IAN VENERACION is one child actor who we saw growing up right before our eyes. He was first seen in the TV sitcom “Joey & Son” in 1982 when he was 7 years old.
He then played Vilma Santos’ son in the movie “Never Ever Say Goodbye” also in 1982 and, the following year, the late comedian Chiquito’s son in “Mang Kepweng & Son”.
As a tween star at 12, he joined “That’s Entertainment” and started doing movies for Seiko Films like “Di Bale na Lang” and “Ako si Kiko”. He was 18 when Seiko launched him as the country’s youngest action star in such films as “Alyas Baby Face” and “Zaldong Tisoy”.
He’d later do more action films with other companies until local movies slackened. He’s then relegated to doing supporting and father roles in films and TV shows.
He regained leading man status when he was paired with Jodi Sta. Maria in “Pangako Sa’Yo” and with Bea Alonzo in “A Love to Last”.
He also played lead in movies like “Achy Breaky Heart”, “Ilawod” and “Bliss. Not only that, it was discovered that he has a good singing voice and is now doing concerts, too.
“Late bloomer ako as a singer kasi dati, very shy akong kumanta,” Ian confesses at the presscon of his upcoming concert with Ogie Alcasid, “Kilabotitos”. “Nagsimula lang akong kumanta because of my role in ‘A Love to Last’ as a composer. Lumakas na loob ko after that at kumanta ako sa ‘ASAP’.”
Last year, Ogie’s company, A Team, produced his solo concert in Music Museum, “Ian in Color”, and it was a hit. Ogie says most of the audience are senior citizens who watch Ian in his teleseryes.
“I’m really thankful to Ogie for believing me in my new journey as a concert artist,” says Ian. “There are other artists he can choose to support and work with, so I’m more than flattered that he chose me para makasama niya rito sa ‘Kilabotitos’ which will be staged at New Frontier Theatre on March 20 and 21.”
How does he react when younger stars call him Tito?
“Siempre, in denial pa ako. Si Bea Alonzo, tinatawag akong tito, so tinatawag ko rin siyang tita. But I guess it’s okay lang kasi 45 na ako last February at grown ups na rin ang mga anak ko.”
How is it singing with Ogie?
“We’re having so much fun, sa brainstorming pa lang. Andami naming gusto kantahin from the 80s. It’s nice because he’s a singer na naging actor at ako naman, actor na ngayon, naging singer, and our common ground is music.
"Magkasundo rin kami sa kulitan at sa mga kalokohan. We promise that the audience will have fun sa concert namin at sa batuhan pa lang namin ng repartees in between songs.”
Ian has one daughter, Deidre, and two sons, Draco and Duccio, and he is very candid in admitting that his daughter, now 18, has come out to him as a lesbian and he’s supporting her all the way. He told her:
“You don’t have to be apologetic about it. You can be whoever you want to be and, me and your mom, you have our full support. Isa lang ang buhay natin at nakakapanghinayang kung hindi mo mailalabas ang totoong pagkatao mo, what a waste of life that would be.”
Because of his being a very understanding dad, Ian gained more fans who pledged support to his “Kilabotitos” concert with Ogie Alcasid.
You can get your tickets from ticketnet. Com and A Team at 0906-2878049, 0917-7958283.
