A different role for Lovi Poe
People often see Lovi Poe playing sultry and provocative characters. So prepare to be surprised with the new Lovi as she portrays the role of an educator in GMA News TV’s upcoming original series “Titser.”
On Saturday, June 8, the Kapuso actress started taping for her first project after renewing her contract with GMA-7. She is to play the role of Michelle, a high school valedictorian from a poor barrio school. Her dream of becoming a teacher pushed her to work as a housemaid.
For Lovi, her new role is a welcome change. “This one’s really different. I’m about to portray a teacher so it’s hard kasi I have so much respect to all of my teachers, sa lahat ng mga guro,” she told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! during an exclusive access to Titser’s first location shoot some 40 kilometers east of Metro Manila.
Just like a student on “first day high,” Lovi said that she had jitters after a few months away from soap opera tapings: “The truth is, ngayong first day nangangapa pa ko. It’s been months since I last taped for a series.”
When asked if this socially relevant role retires her from her sexy trademark, Lovi reckons that she can’t let go of the image just yet: “I’m open to doing anything naman. It’s very far from all the roles I’ve played. But then, I don’t think they’ll stop giving me sexy roles. It’s just nice to have this breather kasi sunod-sunod na lang [‘yung sexy roles.]”
Dad FPJ as ‘partner-in-crime’
Though Lovi lamented that she only had few encounters with her dad, the late Fernando Poe Jr., those few father and daughter moments mattered to her a lot.
The 24-year-old vividly remembered how her dad became her accomplice of sorts. The Action King took a break from heroic roles and became a father to his then seven year-old daughter. “There was a time na I lost my video camera. I didn’t want my mom to know. So parang kakuntiyaba ko siya. He gave me the exact same video camera so that my mom won’t find out,” she recalled.
Nine years after her father’s death, Lovi still feels how the industry loved him: “I think a lot of people would agree with me on this. ‘Yung presence niya siguro, how he’s around [the industry]. He’s very maalaga and very funny din.”
On Susan Roces, Grace Poe
Lovi shared that she maintains a good relationship with her father’s wife, Susan Roces: “Of course I have nothing but respect for her. She’s a very wonderful woman. When I see her, it’s normal. I greet her.”
The “Tister” star told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! that she visited her Tita Susan during her taping at an ABS-CBN series, since its location was just near the taping of her defunct series “Legacy.”
Meanwhile, Lovi has only good words for her half-sister, Senator-elect Grace Poe-Llamanzares, who topped the last senatorial race: “I’m so proud of her. She really deserves that. I think it’s very important to have someone like her because she has the heart and she’s very smart also.”
Though she opted not to elaborate how she helped Llamanzares’ campaign, the Kapuso actress felt that seeing the dismal state of education compels her to bring the issue to the fore, or even to her sister’s office.
“It’s actually heart-breaking. But then, at the same time, mai-inspire ka because there are a lot of teachers who don’t get paid because they always say na kulang nga sa money para maswelduhan sila. But then there are a lot of good teachers out there to help,” she said of the condition of teachers in the country.
GMA News TV channel head Nessa Valdellon, meanwhile, shared that they’re working on guesting Llamanzares as guest speaker during the graduation rites of Lovi’s character.
Still in touch with Rep. Singson
Amid undying rumors that she’s romantically involved with Rep. Ronald Singson, Lovi said that they’re just close friends.
The actress revealed that she’s still communicating with the Ilocos Sur representative, and is proud of his political comeback after his legal woes in Hong Kong for illegal drug possession.
“Ron is a very good man and he loves his people so much. I’m so happy for him. It’s a huge thing for him. [It’s] redemption,” she said.
