His career waned when local action films faded away, but he achieved stardom again when he did “Pangako Sa’Yo” with Jodi Sta. Maria and Angelica Panganiban. It sizzled all the more with his role as Anton Noble opposite Bea Alonzo in “A Love to Last”.
Didn’t he regret getting married early? “Actually, it’s the best decision I made in my life,” he says. “My wife is now a very important part of my life and my three kids, para ko lang kabarkada. We spend a lot of quality time together playing basketball, riding motorcycles, going paragliding. Kung mas matanda na ako, hindi ko mae-enjoy gawin yun with them. I’m very much aware, kahit busy ako sa work, na my primary roles are being a husband and father.”
In “A Love to Last”, he is also dad to three kids and one time, his scene with Julia Barretto, his eldest child in the show, touched a lot of viewers with his portrayal of a worried father who has trouble imposing discipline on his teenage daughter who happens to have a secret boyfriend. This led to Julia deciding to leave him and stay with her mom, instead, played by Iza Calzado. “Many netizens commended our performance ni Julia in our confrontation scene,” he says. “Lahat ng emotions I showed there are real and it wouldn’t have happened had I myself not been a dad in real life.”
What does he think is the secret for a love to really last in real life? “First and foremost is respect in each other’s individuality since you are two different individuals. Then you should have a bottomless pit of patience. Sa kaso namin, yung wife ko ang malawak ang pasensiya sa akin,” he laughs.
Recently, he flew to the U.S. despite his busy taping sked for “A Love to Last” to sing in Sharon Cuneta’s concert in Los Angeles. The reception is great and there’s talk that they maybe paired in a movie. “Sharon was very appreciative kasi one night lang ako sa L.A. to sing in her show then uwi na uli agad ako. But I really enjoyed performing with her before a large crowd. I never imagined before na makaka-duet ko siya. I’d be honored to do a movie with her but, sa totoo lang, wala akong alam na nilulutong ganyang project for us. But I’d love to work with her and it’ll always be a treat.”
For now, if you want to hear Ian sing live, don’t miss the “A Love to Last Farewell Concert” that will be staged at the Kia Theatre on September 8, Friday, 8 PM. He will be singing a lot of the Jose Mari Chan songs that he is now an expert of. To get your tickets, log in at ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555.
