interactive

by: Jerome B. Gomez

They share the same birthday, order the same food, and read each other's minds. John Jrats and
Heart Evangelista are more than just "berks'" they're –ohmigod!—soulmates? Before he escorts her to
her debut party this month, the pair gives us the sobrang nakakakilig story.

They first met at a Star Magic pictorial. He was already John Prats, a budding heartthrob who grew
up in front of the camera. She was just nobody, just a pretty little rich girl who lived a sheltered life. "Kikay
talaga, parang maarte," recalls John of Heart Evangelista of that initial encounter. "Hindi siya makapag-
pictorial ng walang salamin noon. Sabi ko, 'Ano ba `to, tingin ng tingin sa salamin?'" She confesses to
the kaartehan. "Yung arte ko kasi `yung nakakairitang arte, " says Heart. "Talagang ganun ako." Besides,
it wasn't exactly love-at-first-sight in Heart's part, even if he fits the physical description of what he likes
in a guy: mestizong chinito. "Ayoko siya nun. Feeling ko, `Yabang naman nito. Sino `to? Isnabero siya
nun sa kin, di siya namamansin."

That was three years ago. Today, John, 18, and Heart, 17, haven't only gotten wiser enough to know
that while first impressions maybe made in the first 11 seconds, they can also shatter in the next 11. After
working together in the movie Trip , the defunct weekly teen dramedy G-mik, and hundreds of magazine
shoots and TV guestings, they have also gotten to know each other very well. On, and they are also one of
the hottest love teams in town. They're the selling point of the relatively new TV show Berks which has
already beaten its older competitor, Click, in the ratings game. Star Cinema is planning a John-Heart vehicle;
and they are the stars of the new Close-Up commercial.

Expectedly, two have gotten oh-so-very-close. John says they tell each other everything. He tells Heart
if she's being too maarte, she tells him if he's gaining a bit of weight. "Ang bilog-bilog mo," she would say,
pinching his cheeks. He would do the same to her when he notices Heart is a bit plump than usual. So how
did they get from calling each other maarte and mayabang to giving each other thoughtful gifts?

"You have to know a person talaga," says Heart. "Nag-mature na siguro kami. Siguro na-realize niya na
maarte naman ako, I'm nice naman."

"Lesser na yung pagka-maarte niya," says John of his ka-love team. "Nagiging `cowboy' na siya. Ako
rin yung nagsabi sa kanyaa na pag masyadong sobra, pangit na tingnan. Very open kami sa isa't isa, wala
kaming pretensions. Heart is like that, hindi kasi siya takot ipakita kung ano siya, no pretensions. Kung
gusto mo ko, thank you but if you don't like me, I don't care."

It is this openness, this clear understanding of each other's quirks that is in the heart of their `chemistry
and rapport,' which John says are the reasons their friendship works, which unavoidably benefits their on-cam
team-up. ABS-CBN think-tanks have already tried a couple of other girls to be paired with John in the past
but only Heart seemed to, well, click with the guy. After auditioning a big number of fresh faces to join the
G-mik cast two years ago, it was when Heart showed up that director Lauren Dyogi heaved a sigh of relief.

After a few guest appearances, she would become a regular in the show. And would form friendships
with the cast, especially with hr ka-love team.

"John is a gentleman," Heart says. "Pag sa taping, kunyari nagpapabili siya ng food, lagi niya kong
binubulungan, `Gusto mo ba ng pagkain?' He's very sweet. At saka kunyari ASAP or sa taping, pagbababa
ng hagdan, inaalalayan ako niyan, kasi alam niya na clumsy ako, weak yung kness ko kaya lagi akong
nadadapa. Hindi ko makakalimutan nung Berks taping tapos wala akong pera kasi nakalimutan kong
humingi sa mommy ko, nilibre niya ko: breakfast, lunch and dinner."

"Minsan, magkaaway kami nun sa G-mik tapos napa-cute ako, sabi ko sa kanya, bilhan mo naman
ako ng teddy bear. Binili niya pero pag-uwi ko pa nakita, pinabigay niya sa assistant ko." They named him
Pot-Pot. Last Christmas, he bought her a jacket from his US trip because he knew she's never without
one. Heart gave him Bruce Lee shirts from Hongkong. "Si Heart ang supplier ng mga sumbrero ko,"
says John.

The sweetest gifts from John, however, seems to be—are you ready for this? –paper roses. "Ang
hilig-hilig niya talaga magpa-cute. Gawa siya ng gawa ng roses made out of tissue. Umaapaw na tuloy
yung mga roses na tissue ko."

Is there anything she doesn't like about her ka-love team? "The funny is all his worst qualities, yun ang
gusto ko eh, like yung pagiging maharot niya. Yung pagka-kulit niya, childish pero nasa lugar. Naisip ko
parang, grabe, parang ang cute naman. Yung pagiging moody niya kasi maganda. Moody siya, moody ako."

