Heart Evangelista is back to work as a Kapamilya. After months of lying low and exploring opportunities elsewhere, the young star recently had a meeting with ABS-CBN executives Cory Vidanes and Malou Santos to discuss possible projects.
"Kumbaga alma mater ko na to [ABS-CBN], di ba?" points out Heart. "So it was worth it, sticking around even if it was hard na wala pang projects because 'andaming canned na soap. It's still worth it ‘cause I still want to be here... Para rin naman makita nila na even if I was having a hard time, I didn't just go the easy way out."
Last year, Heart and real-life boyfriend Jericho Rosales left the network's artist management arm, Star Magic, and signed up with Manila Genesis Entertainment of Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano. Also, they are no longer under an exclusive contract with the station, meaning they can do projects elsewhere—even GMA-7.
Even if she's legally free to accept work from the rival station, Heart says she opts not to.
She explains, "I don't think I can appear ‘cause even if it's a per project thing, I'm still known as a Kapamilya. It's a big thing if um-appear ako sa GMA-7, di ba?"
Heart hosted I Love Philippine Idol, a nightly update, for ABC-5.
A NEW START. This month, Heart and Jericho will star in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, titled "The Kaye Chua-Tinga Story." She says it's about the love story of Taguig City mayor, Sigfrido Tinga, and his Chinese wife, Kaye Chua, focusing on Filipino-Chinese relationships.
Also, Heart is set to star in a sineserye—a remake of an old movie made into a teleserye—this summer.
A NEW ALBUM. Aside from acting, Heart is trying her feet in producing. She is currently recording songs for new album, co-produced by Australian recording company Gromic.
This new endeavor started because of "Tell Me," a single she recorded a few years back.
Heart narrates, "It was a long time ago, around three years. I recorded a single. Hindi ko pa siya nagustuhan at hindi ko pa talaga pinag-aaralan kasi may mga times na, yeah, I was working pero... [I can afford not to work]. Bago ko i-record ‘yong song talagang pinag-aralan ko lang siya sa may parking lot. Wala akong gana, ganoon. And then I recorded it.
"A year ago or two years ago, I didn't know na hinahanap na uli ako nung guy na ‘yon because nga they sent us an e-mail just recently na it was number 18 in the Top 50 charts in Australia, and this is new. Pussycat Dolls and Black Eyed Peas were below me! And no promo at all! It was just parang press releases na ‘a Filipina girl, her name is Heart Evangelista, has a song...' Sabi ko, ‘What? Ano ginagawa ko noon? Ba't hindi nakarating sa akin?' Siyempre, it's a far place."
She excitedly recounts, "Sumisigaw kami ni Echo. I was on the floor because parang with everything happening parang ‘Wow!' With everything happening, meron palang nagbukas na door somewhere else."
The single is going be released in the country soon.
"I just recorded the song the other day. Iniba namin ng konti para puwede ko ma-release dito kasi medyo iba ‘yong tunog ng song kasi it's for Australians... Ako actually, hindi ko gusto ‘yong kanta [noong una], pero we did it again. It'll be released na here," announces Heart.
She says the goal is to become an international recording artist. She is also currently working on filming a music video for the song.