Actress and global brand ambassador Heart Evangelista-Escudero on Monday urged the 67.5 million Filipino voters to be discerning in choosing their leaders in next monthโs national polls, as she advised them to study carefully the track record and agenda for governance of all candidates.
In a press conference in Cebu City where she campaigned for her husband Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, who is seeking a fresh six-year term in the Senate, the social media superstar told reporters that she is doing her part as a conscientious voter and citizen.
โIn 2007, I didnโt know him (Chiz) personally, and I remember I saw him in an event in La Union and he spoke so well. Doon pa lang hinangaan ko na siya. And it was really refreshing to know somebody who knows what he is saying. So, I did my research and I discovered the many things he has done as a public servant,โ Evangelista said when asked by a journalist if she will still vote for the veteran legislator if they were not a couple.
The actress then said people should do their own research to get to know the candidates more and help them make an informed decision when they finally cast their ballots on May 9.
โI think this is something that we should also practice. We just do not look at the ads or what is in front of us but we should be responsible enough to do research and I did research about him,โ she added.
Evangelista shared that while she was really impressed by the information she read about the Bicolano legislator, she was also somehow disappointed that Escudero was married at the time.
โThat was the end of the road for me,โ the actress said, eliciting laughter from the press. โBut eventually, he became my husband!โ
โSo, we need to do our research para alam natin kung tama ba ang ating mga pinipili,โ she pointed out.
When asked if she and her husband share a common candidate, especially for president and vice president, Evangelista said they are still discussing and assessing the candidates.
โMeron akong napupusuan pero again ayokong magmadaliโฆ We both respect each otherโs choices, hindi kami nag-aaway ng dahil lang dun at hindi tayo dapat nag-aaway-away dahil lang sa politics,โ Evangelista said.
The actress also defended his husbandโs policy to declare Sorsogon as an โopen provinceโ to all political parties and candidates who want to campaign, saying the move is benefitting the Sorsognanons as they get to hear the platform of governance of each candidate.
โSi Chiz bilang ama ng Sorsogon, kaya wala syang isang taong pinipili, you donโt want to give an impression that you want them (the people of the province) to just vote for one person. He wants them to see everyone (the candidates) so people can have a choice. It is democracy that you have to introduce everybody and you are not biased to any of them because everybody has a choice. Iyon siguro din ang dahilan niya kaya lahat sila, dinadala at hino-host sa Sorsogon. And I think that is beautiful,โ she said.
