Escudero: Lavish wedding with Heart Evangelista due to contributions

Despite being the second poorest senator in the 16th Congress, Senator Francis Escudero said he was able to wed actress Heart Evangelista in a lavish ceremony because of the help of their friends and corporate sponsors.

In an interview with Mike Enriquez over dzBB radio Thursday for the program "Ikaw Na Ba? The Vice Presidential Interview," Escudero said several friends and businesses offered to contribute to help them hold their February 2015 wedding in Balesin Island because of Evangelista’s celebrity status.

“Gusto ni Heart ng magandang kasal. Alam niyang hindi namin kaya pareho 'yun. Nais nga niya siya ang bumalik ng karamihan ng gastos pero sabi ko hindi. Dahil artista siya, maraming tumulong sa amin,” he said.

Escudero said the venue of their wedding was “partially sponsored” since it promoted the exclusive and members-only Balesin resort.

Their second wedding reception at the Blue Leaf Filipinas events pavilion in Parañaque City for friends and guests who were not in Balesin, meanwhile, was sponsored by GMA Network, the senator added.

Even his and Evangelista’s wedding rings, Escudero said, was sponsored by supplier My Wedding Ring.

“Ang kapalit noon, billboard at tsaka photo shoot para ilagay sa magazine,” he said, adding that some businesses also volunteered to have their products form part of his and Evangelista’s wedding giveaways so they could be promoted.

Escudero ranks among the Senate’s poorest senators based on his 2014 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, with a net worth of only P6 million.

He is running for vice president in the May 2016 elections as an independent candidate. —KG, GMA News