Heart Evangelista Gets Real About Her Advocacy Work — From Rescue Animals to Kids with Thalassemia

Heart Evangelista kicked off the second season of her show "Heart World" with something way more meaningful than fashion — charity. The Global Fashion Icon opened the premiere episode by visiting the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and spending quality time with rescue animals waiting for their forever homes.

Heart got emotional talking about her connection with the animals, saying it's a "give and take moment." She shared, "You're sad, they're sad. You need love, they need love." The actress — who doesn't have kids — said the animals make her feel like a mom. "Ako wala 'kong anak, pero feeling ko, may mga anak ako. And that's priceless for me." She also revealed she recently adopted a cat, much to the amusement of husband Senator Chiz Escudero.

But the heartwarming moments didn't stop there. Heart also attended a party for the Thalassemia Kids Club, where she spent time with young patients dealing with the inherited blood condition. Thalassemia causes the body to produce less hemoglobin, leading to anemia that can make patients feel tired and weak — and these kids need regular blood transfusions to survive.

According to Thalassemia Kids Club president Mitch Taisa, Heart has done more than just show up for photo ops. Through the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc., she provided a guarantee letter covering the medical needs of thalassemia patients at the National Children's Hospital. That's the kind of advocacy that actually makes a tangible difference.

"Heart World" Season 2 airs every Saturday at 9:30 PM on GMA Network. Nice to see celebrities using their platform for something beyond the usual glam — respect, Heart.

Source: GMA News