IAN VENERACION says life in showbiz really turns like a wheel.
“When I started as a child actor, ako yung son sa title ng ‘Joey & Son’,” he says. “Now, in my new show sa TV5, ako na yung dad sa ‘Oh My Dad’. Ican say that I’ve come full circle, haven’t I?
"And since I don’t intend to retire from the industry, baka dumating yung araw na magiging Lolo naman ang papel ko. Hahahaha!”
In “Oh My Dad”, he’s a former top cager who stayed in the States for a while and when he returned home, three young people showed up to claim he’s their long lost dad: Sue Ramirez, Louise Abuel and Adrian Lindayag.
“I was sowing my wild oats as a younger man and hindi ko alam, may mga naging anak pala ako,” he says.
In real life, is he also a ladies man?
“No, not at all. I’m a faithful husband to Pam, my wife of 26 years. But like in the show, I also have three kids, pero iisa lang ang mother. I cannot imagine myself having kids with different mothers. Good boy po ako, maniwala kayo’t hindi. Hahahaha!”
As a teen actor, he was built up by Seiko Films as an action star and when he matured, he did dramas in soaps. How is it doing a sitcom like “Oh My Dad”?
“Okay lang, hindi naman ako nanibago. Unang-una, ang director namin, si Jeffrey Jeturian, was also my director in ‘Be Careful with My Heart’ which ran for several years. Kaya sanay na ako sa kanya. He’s really one of the best directors we have today and I trust him all the way.
"Tapos, the script by Allan Habon is really funny at ang gagaling ng mga kasama ko, from Sue. Louise and Adrian as my kids to Dimples Romana, Gloria Diaz and Ariel Ureta. So, saan ka pa?
"Ang gagaling nilang lahat and I feel so lucky being able to work with all of them. Mabilis ang trabaho namin, lalo na nga’t lock in taping kami na magkakasama kami lahat sa isang resort, Fontana, where we stayed in their own villas and we were able to tape several episodes right away. Alagang-alaga kami ng aming producer, Atty. Joji Alonso of Quantum Films.”
“Oh My Dad” will start airing this Saturday, October 24, at 5 PM on TV5. Don’t fail to see its rollicking pilot episode.
