How Love Añover’s smile (‘and everything!’) landed her a TV career

 

Early in the morning, when most people are either still sleepy or already irritated by the heavy traffic chaos, Love Añover lets loose her loud and fun personality. Armed with her trademark gigantic boom mic, she tries to make morning commute easier for a lot of people by doing a daily morning traffic report on “Unang Hirit.”

She tells you which roads to avoid, while rubbing elbows with jeepney drivers and commuters. She interviews weary MMDA officers, who’d end up joining in her infectious laughter. And after every report, she reminds everyone: “Smile naman diyan and everything!”

This earned her the title “Reyna ng Kalsada.” And she’s held her throne for the last 10 years.

In an interview with Rhea Santos on “Tunay na Buhay,” Love Añover shares how her positive outlook in life helped cement her career in both the news and the entertainment industry.

From Prober to Reyna ng Kalsada

Love started out as an intern for the television news-magazine program “The Probe Team.” In her eight-year stay in the program, she learned the ropes of television production. "Naging PA ako. Editor, reporter, writer. Lahat talaga pinagdaanan ko,” she said.

Her positivity and go-getter attitude did not go unnoticed in “Probe”. None other than her boss Cheche Lazaro had words of praise for her work ethic.

"Si Love ay isang masipag at dedicated na Prober noong nagtatrabaho siya rito. Hindi nagko-complain. Hindi niya inaayawan ang trabaho,” said Lazaro. “ Magaan kasama si Love.”

It was in 2001 when Love’s career as a television reporter started. She transferred to GMA News and Public Affairs and did weather forecast and traffic reports for the morning program “Unang Hirit.” It was her antics doing the traffic beat that solidified her image as the Reyna ng Kalsada.

"Happy kasi ang reporting ko eh. May halong comedy pero may impact," she said. Aside from always bringing her winning personality at work, Love upped it a notch by adding her now trademark boom mic into her reporting.

"Kung gusto natin ng kakaiba ka, dapat mayroon kang imahe na kakaiba," she said about her weapon of choice.

Since then, she’s had a slew of TV hosting gigs in GMA. From 2004 to 2009, she hosted her own children’s show “A Lovely Day.” She also currently does segments for the weekly program “Good News” with Vicky Morales.

The talented Love Añover

“Sa tagal naming nagsama, masasabi ko punong-puno siya ng talent,” said actor and TV host Betong Sumaya.

Betong and Love go way back. The two were schoolmates in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, where they both took up Mass Communication. The two crossed paths once again in GMA, and worked closely once again in GMA News TV’s original political series “Bayan Ko,” where they played the roles of wayward municipal hall workers. “Bayan Ko” was Love’s first foray into acting.

Always open to new opportunities, Love also once released a traffic-related single “Bumper to Bumper.”

"It was a great experience. Mahilig naman ako kumanta,” she said. “[Naisip ko] it will not hurt me kung maga-album ako. Kakanta lang ako and at the same time, mage-enjoy ako."

Thankful for traffic

While others curse the Metro Manila traffic, Love cannot be more thankful for it.

“Ang laki ng utang na loob ko sa traffic. Para sa buhay ng pamilya ko at buhay ko, per se,” she said.

More than helping her start and sustain a successful career in television, her exposure to the daily traffic also taught her important life lessons.

“Marami kang matutunan sa traffic. ‘Yung displina mo... nandiyan lahat,” she said. “Kung titingnan mo ang traffic akala mo problema lang siya, but ‘pag nakita mo siya, sistema rin.”

It is perhaps her daily stay on the busy road - where hot heads sometimes rule and disciplines are compromised for convenience and shortcuts - that taught her the importance of patience, and of keeping a cool head and cheery outlook. It’s what motivates her to keep smiling – and doing everything!

— Bernice Sibucao/CM, GMA News