Heart Evangelista became emotional while sharing a heartfelt message for her mother, Cecilia Ongpauco, during a recent interview, revealing how her "momager" helped her through a difficult period of lost confidence.
In an episode of "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda," Evangelista explained that she brought her mother along to the Paris and Milan fashion weeks when she was struggling personally. "I was really going through something in my life. I lost my confidence. And I was drowning in what I was hearing," she said.
During this challenging time, Evangelista leaned on her mother for support and guidance. "I couldn't work. And I'm there to work. So I really need my mom to say, 'Anak, do this.' She scheduled everything, 'You need to do this, you have to do this, focus.' To remind me of my worth. And it worked," she continued.
Evangelista credited her mother's persistence with strengthening her resolve. "When a parent tells you, 'You can do everything,' you really can do everything," she reflected.
The actress also noted that her mother enjoyed being invited to showrooms during the fashion events. "We caught the moment. Because parents are really different," said the Kapuso Global Fashion Icon.
This moment of reconciliation comes after periods of tension in their relationship during Evangelista's career. "My mom is a dragon. But that's her way of showing love. And looking back, I understand. I may not have given life to the children I have, but I really understand how a mother will do everything to protect her daughter," Evangelista shared.
"But now that I've gotten older, she is me and I am her," she added.
Evangelista expressed a wish to turn back time to have "additional years together" with her mother. She recalled that she was just 21 years old when she last traveled abroad with Cecilia.
"Before she was quick, now I see she struggles. So I really can't imagine why she has difficulty walking? Why does she get tired? She wasn't like that before," Evangelista said, becoming emotional. "There was a time I was at home crying because I realized she's getting older."
In her emotional tribute, Evangelista thanked her mother profoundly: "Thank you for loving me so much. She would really fight to the death for me because she really knows my heart since it came from her. So thank you because as years go by, she hasn't forgotten who I am. And thank you because I really wouldn't have reached where I am today if not for her because even though she was tough on me back then, she fixed my life so much. Whatever happens to me, whatever big decisions I make, it's all her."
"And the character I thought I didn't have, the bravery, that also came from her. So I'm so blessed. We're all so blessed to have mothers, parents. So if we're far from our parents, it's not worth whatever success, money. Time is priceless, it's truly priceless," she concluded.