Vanessa “Coach Vee” Antonio has worn many hats! Aside from being an anchor for Bilyonaryo Channel and DZMM, she is widely regarded as one of the most trusted voices on love and dating in the Philippines.
Photo: Vanessa Antonio
In a world full of dating apps, unrealistic expectations, and picture-perfect relationships, Coach Vee isn’t about finding the perfect person—she’s about helping you find the right one.
As the country’s only US-certified matchmaker, she has taken on the role of being the go-to expert for Filipinas and foreigners looking for the right love.
That’s why when she saw the trailer for Materialists, which stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, the film struck a nerve because she saw a resemblance to her own love story. For her, the film felt less like fiction and more like a mirror.
For her, the film just doesn’t tackle relatable experiences on love—it was deeply personal.
When The Client’s Checklists Get Too Specific
In one scene from Materialists, a character lists down everything she wants in a man—something Coach Vee says hits close to home.
“I get those lists every day,” Coach Vee shared. “Some clients have preferences so precise, it’s like ordering a soulmate from a catalog.”
Still, love often shows up when (and where) you least expect it.
“Over the years, we’ve matched people even when they swore no one could meet their standards,” she said. “Because love isn’t about checking all the boxes—it’s about finding someone you’d throw away your checklist for.”
Her Own Materialist Moment
As a matchmaker, Coach Vee shared that she’s lived her own version of the love triangle depicted in The Materialists.
“I was torn,” she confessed. “One man was luxury incarnate—wealthy, well-traveled, with future plans already mapped out. He looked like the dream every ambitious Filipina is told to wait for.”
But then came the other guy; He was the complete opposite of what you’d expect from a picture-perfect man. Yet, one thing stood out: he showed up consistently, genuinely, and always at the right time.
That’s when she found herself torn—between the man who made sense and the man who made her feel.
“But he wasn’t the safe bet,” she admitted. “He didn’t have the same stability. It was chemistry without a clear future.”
Why She Walked Away
When you find yourself torn between two people, Coach Vee believes it’s a clear sign: neither of them is right for you.
It usually means one thing that you need to choose yourself and walk away from both.
“It wasn’t about being indecisive. It was about getting honest with myself. I realized I was choosing based on fear—fear of missing out, fear of being alone, not love.”
“When it’s right, your heart and mind won’t argue,” she said. “You’ll just know.”
What Materialists Gets Right
What Materialists captures so well is the contradiction—how our expectations and the reality of love don’t always align.
With these kinds of dilemmas surfacing, Coach Vee remains consistent in guiding her clients—showing them that there’s so much more to love beyond the fantasies and unrealistic expectations.
“We’re all chasing someone who fits our list,” she said. “But real connection doesn’t follow instructions. It’s messy. Unpredictable. And often, the person who ‘gets it all right’… doesn’t make you feel anything at all.”
