Why Heart prefers to keep charity work ‘under the radar’

If she could have it her way, Heart Evangelista would continue keeping most of her charity and advocacy work under wraps.

“If there was anything I needed to do and be an instrument of help, I would always do it under the radar. I like things that way. If I can only cover myself with a blanket, keep my face and head hidden, I would do it,” she told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

But as president of the Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. (SSFI), the actress and fashion influencer realizes that she will have to be more “out there,” because the projects the group initiates require “transparency” and could benefit from public awareness.

“I’m very sensitive with these things, because I don’t want people misinterpreting, questioning my sincerity,” pointed out Heart, who assumed the said position after her husband, Sen. Chiz Escudero, was named Senate President last May.

Creating awareness

Composed of spouses of incumbent senators, the SSFI takes part in projects like medical missions, home-building for the elderly, relief operations and feeding programs. Other celebrity members of the SSFI include Mariel Padilla (Sen. Robin Padilla) and Rep. Lani Revilla (Sen. Bong Revilla).

“But now, it has to be out there because we need a platform to create awareness for our advocacies. I love it so far. I have even more purpose,” Heart said. “We will continue what they have started and tap different companies I work with for livelihood packages.

“I don’t know how much time I have, so I’m rushing and doing as many things as I can,” she added. “You just try to give as much as you can. There’s no measure. Give what you can give. When it comes to helping, there’s no such thing as big or small.”

The responsibility came unexpectedly, she said, so she found it daunting at the beginning. “It wasn’t something that I asked for. It landed on my lap, but I realized: ‘Why be daunted if you have so much to give?’ It has turned out to be really fulfilling,” she said.

How was she welcomed by the rest of the group? “It didn’t come with a brochure on how I should be, or what I needed to be,” he said. “But it’s all good.”

Asked if she would ever consider entering politics, Heart said she would rather stay where she is. “Politics isn’t for me. Whatever platform I have now is all I need,” she said.