"BEAUTY and the Beast," one of the world's best-loved fairy-tale classics,
hits the stage in a series of free performances at the Ayala Malls in
Metro Manila and Cebu.

"Beauty and the Beast" was staged last year by Repertory Phil., this time,
they produced an abridged Leprince de Beaumont's version, featuring the
country's favorite heartthrob Heart Evangelista as Beauty. Heart could
arguably hold the title of Universal Schoolboy Crush of 2003 and probably
2004 as well, as her pretty face continues to smile from countless teen
and beauty mags, millions of television sets, and the big screen. Multi-
talented and much-awarded, she was 2003's Awit Awards New Female
Recording Artist, Ivan Entertainment's Celebrity Endorser of the Year,
and an Asia Pacific Young Achiever, among others.

Playing the Beast is a young but experienced thespian, Niccolo Manahan.
Niccolo made his first repertory appearance as the Woodsman and the
Prince in RCT's production of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" last
year, and he's definitely on the way up to being the actor to see among
the country's play-going crowd. This isn't to say that he's resting on
the laurels of one production. Niccolo may be young, but he has been
honing his craft as a regular artist for the University of Asia and
the Pacific. His body of work includes the characters of Telresias
in "Antigone," Armand in "Once On This Island," Orgon in "Tartuffe"
and the protagonist in "Hamlet." Niccolo, unbeastly as he may be,
is the perfect match to Heart's Beauty.

Jodi Sta Maria alternates as Beauty. Her list of movies is long and
spectacular, including acclaimed pieces "Anak," "Jologs," "Bagong
Buwan," and many others. Jodi was also 1991's Parangal ng Bayan Most
Promising Young Actress and Most Promising Female Star of 2002.

Leprince de Beaumont's version of "Beauty and the Beast" is surely
one of the best-loved tales told the world over, not only as a child's
fairytale but as a story of True Love. It weaves excitement, intrigues,
suspense and action into a lesson that we can never learn too well;
that we are missing a lot if we judge anyone or anything by appearances
alone. Beauty sacrifices herself to save her father who was caught
stealing an enchanted rose. As a consequence, she finds herself at the
mercy of a hideous Beast, but she will have to look not with her eyes
but with her heart, to know the truth that lies beneath the creature's
rough hide, and thus break the evil spell.

Schedule of performances are: Alabang Town Center (Feb. 27, 11 a.m.,
3 p.m., 6 p.m.; Feb. 28, 11 a.m. 3 p.m., 6 p.m.; Feb. 29, 11 a.m.,
3 p.m., 6 p.m.), and Ayala Center Cebu (March 5, 4 p.m., 7:30 p.m.;
March 6, 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.; March 7, 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m.,
6:30 p.m.).

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MOVIESTAR MAGAZINE (Feb. 2004)

            Kapag nagkataon magiging dalawa ang soap opera ni JOHN PRATS sa ABS-CBN. Nabalitaan naming na magkakaroon ng soap opera so John kung saan makakapareha niyang muli si HEART EVANGELISTA.

            Nasa planning stage na ito bago pa man simulan ang It Might Be You kung saan suporta si John kay JOHN LLOYD CRUZ. Nakunan na ang ending ng naturang teleserye kahit ilang buwan pa lang itong nasa ere. Na-establish na kasi ang character ni John kaya imposibleng mawala ito sa IMBY.

            Hindi naman pinipigilan si John ng naturang teleserye na tanggapin ang bagong show na inaalok sa kanya at hindi rin siya papayag na mawala rito kaya kapag nagkataoon, dalawang teleserye and paglalagyan niya.

            “Baka nga ganu’n ang mangyari kung totoong magkakaroon kami ni Heart ng bagong soap. Sinabi na kasi sa amin ‘yun dati. Hindi pa man nagsisimula ang IMBY, nakaplano na ‘yun. Hindi lang kaagad na-push-through kaya inilagay muina ako sa show nina Bea at John Lloyd. Syang naman kasi kung naka-tengga ako, diba?

            Mawawala na rin daw ang BERKS, papalitan na itong bagong teenshow at hindi ka na kasali, ano ang masasabi nya rito?    

            “Talagang ganu’n! Nu’ng mawala ang G-mik, pinalitan ng ibang show hanggang dumating itong BERKS. Wala naman permanente lalo na sa business na ito kaya lahat puwedeng baguhin o palitan. Ang mahalaga, hindi ako mawawalan ng show kaya ok lang na mawala ang BERKS. Pero nakakalungkot idn dahil matagal ng ang show, marami na kaming magagandang memories na pinagsamahan kaya utlad ng sa G-mik noon, may nalungkot at may umiyak ng mawala ang show kaya I’m sure, ganito rin ang mangyayari sa BERKS. Anyway, may Baguio at Boracay taping pa kami kaya excited na kaming lahat.” Say pa ni John sa amin.

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            “Sabihin na nating ano, na, IN LOVE NA AKO KAY JOHN. Totoo, in love na ako sa kanya. Pero gusto ko, relax muna kami dahil pareho pa kaming bata. Wala munang seryosohan. Kung magiging kami, ‘yong talagang magiging seryoso kami sa isa’t-isa, ‘yong talagang masasabing may serious commitment na. Baka kasi matulad lang kami kina Kristine-Jericho na no’ng naging sila, nag-away, break. Naapektuhan ang trabaho nila, ang career nila at pati ang kanilang fans, nagagalit. Ayaw kong mangyari rin yong gano’n sa amin ni John. Kaya mas mabuti na ‘yong ganitong set-up nain ni John na walang seryosohan, basta nagkakaintindihan kami. Okay na kami sa gano’n.

