Heart Evangelista: ‘It was all worth it’

SORSOGON, Philippines – Rain may have poured just as the polls opened here, but for Heart Evangelista, a rainbow will always be a good sign that whatever she and independent vice presidential aspirant Francis “Chiz” Escudero have gone through, it was all worth it.

A hands-on wife through the course of the campaign period, Evangelista, real name Love Marie Ongpauco-Escudero, said that the fatigue she feels is nothing compared to the satisfaction she has after helping her husband through this endeavor.

“It was very tiring but it was worth it. I gave my 100 percent to help Chiz and support him. No regrets,” she said, as the couple cast their votes at Buhatan Integrated National School early Monday. “At least, I had the time to devote for him.”

READ: Escudero leaves everything up to God

It was the first time for Evangelista to vote in Sorsogon after transferring her Commission on Elections (Comelec) registration at Barangay Buhatan in 2015.

“Nakaka-nerbyos naman bumoto dito (Voting here is nerve-racking),” she quipped inside the precinct, as cameras hounded her.

She changed seats as she tried her best to focus on shading her ballot.

READ: Chiz, Heart are early birds in school with only 3 precincts

Evangelista explained that she was shocked at the attention given to them during their voting.

“It was my first time to do this. I felt pressured because the media was there watching me. I felt really nervous,” she said. “But I married a senator who is running for vice president, and it comes with a different pressure. All of us in the house, though tired, we’re all happy.” CDG/rga

Vice Presidentiable candidate Senator Chiz Escudero with his wife Heart Evangelista-Escudero vote for the 2016 National and Local Election early in the morning at Buhatan Elementary School, Sorsogon province on May 9, 2016, Monday. MARK ALVIC ESPLANA / INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON.