Heart Evangelista celebrates birthday belatedly in an orphanage

Kapuso actress Heart Evangelista shared a photo of her today, February 23, with the nuns of Jardin de Maria Orphanage in Sorsogon.

“With the sisters of the Jardin de Maria Orphanage for a little late birthday celebration,” wrote Heart on Instagram.

Heart celebrated her 36th birthday last Valentine's Day, February 14.

The orphanage, managed by the Somascan Missionary Sisters, provides safe shelter to children without parents and guardians.

Heart's husband, Chiz Escudero, is the Governor of Sorsogon having assumed office two years ago after serving in the Senate from 2007 to 2019.

Heart has always engaged in charitable activities as a way for her to give back to the less privileged.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Heart launched Big Heart PH--a charity initiative that aims to give students free tablets and data to help them in their online learning.

Heart also sold one of her paintings and used the money to purchase 550 tablets for school children.

“What once started as a small project on Twitter has now turned into one of [the] biggest blessings this year,” Heart said about Big Heart PH.

“Through this project, we aim to provide students the proper tools they need so they do not stop learning and educating themselves despite the current pandemic situation of our country.”

She also used her celebrity status to help in the livelihood of native Sorsogon weavers, craftsmen, and small businesses.

“Collaborating with these amazing women artisans of Sorsogon for #LoveMarieXSorsogon. Truly can't wait for you to see what they have to offer. #MahalKongSorsogon,” Heart said on social media.

She would launch Maison Love Marie--a dedicated online store carrying various native products created in Sorsogon.

Heart, however, brushed off notions and even suggestions for her to dabble into public service.

“Politics is not for me,” she wrote on Twitter in July last year.

“I can help without that kind of power.”

Heart's fascination with Sorsogon's native products intensified as she gets to explore more of the province after quarantine restrictions eased up.

One of her favorites were handcrafted goods made from pili nuts.

Take a look at the many wonderful pili-made items that Heart highlighted last year: