Lovi Poe’s dating rules

Lovi Poe

That person has to accept the path I’m taking—that career is one of my priorities,” Lovi Poe said of her nonnegotiables when it comes to dating. “That should be automatic. I shouldn’t need to tell him that.”

“I don’t want someone dictating, asking me to stop what I’m doing. I can’t see myself sacrificing my career for love,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for the upcoming dramatic flick, “The Annulment,” which opens in cinemas on Nov. 13.

Sense of humor is also a must, she added. “He has to be funny.” But looks and other physical aspects? Not so much.

“You have to be a good person. You have to have the heart and the soul, the right amount of love, loyalty and understanding,” she said.

The 30-year-old actress is currently in a long-distance relationship with Monty Blencowe, a Los Angeles-based English movie producer and medical researcher. She described him as an “old soul,” a “nice and good person.”

“I met him in Los Angeles a while back. And our friendship just grew,” she said.

“We’re sharing this moment together. And while we’re far away from each other, we make sure to be part of each other’s life,” related Lovi, who was just on a five-month vacation in the United States, where she and Monty got to spend some quality time together. “We’re just hoping for the best.”

In Monty’s first visit to the Philippines, Lovi showed him some of the country’s most scenic and popular tourist spots, like Samal Island in Davao and Boracay. “He has already met my mother, who has nothing but good words for him,” she related.

Meanwhile, Lovi clarified that she and her Filipino-French ex-boyfriend, Chris Johnson, are still on good terms.

“He has been good to me. He’s a friend, still. It has always been nice, and I have nothing but good words for him. It just didn’t work out,” she said of Chris whom she dated for two years.

While she does feel “inspired” seeing and being surrounded by happily married couples, Lovi said the idea of settling down has yet to cross her mind.

“I believe in people who love each other, and make things work after making that commitment,” Lovi said. “But there’s still a lot of things I want to do … It’s inspiring seeing people who are so in love. It makes you think that it really is possible.”

Besides, more and more people nowadays, Lovi observed, are no longer in a mad rush to get married. “People take their time now. The world has become more open—traveling is easier and you meet new people. So it’s just about finding that one person whom you click with,” she pointed out.

“The Annulment”—produced by Regal Entertainment and directed by Mac Alejandra—follows the lives of Gari (Lovi) and Sherwin (Joem Bascon) whose whirlwind romance leads to marriage. The relationship starts to crack shortly after, prompting Gari to seek annulment.

“Making this movie made me realize just how hard it is to keep a relationship going. You have to make sure that you’re right for each other,” she said. “What happens to our characters is something I wouldn’t wish even on my worst enemies.”