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                                                                  V MAGAZINE all about people (Celebrating Beauty Issue)

SPECIAL ISSUE: 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF 2003

HEART ATTACKS

She used to be thought of as a typical Oriental girl. Now she owns the smile in many giant billboards, one of the sweetest faces on TV, the bubbly personality of a sought-after VJ and the voice behind the future hits in her album.

            Heart well remembers her high-school experiences.

            “Back in high-school, other girls were not so kind to me. They say nasty things about me because I was short and plain, especially when I got the Rexona commercial.” However, Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco didn’t harbor any grudges on them and what she could achieve.

            Heart could hardly believe that V has chosen her as one of it’s 10 Most Beautiful, considering her youth. “I never considered myself one of the most beautiful people in the industry, and if I would honestly rate myself on a scale of 1 to 10, I would be a 5. That is why I am overwhelmed at the thought that V considers me one of the 10 Most Beautiful People.

            “I consider Kate Hudson to be a very beautiful woman because more than her features, she exudes an adorable personality. Being so bubbly makes her more beautiful.” Heart’s idea of a classic beauty is Demi Moore. “I’ve always adored her ever since Ghost because her beauty spells elegance.

            How does this multi-talented teener maintain her beauty amidst a very active lifestyle? “Immediately, after every shoot, I wash my face and apply moisturizer, especially around the eyes. I visit my derma once or twice a month, depending on breakouts. I also do gym work thrice a week and watch my diet.”

            What really makes a person beautiful? “When you’re made up too much, parang fake and because being beautiful means being simple, natural and fresh.” For Heart it’s simplicity and the pureness of one’s heart that makes someone beautiful. “Who you really are shows on the outside, and that can make you beautiful or ugly. In my case, I may be seen as a sweet little girl on TV. What the public see is what it gets.” And this is how Heart attacks.

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Chalk Magazine (September 2003)

Article: 50 College Hot List

#1. Ms. Heart Evangelista   

            Attached the title “crush ng bayan” to just any actress and chances are, you are bound for a frenzied debate. Attached it to 1 Heart Evangelista and only then would you sound credible. With regular television shows and a number of big-time endorsements under her belt, the 18- year old charmer will soon captivate you with her voice as she launches her debut album. Plus, we hear that now that she’s 18, she’s finally allowed to gimmick (seen in Makati with her older sister and date.

2. Macky Mathay

3. Amanda Griffin

4. Luis Manzano

5. John Prats

6. Georgia Schultze

7. Armand del Rosario

8. Jimmy Bondoc

9. Alia Nahas

10. Iya Villani

11. Tanya Marie Paulsen

12. Bianca Gonzales

13. Marc Nelson

14. Tanya Garcia

16. Avery del Rosario

17. Anna Palabyab

18. KC Conception

19. Rich Alvarez

20. Douglas Kramer

21. James Yap

22. Bianca Fernandez

23. Brad Turvey

24. BJ Manalo

25. Joseph Yeo

26. Alessandra de Rossi

27. Mikaela Lagdameo

28. Karen Pamintuan

29. KC Montero

30. Paolo Villaviciencio

31. Maxene Magalona

32. Albert Adrales

33. Patrick Garcia

34. Bianca King

35. Pichon Garcia

36. Alexis Abello

37. Dustin Reyes

38. Miko Palanca

39. Nico Uy

40. Patty Laurel

41. Jay-ar Tillman

42. Cesca Litton

43. Erica Abellana

44. Pia Guanio

45. Anne Curtis

56. Cheska Garcia

47. Sarita de Tagle

48. Bryan Tan

49. Pascal Greco Jr.

50. Juddah Paolo

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Tuloy na ang pagsasama nina John Prats at Heart Evangelista sa isang 
bagong teleserye. Bida na sina John at Heart sa bago nilang programa. 
Ongoing na ang brainstorming para sa kwento nito. No less than Rory 
Quintos is directing the new teleserye. Biggest break nina John at 
Heart ang bago nilang teleserye sa telebisyon. 

Nangangahulugan lamang ito na matatapos na ang stint ni John sa 
It Might Be You nina John Lloyd Cruz at Bea Alonzo. 

Nakikita ko nang tuwang-tuwa sa galak ang mga followers nina John-Heart 
dahil matagal na nilang inaasam na magkaroon ng sariling teleserye 
ang dalawa. Lalo pa ngayong nakatakda nang magwakas sa ere ang Berks. 

Makakahinga na rin ng maluwag si Maja Salvador. Hindi pa man pumapasok 
sa It Might Be You, inuulan na ng hate mails si Maja. Inakala siguro 
ng mga fans ni Heart na ito ang magiging ka-loveteam ni John sa IMBY. 
Dahil dito, natatakot na si Maja na sugurin siya ng mga fans ni Heart. 

Magkakaroon ng sariling ka-loveteam si Maja sa IMBY. In fact, nagpa-
audition na ang creative department ng ABS-CBN para sa magiging ka-
loveteam ni Maja. Si Olive Lamasan ang nagsagawa ng audition. 

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           Ayala Malls Presents Repertory Philippines
            
                           Beauty and the Beast

               Starring:  Heart Evangelista as Beauty

           Heart's Schedules:

           Ayala Center Makati
           February 20 = 5:00 pm & 7:00 pm

           Alabang Town Center
           February 27 = 11:00 am, 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm

           Ayala Center Cebu
           March 5 = 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm

           Metropoint
           March 14 = 6:00 pm