Heart Evangelista prepares to walk down the aisle without parents

A few days away before she weds Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on February 15 at Balesin Island, Heart Evangelista admitted being teary-eyed upon fitting the bridal gown Dubai-based designer Ezra Santos made for her.

Since Chiz is the one busier with wedding preparations, the reality that she is finally getting married only hit Heart when she tried her wedding gown on last Sunday.

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“I'm so excited, yesterday finit ko na ang gown ko. First time ko talaga naramdaman na ikakasal na ako. The whole time it was Chiz talaga, siya talaga yung involved sa mga meetings. Minsan nagpapaganda lang ako. He’ll say 'I'll just go to a meeting.' 'All right, I'll see you after.' Siya naman ang nagde-decide. So yesterday, I finally felt that feeling that I'm ready to get married na, when I tried my wedding gown. Medyo naging emotional ako pero hindi naman ako umiyak,” she said at the press launch of her newest endorsement Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake.

MORE: Heart Evangelista preparing to become Mrs. Escudero

Timeless gown

Heart doesn’t believe in the superstition that brides should not wear the gown before their wedding.

“Nagulat lang ako kasi it was beyond what I imagined it to be. I was there with my friend Kat Cruz and her husband and parang napaluhod na lang kami, parang ayaw na namin suotin ang dress. Talagang iba pala ang feeling, I cannot explain kasi it's the first time I ever felt that way.”

The Kapuso actress described her gown as timeless.

“May train siya. It's conservative, it’s the way it should be. It’s timeless. I wanted to make sure that when I look at the photos ten years from now, hindi siya yung parang dated. Ganoon ang ginawa namin, dream wedding gown ko talaga.”

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Taking a stand

Heart is not sure if her parents will attend her wedding, since they have to fix some issues first.

She said walking down the aisle alone symbolizes her own journey in taking a stand for herself.

ALSO READ: Chiz, Heart organize dinner for wedding entourage

“It's very hard for them to let go. Matagal ko na rin sinasabi even in my previous interviews, na baka hindi sila pumunta. Siyempre may konting hope pa din ako na dumating sila, but I have accepted that. Kasi as their daughter, ako lang naman talaga ang makakaintindi sa kanila. It's also big for me to walk na mag-isa kasi parang iyon na rin ang naging journey ko, na being brave. Pinaninindigan ko ito and this is my lifetime choice. And as a woman, this is what I will face.”

Heart's sisters will welcome her in the middle of the aisle before she meets Chiz at the altar.

Winning parents over

“Actually, they (my sisters) wanted to walk me down the aisle. Pero sinabi ko na daddy ko lang talaga ang gusto kong maglakad sa akin. Walang magre-replace sa kanya. Maglalakad ako tapos sa bandang gitna nandoon yung mga kapatid ko, sila ang magbibigay sa akin kay Chiz.”

She prays that they will be able to settle the issue with her parents. Heart said Chiz has done his share in winning her parents over, but doesn’t specify exactly what he did.

“What people should understand is that our relationship isn’t about what the public wants it to be. It's not about kung ano ang kailangan nilang makita o kung ano ang kailangan naming ipalabas. The wedding is not the deadline, we have a lifetime to fix it. Sana sooner. Iyon ang importante. Siguro ang importante is what we have behind closed doors.”

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