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Lovi Poe shares influences behind film production venture, talks about Coco Martin and “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”

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Liezel dela Cruz

Lovi Poe could easily settle into a life of comfort—now married and at a point in her career where she could simply enjoy being a full-time wife. But instead, she chooses to keep grinding hard in the world of acting and entertainment.As the daughter of the legendary &#x27;Da King&#x27; Fernando Poe, Jr., Lovi has never leaned on her father&#x27;s influence. She’s paved her own way, starting as a young singer, proving her dedication with every role, and now stepping into film production. She continues to challenge herself, showing that her passion for the craft burns as bright as ever.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZVCwqf8fOmI" title="Lovi Poe, ba’t ayaw gamitin ang pangalan ng amang si FPJ? | Ogie Diaz" width="1250"></iframe></div>It can be recalled that she briefly left the country after marrying her long-time boyfriend, Monty Blencowe, which led to her character, Mokang, being written off in the Kapamilya teleserye “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo">FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</a>.” But now that she’s back in the Philippines, and more visible again through TV guesting, social media appearances, and mall shows promoting her latest film “Guilty Pleasure”—which she both stars in and co-produced—fans are wondering if there&#x27;s still a chance for Mokang to return to the beloved series.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AxYCmfixXdI" title="Mokang" s="" death="" Batang="" Quiapo="" width="1250"></iframe></div>She laughed and jokingly suggested they could make it look like Mokang has a twin. But when asked why her character had to leave, she explained that she needed to focus on other projects, after a year on the show.“Kung kaya ko hatiin ‘yung katawan ko, magse-stay pa talaga ako, pero mahirap kasi ang dami kong kailangang gawin na ibang projects na gusto kong i-achieve din,” she added, acknowledging the demands of her career and her new role as a wife.“I swear sobrang mahal na mahal ko ‘yung [‘Batang Quiapo’] team. Mahal ko rin si Mokang. Mahal ko rin si Tanggol. Kung kaya lang ng katawan ko, I would have stayed long.” Her admiration for her leading man in the series, Coco Martin, also runs deep, having seen firsthand his dedication to the craft, which continues to inspire her as she tackles new challenges both in front of and behind the camera.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/06-pq2Eewfo" title="10 " bardagulan="" of="" Mokang="" Tanggol="" in="" Batang="" Quiapo="" Kapamilya="" width="1250"></iframe></div>Lovi has definitely picked up some tricks of the trade from Coco when it comes to producing films and content. Having worked closely with him, she’s had a front-row seat to his incredible ability to juggle multiple roles as both an actor and a director.“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Natutulog ka pa ba’?” she laughed, remembering a moment during their “ASAP in Milan” show when she spotted Coco lounging on a couch, thinking he was just catching a quick nap. But to her surprise, he sat up and revealed he was busy reviewing playback footage for “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”—still hands-on with editing even while they were abroad.Then there was that one time on a flight when she dozed off, only to wake up to Coco watching her. It turns out he was eagerly waiting for her to wake up, excited to show her their series&#x27; trailer.So, can she handle that level of busyness as a producer? Absolutely! After all, she&#x27;s bursting with ideas she can’t wait to share. “My passion for storytelling is number one,” she stated when asked why she ventured into film producing, especially in a time when the harsh reality is that out of ten movies, only two or three become box-office hits. But she followed her heart, driven by her deep desire to tell stories. “Ang sarap ng feeling na you get to tell stories of random people you come across with. It doesn’t necessarily have to be about you. ‘Yun siguro ‘yung passion ko,” she shared, expressing her gratitude for her supportive husband, Monty, who is also a film producer himself, and the one who&#x27;s always pushing her to chase her dreams.But just because both of them are busy doesn’t mean they’re putting their plans for having kids on hold. As Lovi explained, they’re simply going with the flow and embracing opportunities as they come, believing that motherhood will happen at the right moment.