The Dowggie Blog

I’ve long had a huge crush on Heart Evangelista. Even when it seemed her gorgeous sloe-eyed face was everywhere, grossly overexposed on billboards, posters, ads of all shapes and sizes the length and breadth of Metro Manila, I would feel tingling frissons of kilig upon sighting each oversized Heart Evangelista ad.

So you can imagine how I must have felt last night when she showed up at my regular monday night gig at Martini’s Bar (at the Mandarin Oriental hotel) and sat at the table right in front of the stage, natch!

I spent the whole third set staring at her intently. The audience stares at us all night long. So turnabout is fair play. We performing artists may also, therefore, stare at anyone in the audience for as long as we damn well please.

Lemme tell you, staring at Heart’s pixie face is a pleasure equalled only by the dessert served at the Mandarin Deli. And that’s saying a lot.

All throughout the third set, I made wolf-whistles on my guitar at every opportunity and quoted the Pretty Woman riff incessantly. Starstruck by a celebrity crush, what can I say?

After the third set, my vocalist partner Kat Agarrado introduced me to Heart. Apparently, the two of them already knew each other. So Kat introduced me to Heart.

KILIG!!!

With three exclamation points, no less. While I normally frown upon the excessive use of exclamation points, moments as momentous as being introduced to one of the prettiest faces on the planet merit no less than three exclamation points.

I half-expected Heart to be a beeyatch, as I’ve heard bandied about by the envious. Call me starstruck and blinded by beauty (which is also quite possible, truth be told), but I found her quite gracious. Well-spoken. Obviously well-bred. Intelligent. Articulate. Very charming.

But then, I guess that sort of thing comes with her job description.

Heart Evangelista and I chatted with each other for maybe seven minutes.

I opened with, “I’m sure you’re tired of hearing this but I have to say na mas maganda ka sa personal.”

She laughed, leaned into me and laid a hand on my arm.

Seizing the opportunity, I continued with, “And contrary to what some people say about you, di ka naman pala beeyatch.”

She laughed again and said, “Well… alam mo naman dito sa atin…”

“Yeah,” I said. “Kapaga maganda ka’t sikat, kung anu-ano na ang sasabihin tungkol sa ‘yo.”

“Exactly,” she said.

“So what’s it like?” I asked. “What’s it like…”

“… being an artista?” said she. “It can be hard. You always have to be what people want you to be…”

“I can relate,” I said. “In our own line of work,” I gestured at the stage, “medyo parang artista rin. You’re not allowed to have an off-night sa chikahan.”

She laughed and touched my arm. “I loved your set, by the way.”

(Kilig!!!)

“I really liked your playing,” she continued. “You’re very spontaneous. You guys sounded great.”

“Awww… thanks,” I said, grinning from ear to ear. “In that case, lemme do a bit of self-promotion. I’ve just released my newest solo album. It should be in the stores today.”

“Talaga?” she said. “I’ll be sure to get a copy. You’ll be in my I-pod.”

To which I so badly wanted to say, can I be in your heart as well? Ahhh… the things you wish you could say but can’t.

“What’s the title of your album?” she asked.

“Angelsong,” I answered.

“Angelsong?” Her elfin face is just as pretty when quizzical.

“Angelong,” I affirmed.

The conversation petered out after that. I didn’t want to impose and I think she wanted to sit down.

We shook hands warmly (her hands were so soft!) and she surprised me by bussing me on the cheek. Beso-beso, in Pinoy parlance.

KILIG MOMENT ALERT!!! KILIG MOMENT ALERT!!!

“One last thing,” I said before bidding adieu. “I have a friend on friendster na Heart Evangelista…”

“Hindi ako ‘yon,” she smiled.

“Alam ko. Pero niloloko ko na lang sarili ko, kunwari ikaw talaga yon, para kiligin ako.”

She laughed and laid her porcelain hand on my arm again.

(I have a sneaking suspicion that she just wanted to clean her hands on my shirtsleeve…)

“I am on facebook, however,” she said.

We exchanged facebook contact details and I bid her adieu.

“Nice meeting you, Heart.”

“You too, Aya.” She remembered my name! “I will really get a copy of your album.”

Ahhh, sigh….

Woof!!! (three exclamation points, no less.)