HEART Evangelista has found a defender in veteran columnist and broadcast journalist Ramon Tulfo who said the wife of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is a “billionaire in her own right,” and not a “nepo wife” getting her perks courtesy of her husband.
Talks about being a “nepo wife” or a “nepo baby” came about amid the lifestyle check being made both by the government and the public following alleged corrupt practices in the flood control projects awarded to private contractors by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Escudero recently came under fire after a contractor said at a House hearing that he gave the senator a P30-million donation to his 2022 election campaign. While confirming that the firm’s owner made a lump-sum donation to his campaign, Escudero denied any involvement with the company.
The perceived corruption in the alleged anomalous flood control projects prompted the public to look into the lifestyles of kin of officials and contractors, among them Evangelista, whose social media is rife with her branded content.
Evangelista, an actress and fashion icon even before her marriage to Escudero, has made a name for herself internationally in various fashion week events, on top of her influencer status locally.
Tulfo pointed this out while saying Evangelista already came from the wealthy Ongpauco clan, which owned a string of popular restaurant chain, before she became an Escudero.
“Leave her alone! Heart Evangelista is a billionaire in her own right as she comes from the wealthy Ongpauco clan that owns the Barrio Fiesta chain of restaurants,” his Facebook post read.
He further said Evangelista was already rich as an actress and influencer before marrying Escudero.
“Before she got married to Chiz Escudero, Heart was earning oodles and oodles of money as a movie actress and influencer. The money she spends is her own, not Chiz’s. I should know; I’m a friend of her uncle Rod Ongpauco,” he said.
The controversy has sparked public outrage as they point at children and wives of the personalities concerned who supposedly flaunt their lavish lifestyles on social media and video-sharing platforms.
Evangelista is the daughter of Reynaldo Evangelista Ongpauco and Maria Cecilia del Gallego Payawal. The Chinese-Filipino family is the founder of the Barrio Fiesta restaurant chain, while her mother owns a sugar plantation in Camarines Sur.
She is also an endorser of several brands and is a mainstay of Fashion Week events abroad.
Before getting married, the actress-fashion personality and Escudero signed a prenuptial agreement, which means they have “complete separation of property.”
Evangelista’s wealth, however, has become tinged with controversy due to her marriage to Escudero. This includes a recent interview with lawyer and political commentator Jesus Falcis, who questioned her wealthy lifestyle and settlement of taxes at the Bureau of Internal Revenue. (Hannah Mallorca Philippine Daily Inquirer)
