Heart Evangelista

About

Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco-Escudero (born February 14, 1985), known professionally as Heart Evangelista, is a Filipino actress, television host, advocate, and entrepreneur. She is the second wife of politician Francis Escudero (his first marriage was annulled in 2011).

Evangelista was born as Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco on February 14, 1985, in Manila, Philippines. She is the last child of businessman Reynaldo Evangelista Ongpauco and Maria Cecilia del Gallego Payawal. Her Chinese-Filipino family founded the Barrio Fiesta chain of Filipino restaurants and her mother’s family owns a sugar plantation in Camarines Sur. She is a second cousin of actress Jodi Sta. Maria. Her family moved to San Francisco during her early years – before returning to the Philippines in her early teens.
Evangelista attended Colegio de San Agustin (CSA) in Makati upon returning to the Philippines. She enrolled in ABS-CBN’s Distance Learning Center. Her nickname “Heart” originated from her birthday on Valentine’s Day. She adopted Heart Evangelista as her screen name in the late 1990s.

Evangelista joined Star Magic’s Star Circle Batch 9 in 1999 when she…