Is there anything John dislikes about Heart? "Wala eh. hindi siya nagmamataray. Pag tahimik kami
ibig sabihin noon that's the time for ourselves. Pareho kaming makulit, lalo na pag nangungurot, kukurutin
ka ng maliit na maliit. Pag naumpisahan, non-stop na yan."

"Pareho kaming Aquarius," says Heart, "Nakakasakay kami sa isa't isa, hindi kami nagkaka-clash,
swak na swak."

Heart has two thrilling stories about John. One day, there was a huge plate filled with French fries on
a table. Heart and John are about to dig in. "ako kasi yung tipong namimili pa nga fries, dapat crispy pero
mukhang malambot." After making her choice from the heap, she dug in and accidentally picked the end of
the same piece of potato John picked.

Story # 2: Interior. Restaurant. "Same tayo order, love team tayo eh," said John. But Heart is taking
too long to decide what to have so John finally decided to order ahead. But before he could say anything
to the waiter, Heart had already said, "Boss, steak sandwich." "He looked at me," recalls Heart, "because
that was the same thing on his mind." For some reason, they decide to order something else. This time,
they both said, "Isang hamburger," at the same time. "Unbelievable," says Heart now. "Parang scene na
siya sa Berks pero ganun kami ka-in-tune."

This month, a bigger scene, this time to occur in front of the cameras but no less meaningful than
their private moments, will unfold in the John Prats-Heart Evangelista story. They're both celebrating their
birthdays on the 14th but this time, the gentleman that he is, John will be happy to play escort to the
debutante Heart in a big to-do being put together by ABS-CBN for the young star. She's going to be
formally introduced to society, she's going to wear an Inno Sotto and the brightest young stars are sure
to make an appearance. Her last dance will be with John.

One would be tempted to ask if indeed the planets aren't conspiring to conjure a beautiful story of
young love in John Prats and Heart Evangelista. Surely with the stories these two tell, the idea of them
being meant for each other has crossed their minds. But for now, they agree, having found each other is
enough. Thay they have seemed to find their destiny is a comforting thought.

"I'm turning 18, siya 19, problema kasi parang I'm scared," saya Heart who has yet to experience a
romantic relationship. "Kasi pa'no kung maging kami? Pa'no kung dahil masyado kaming bata may
magkamali? Siguro in the future pwede maging kami pa rin kasi now okay naman ang lahat."

"Naniniwala kami sa destiny. Kung kami talaga, kami talaga," says John. Naiisip mo siyempre na,
`Ito na kaya `yon?"




