Heart Evangelista on helping Ate Gay: 'I work hard not just for me, but for a purpose'

Heart Evangelista opened up on her special connection to Ate Gay, whom she is financially helping amidst his ongoing cancer battle.

In an interview on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" on Thursday, the Global Fashion Icon said she was surprised when Ate Gay made it public.

Heart said that they did not personally talk at first, but Ate Gay spoke to her assistant.

"After that, kinausap niya 'ko pero 'di niya alam na ako 'yun," Heart said. "For me, it's sad but I've not given so much thought into it, but there's always gonna be color in whatever we do as public people."

"My points in heaven are far more important," Heart added. "One day, this can be a backtrack of how I was at a specific time. Life is too short, mas importante sa 'kin 'yung points ko sa heaven."

Heart said that she is thankful that she does not have to financially support other family members and that her main responsibility is herself, giving her the capability to extend help to others.

However, she admitted she has mixed feelings about Ate Gay making her help known to the public.

"I felt uncomfortable na sinabi niya, pero salamat din kasi iba rin pala marinig na nagpapasalamat sa 'yo 'yung tao, kasi most of the time, people don't really know it's me," she said.

"I work hard not just for me, but for a purpose, and for me to write a story that would be so great to read one day when I'm no longer here."

In a September 2025 episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Ate Gay disclosed his Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, and since then, blessings came pouring in for the comedian.

An anonymous donor helped him with his radiation therapy at the Asian Hospital, while a fan lent a condo unit nearby for the comedian's convenience.

After six days of treatment, the lump on his neck had visibly shrunk. In an October interview with Nelson Canlas, Ate Gay gave the lowdown of his full treatment: 35 days of radiation and five times a week of chemotherapy.

In November, Ate Gay said he already "graduated" from radiation and chemotherapy.

Ate Gay has to undergo immunotherapy every 21 days for a total of 12 sessions. —Nika Roque/MGP, GMA News