Lovi Poe on choosing to keep wedding plans private, surviving LDR

Lovi Poe —MARINEL CRUZ

“You should appreciate the things your partner wouldn’t dare to do because of you,” said actress Lovi Poe when Inquirer Entertainment asked her to share how a long-distance relationship (LDR) like hers with husband Monty Blencowe is able to thrive.

The two started dating in 2019 and got engaged in 2021. They tied the knot in an elegant and beautiful ceremony in Berkshire, United Kingdom, in August.

“They always say that in a relationship, you should appreciate things the other person does for you. Of course, that’s a plus factor, but you should also appreciate things that he doesn’t do. Sometimes, that’s another way of proving that someone loves you—because there are things that you don’t have to remind him not to do,” she said during the launch of new jewelry pieces by a brand she has been endorsing since 2017.

“I think that’s what made it work for both of us. We have respect for each other. We don’t set limitations for each other. It’s up to us to make sure that the other will not feel uncomfortable and insecure. I guess that’s one thing I can advise if you’re in a long-distance relationship—let your partner grow, but also set your limitations,” added Lovi, who is based in Manila while her British husband is based in Los Angeles, California.

“I have three homes—in Manila, LA and in the UK. It’s going to be tough in terms of traveling back and forth, but I’m a firm believer that you can do anything as long as you have the proper mindset. LDR is possible as long as you’re ready and you’re doing it for the right reasons. I also have my career, so I want to achieve the perfect balance for things like that,” she added.

Family-oriented

Lovi said she was also impressed with how family-oriented Monty is, a trait that is more common to Filipino men. “I mentioned in my vows how he changed my perception of family as well. When you see how they are as a family, they really set a perfect example. They’re all driven in their careers, but even with so much success, the main thing about their family is their love for each other, togetherness, and being one. That’s admirable more than anything,” she began.

“I’m close with my family as well. I grew up with only my mom (former actress Rowena Moran) and younger sister (Mariel). It’s always just been the three of us, a very close circle. Now, my sister is super close with Monty. They’re both in LA now, and they’re hanging out without me. Always, I’m on set and would just FaceTime with them. My Mom is in Manila, but they’re also super close.”

Focus

Lovi flew to Manila less than a week after their wedding to continue taping for “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” and has not seen her husband since. “I was still in a daze when I flew back. He’s very understanding of my job. I’m lucky that he is taking this in a positive way. He wants to see me shine and succeed as an individual,” she said, adding that having a baby is still not part of their immediate plans. “We just want to focus on work and us being together. In fact, we have not had any honeymoon yet. We’re open to suggestions on places to go.”

Lovi said she already knew that Monty was for keeps the first week they met in 2019. “I never understood when people say, ‘You just know when you know.’ I felt that, eventually. At first, I didn’t want to jump to conclusions because he is from LA and I’m from Manila,” she said. “But if you want to make something work, you make it work. LDR is difficult—it’s a waste of time if the person isn’t worth it, but it’s great when things work out because it really involves hard work.”

Lovi said hearing Monty refer to her as “my wife” is something that she is still trying to get used to. “Since we were quiet about the whole thing, I hardly had the chance to use the term ‘fiance,’ and just jumped into using ‘husband.’ It’s a nice feeling to have someone who’s not just your boyfriend. You now have a best friend and a partner for life.”

Lovi said they chose to keep their engagement private for the sake of Monty’s family. She was amazed that her family and friends were able to keep the news of her engagement secret for a long time. “Monty’s family is very private. I had wanted to keep it that way first. My friends wouldn’t talk about it because they don’t know if the others knew. It took almost three years. I’m just really grateful. The wedding was such a nice experience that we got to share with our families,” the actress said.

An important moment during the ceremony was the speech of Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Lovi’s half-sister and matron of honor, she recalled. “Ate Grace is such a wonderful human being. I can’t even express how grateful I am with how she is towards me and my [half-brother Ronian]. I was so happy when she started speaking there. Everyone from Monty’s side was so amazed because they saw what type of person she is. She’s a strong and intelligent woman. When I was sitting there, I said, ‘That’s my Ate and I’m so proud [of her]!’” added the “Batang Quiapo” star. INQ