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		Star Studio Magazine Cover Story: Meant For Each Other February, 2003 by: Jerome B. Gomez They share the same birthday, order the same food, and read each other's minds. John Jrats and Heart Evangelista are more than just "berks'" they're –ohmigod!—soulmates? Before he escorts her to her debut party this month, the pair gives us the sobrang nakakakilig story. They first met at a Star Magic pictorial. He was already John Prats, a budding heartthrob who grew up in front of the camera. She was just nobody, just a pretty little rich girl who lived a sheltered life. "Kikay talaga, parang maarte," recalls John of Heart Evangelista of that initial encounter. "Hindi siya makapag- pictorial ng walang salamin noon. Sabi ko, 'Ano ba `to, tingin ng tingin sa salamin?'" She confesses to the kaartehan. "Yung arte ko kasi `yung nakakairitang arte, " says Heart. "Talagang ganun ako." Besides, it wasn't exactly love-at-first-sight in Heart's part, even if he fits the physical description of what he likes in a guy: mestizong chinito. "Ayoko siya nun. Feeling ko, `Yabang naman nito. Sino `to? Isnabero siya nun sa kin, di siya namamansin." That was three years ago. Today, John, 18, and Heart, 17, haven't only gotten wiser enough to know that while first impressions maybe made in the first 11 seconds, they can also shatter in the next 11. After working together in the movie Trip , the defunct weekly teen dramedy G-mik, and hundreds of magazine shoots and TV guestings, they have also gotten to know each other very well. On, and they are also one of the hottest love teams in town. They're the selling point of the relatively new TV show Berks which has already beaten its older competitor, Click, in the ratings game. Star Cinema is planning a John-Heart vehicle; and they are the stars of the new Close-Up commercial. Expectedly, two have gotten oh-so-very-close. John says they tell each other everything. He tells Heart if she's being too maarte, she tells him if he's gaining a bit of weight. "Ang bilog-bilog mo," she would say, pinching his cheeks. He would do the same to her when he notices Heart is a bit plump than usual. So how did they get from calling each other maarte and mayabang to giving each other thoughtful gifts? "You have to know a person talaga," says Heart. "Nag-mature na siguro kami. Siguro na-realize niya na maarte naman ako, I'm nice naman." "Lesser na yung pagka-maarte niya," says John of his ka-love team. "Nagiging `cowboy' na siya. Ako rin yung nagsabi sa kanyaa na pag masyadong sobra, pangit na tingnan. Very open kami sa isa't isa, wala kaming pretensions. Heart is like that, hindi kasi siya takot ipakita kung ano siya, no pretensions. Kung gusto mo ko, thank you but if you don't like me, I don't care." It is this openness, this clear understanding of each other's quirks that is in the heart of their `chemistry and rapport,' which John says are the reasons their friendship works, which unavoidably benefits their on-cam team-up. ABS-CBN think-tanks have already tried a couple of other girls to be paired with John in the past but only Heart seemed to, well, click with the guy. After auditioning a big number of fresh faces to join the G-mik cast two years ago, it was when Heart showed up that director Lauren Dyogi heaved a sigh of relief. After a few guest appearances, she would become a regular in the show. And would form friendships with the cast, especially with hr ka-love team. "John is a gentleman," Heart says. "Pag sa taping, kunyari nagpapabili siya ng food, lagi niya kong binubulungan, `Gusto mo ba ng pagkain?' He's very sweet. At saka kunyari ASAP or sa taping, pagbababa ng hagdan, inaalalayan ako niyan, kasi alam niya na clumsy ako, weak yung kness ko kaya lagi akong nadadapa. Hindi ko makakalimutan nung Berks taping tapos wala akong pera kasi nakalimutan kong humingi sa mommy ko, nilibre niya ko: breakfast, lunch and dinner." "Minsan, magkaaway kami nun sa G-mik tapos napa-cute ako, sabi ko sa kanya, bilhan mo naman ako ng teddy bear. Binili niya pero pag-uwi ko pa nakita, pinabigay niya sa assistant ko." They named him Pot-Pot. Last Christmas, he bought her a jacket from his US trip because he knew she's never without one. Heart gave him Bruce Lee shirts from Hongkong. "Si Heart ang supplier ng mga sumbrero ko," says John. The sweetest gifts from John, however, seems to be—are you ready for this? –paper roses. "Ang hilig-hilig niya talaga magpa-cute. Gawa siya ng gawa ng roses made out of tissue. Umaapaw na tuloy yung mga roses na tissue ko." Is there anything she doesn't like about her ka-love team? "The funny is all his worst qualities, yun ang gusto ko eh, like yung pagiging maharot niya. Yung pagka-kulit niya, childish pero nasa lugar. Naisip ko parang, grabe, parang ang cute naman. Yung pagiging moody niya kasi maganda. Moody siya, moody ako." Is there anything John dislikes about Heart? "Wala eh. hindi siya nagmamataray. Pag tahimik kami ibig sabihin noon that's the time for ourselves. Pareho kaming makulit, lalo na pag nangungurot, kukurutin ka ng maliit na maliit. Pag naumpisahan, non-stop na yan." "Pareho kaming Aquarius," says Heart, "Nakakasakay kami sa isa't isa, hindi kami nagkaka-clash, swak na swak." Heart has two thrilling stories about John. One day, there was a huge plate filled with French fries on a table. Heart and John are about to dig in. "ako kasi yung tipong namimili pa nga fries, dapat crispy pero mukhang malambot." After making her choice from the heap, she dug in and accidentally picked the end of the same piece of potato John picked. Story # 2: Interior. Restaurant. "Same tayo order, love team tayo eh," said John. But Heart is taking too long to decide what to have so John finally decided to order ahead. But before he could say anything to the waiter, Heart had already said, "Boss, steak sandwich." "He looked at me," recalls Heart, "because that was the same thing on his mind." For some reason, they decide to order something else. This time, they both said, "Isang hamburger," at the same time. "Unbelievable," says Heart now. "Parang scene na siya sa Berks pero ganun kami ka-in-tune." This month, a bigger scene, this time to occur in front of the cameras but no less meaningful than their private moments, will unfold in the John Prats-Heart Evangelista story. They're both celebrating their birthdays on the 14th but this time, the gentleman that he is, John will be happy to play escort to the debutante Heart in a big to-do being put together by ABS-CBN for the young star. She's going to be formally introduced to society, she's going to wear an Inno Sotto and the brightest young stars are sure to make an appearance. Her last dance will be with John. One would be tempted to ask if indeed the planets aren't conspiring to conjure a beautiful story of young love in John Prats and Heart Evangelista. Surely with the stories these two tell, the idea of them being meant for each other has crossed their minds. But for now, they agree, having found each other is enough. Thay they have seemed to find their destiny is a comforting thought. "I'm turning 18, siya 19, problema kasi parang I'm scared," saya Heart who has yet to experience a romantic relationship. "Kasi pa'no kung maging kami? Pa'no kung dahil masyado kaming bata may magkamali? Siguro in the future pwede maging kami pa rin kasi now okay naman ang lahat." "Naniniwala kami sa destiny. Kung kami talaga, kami talaga," says John. Naiisip mo siyempre na, `Ito na kaya `yon?" Copyright © 2003 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.