“If it happens, it happens. If it happens tomorrow, it will be great. So, we’ll wait and see,” she smiled. “If it’s God’s plan, it’s God plan. And I’m excited for it to happen. But along the way, there’s a career that I still want to pursue. And there’s so many things I want to do to grow as an individual, and for us, as a couple.”Teamwork is the secret ingredient in Lovi and Monty&#x27;s marriage, especially since they’re often in a long-distance setup, particularly now that she is busy promoting her film outfit C’est Lovi Production&#x27;s debut film, &quot;Guilty Pleasure,&quot; which is also co-produced with Regal Entertainment.This movie isn’t just a project for her; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the first person who believed in her in the industry—the late Lily Monteverde of Regal Entertainment. One could feel the sincerity in her voice as she reflected on how Regal took a chance on her when she was just starting out in showbiz. Even now, as she explores a different career path, they continue to stand by her, supporting her as she spreads her wings and takes flight.“Guilty Pleasure” is a captivating courtroom drama infused with elements of love and passion, featuring Lovi in the role of a lawyer, a part she never thought she would take on. Initially, she was hesitant about portraying a lawyer on screen due to the immense effort and preparation required to truly embody the character, especially with all the lengthy legal lines to memorize. However, she was instantly drawn in the script, and it became clear to her that this was an opportunity she couldn’t let slip away.Lovi’s talent in acting is something she has undeniably proven throughout her career. However, she admits that when she was just starting out—and even now—she often hears comments suggesting that her skills stem from her father, FPJ. While a part of it is true, and she understands that this connection is inevitable, she hopes that audiences come to see that she and her father are two distinct individuals. In fact, she initially entered the industry as a singer simply as &#x27;Lovi&#x27; as her way of distancing herself from her father&#x27;s name. Besides, it was a trend for singers at the time to use just a first name. Yet, no matter how much she tried to avoid, people would inevitably refer to her as &quot;Lovi Poe.&quot; Eventually, she chose to embrace it, understanding that if there’s one legacy worth nurturing, it’s the one she shares with her father.She feels incredibly grateful for the way she’s been embraced by the public, much like how she was welcomed by his father’s legal family—his wife, Susan Roces, and daughter, Grace Poe. It still warms her heart to talk about how these two remarkable women loved her genuinely. Even after Susan’s passing, whom Lovi describes as an amazing human being, she remains in constant communication with her Ate Grace.“I can call her randomly and have a conversation at a certain time. I’m so blessed,” she said of Grace. “She went to my wedding. And she was standing there, she was like this woman that exudes so much strength. There’s something about her that makes her someone to look up to.”“Nakaka-proud no’ng wedding namin [ni Monty]. I didn’t want to bother her with a ‘matron of honor’ speech kasi parang nahihiya naman ako to make her say something. But she said something, and it turned out to be so powerful. She started saying these wonderful words na, ‘You are the daughter of FPJ,’ with so much conviction,” she recalled.Lovi recalls being just a baby during FPJ’s career peak and not fully knowing about his life as an actor or the impact he had until she witnessed the massive outpouring of love from the public when he passed away.“I’m grateful kasi grabe ‘yung suporta ng mga tao sa kanya, the legacy he left behind. I have nothing but respect for my dad, and whatever it is that he achieved.” Whenever she watches FPJ’s old movies, she can hardly believe that this iconic figure is her father. Even now, it amazes her that her dad was a “hero” to so many people.But, one things is for sure–watching old FPJ movies inspires her to continuously improve her craft as an actress and now as a film producer, just like him. “I cannot say continue [his legacy] kasi wala pa ako sa kalingkingan ni Papa. Pero, just to be like, you know, a tiny bit close to what he’s done, I’m already happy.”“I hope he’s proud. I hope he’s happy.” She burst into laughter, adding in jest, “Except for the love scenes I’m doing.” Yet, she understands that those passionate scenes are part of her job, and she&#x27;s thankful that her husband does not restrict her with what she does on-screen.With her current status in life, she could easily choose to leave everything behind and be a full-time wife. But she consciously opts for the harder grind because she’s eager to learn more and grow. For Lovi, working has become second nature; after more than a decade in the industry, she’s learned that hard work truly pays off. She never tires of it. If anything, she’s only excited about each new page she turns, knowing that every chapter brings something different.Some may claim that she had it easy because she is the daughter of a legendary actor who had a significant influence on the industry. However, that’s just a misconception. The truth is, she has faced her fair share of challenges before reaching her status today as the Philippines’ Supreme Actress.It&#x27;s just that she learned to view every pain and struggle as a challenge and an opportunity to rise above it all—c’est la vie, or in English, that’s life.

Lovi Poe on embracing the grind of film production and drawing inspiration from the legacies of FPJ. 