Unbreakable

MANILA, Philippines –  I have ‘My Wings, My Gravity’ on my back. It’s for my dad because he makes me fly and then he pulls me back to the ground. In all parts of life, there needs to be a negative and positive.”

Lovi Poe says things like this like she’s telling you about the breakfast she had today, or what kind of show she’s doing next. To be honest, it kind of throws me off because of all the things I know about her.

Her dad, for example, is not just any dad but local film legend Fernando Poe Jr. The negative and positive? It isn’t a secret that while her career skyrocketed in the last twelve months, she was also dealt a personal blow.

Here’s what we know about Lovi:

1. She’s the daughter of the late great Fernando Poe Jr. with model Rowena Moran. Though she admits they weren’t “super close,” she has dedicated two tattoos to him: “My Wings, My Gravity” and “Quiet Child.”

2. While her early career highlight was the puppy love radio hit I Love You, her stock in the fame market skyrocketed with last year’s sexy Bench Body billboard, featuring Lovi in skimpy underwear and launching her as a sex symbol to reckon with.

3. While her new movie is entitled My Valentine Girls, it’s public knowledge that she’s going to be alone this February 14. Boyfriend Ronald Singson was arrested in Hong Kong for possession of illegal drugs. One of the most indelible public images of Lovi is her troubled face splashed all over the news, in the aftermath of his arrest.

Whether she likes it or not, Lovi Poe has fallen into that category of actresses better known for their personal lives rather than their professional lives. Although she bagged Best Actress at Cinemalaya for Mayohan and scored a hit early into her career with her debut single I Love You, Lovi’s life has far eclipsed her professional achievements. After all, how do you escape the epic, legendary shadow of the King of Philippine Cinema? Perhaps the daughter of a showbiz legend was destined to have her personal and public lives intrinsically linked.

Fortunately, Lovi has enough self-awareness to know this. “I’m not aiming to be a star,” Lovi says, a little wearily. “My aim is to be an actress.”

And she is making a conscious effort to display her versatility as an actress. Following her Cinemalaya win, she has tried to stretch her range as an artist. “I do try to take roles outside the box. Iba-iba ang gusto ko gawin para iba’t-ibang Lovi naman ang nakikita nila.”

“I think that’s why I’ve been getting awards,” she says, “because I can cry in seconds now, because of what’s happening.”

“Dugong artista,” I quip.

“Masyado lang madrama,” she shoots back.

I guess it’s inevitable for a 21-year-old with her background and life experience to end up like this, a little more self-aware than your average college student, a little wiser, too.

“I’m 21, but I feel like my brain and heart are 70 years old,” she says, laughing. “Sobrang daming nangyari. Napipilitan talaga akong maging mature agad. Honestly, too much backbone na ata ako this year.”

At least, for now, she’s catching her breath. With the star-studded My Valentine Girls coming out, co-starring Richard Gutierrez, Solenn Heusaff, Rhian Ramos, and Eugene Domingo, she has a little more time to think. “I guess I’m taking a break now. I just finished taping everything and they’re coming out one by one.” Of all people, she deserves the breather.

“My mom and my dad always warned me not to enter showbiz. Magulo daw,” she laughs, “and, well, it’s true, super gulo.”

She sighs audibly and then flashes a smile. “But you know, I’m just going to enjoy it.”