Ian holds B-day exhibit

When he turns 25 on Feb. 7, Ian Veneracion will give himself a long-planned gift -- his first one-man show to be held at the West Gallery of the SM Megamall (until Feb. 19).

"Painting is no longer just a hobby," says Ian who's now also a father (his first child with wife Pam Gallardo). "I want to take it more seriously from now on."

Besides, Ian was to painting born. Both his parents are products of the University of the Philippines' Fine Arts College, and the apartment which the family then rented in Diliman, Quezon City, was the frequent hangout of his father's artist friends, thinking art, talking art, doing art, and arguing art even while they play cards or mahjong. Jose Joya, Lito Carating, Rock Drilon, Lito Mayo, Gus and Teresa Albor and scores of other artists were frequent guests.

The young Ian loved running the length of the CCP hallways where he watched art concerts shows, dance performances, concerts, plays. During his travels to foreign countries, he spent a lot of time in the art museums embibing high culture.

Showbiz came to Ian's life early. At age five, he was offered a major role in the weekly sitcom Joey & Son (with Joey de Leon) followed by other television guestings and movie contracts. His time was divided into schooling, TV shows, shooting schedules, music lessons, martial arts and various other activities. But playtime was spent with his kiddie friends and in his Dad's studio, where he had free access to the materials to make his little paintings.

Today, Ian still finds his sanctuary in art, perhaps in a similar way that he physically seeks his personal moments free falling from the sky before he pulls the rip cord of the parachute. Sixty feet deep in the blue sea, he regularly communes with nature's fantastic colors and patterns. Its luminous corals, fishes, and anemones, illuminated by rays of radiant light that break through the waves from the air above, are fertile sources of ideas and inspirations for his art.

But natural sights over and beneath the earth`s horizon are not the only sources of Ian's symbols and images. Ian's paintings are never literal. Although at casual glance, they make obvious references to the underwater experience, the sea also symbolizes and calls forth images from the psyche's unconscious. The other side of Ian's persona is his investigation into the non-physical realm of the mind and the spirit. He delves into meditation, dreamwork, lucid dreaming and astral flight.

According to an observer, Ian's work calls forth the faint light of the deep sea, its textures and colors, the cool water, the strangeness and aloneness of a dive experience. "I share the overwhelming adrenaline rush of being face-to-face with a 12 foot shark in the painting Blue hole, adds the observer. Likewise, the paintings give us glimpses of journeys to the terrain of the astral and the deep unconscious."

Watch Ian's exhibit and enjoy a similar "astral" experience.

Congratulations to my good friend Nestor Cuartero, Tempo's entertainment columnist and editor, who won the first prize (announced in October last year, with the awards given out several days ago) in Primer Premio de Periodismo sponsored by the Instituto Cervantes in Manila.

Nestor's winning piece, Why All this Fuss Over Spanish?, was published in Manila Bulletin, Tempo's sister publication.

Nestor was presented a plaque and a P50,000 cash prize. Second prize of P30,000 went to Guillermo Gomez of ABS-CBN's Alas Singko y Media while the third prize amounting to P15,000 was awarded to Lourdes Oben Santos.

His Excellency Delfin Colome, Ambassador of Spain, presided over the ceremonies attended by other distinguished members of media.

Premio de Periodismo was launched for the first time last year by Instituto Cervantes in cooperation with the embassy of Spain, Agencia de Cooperacion Internacional and Fundacion Santiago. It had for its theme "The significance of Spanish as an international language as well as its special interest to Filipinos."

The multi-media contest reviewed articles published or aired on radio and TV from Jan. 1 to Nov. 10, 1999. Its board of judges included Amb. Colome and veteran journalists Amando Doronilla and Andres Cristobal Cruz.

Nestor has been with the Bulletin family since 1982. A journalism graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, he is also currently a member of its faculty. He had earlier won a 1977 PATAS (Philippine Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) award as outstanding writer in a public affairs program. He was also the recipient of the Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award from the FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Science) in 1991.

Meanwhile, here's a "warning" letter from Jun Nardo, which Funfare is printing in full to drive home the point, yes, pointedly:

Deary Ricky,

Hi!

Can you help me announce this?

Streamers and radio promotions for Ai Ai de las Alas and Allan K's show at Paskuhan Village, San Fernando, Pampanga on Feb. 12 are now all over the province and nearby places.

We would just like to inform the public that nobody from Paskuhan got in touch with me for Allan and ditto with Ai Ai as told to me by Rowena of Backroom, Inc. (Ai-Ai's management outfit).

When I called Paskuhan Village to talk to a certain Baby David, she was at a meeting that time. A lady (I forgot her name) assured me she will relay my message to Ms. David.

Ms. David did not return my call. Instead, the wife of singer Pol Toledo, which I learned is the contact person of Ms. David called thru my cell last Jan. 19. I told her that nobody called me regarding the Feb. 12 show and explained that she gave the downpayment to a certain Earth.

I told her that I never saw Earth for years. She promised to set a meeting with me the next day but until now, I haven't heard from her.

Hope you can help me inform the public especially those who have bought the tickets for the show that Allan and Ai Ai are not available on Feb. 12 due to a previous commitment. I already wrote a letter to Ms. David to remove all the streamers and stop their radio promo regarding the show.

Regards and more power.

JUN NARDO

Manager of Allan K.