Ian: Ayoko mag-lip-synch

Even if music has been a part of his life since he was a kid, it took Ian Veneracion time to decide to show his “singing” side at a concert titled Ian in 3 Acts produced by Dreamwings Production, Inc., on April 21 at the Grand Ballroom of Cebu Waterfront and on May 13 (Mother’s Day) at Resorts World Manila (RWM). (For tickets, call Ticketworld 891-9999.)

“Actually,” Ian is “embarrassed” to admit, “I don’t want to call it a concert. When you say ‘concert’ kasi, the name that comes to mind is Martin (Nievera). Nahihiya akong tawaging concert.”

Ian is just being humble. Since he is known as a versatile actor (who started as a kid in the endearing TV show Joey & Son with Joey de Leon, grew up to be an action star before he metamorphosed into a romantic idol in television, adored especially by women in the Kapamilya soap A Love To Last with Bea Alonzo), Ian has kept “hidden” his other side — that is, as a musician.

“I took up piano lessons when I was seven years old,” says Ian. “I have also been playing the guitar for a long time now. I learned how to harmonize the chords from Jingle magazine which regularly published the guides.”

And, yes, he also sings.

“I grew up on my Dad’s favorite songs,” shares Ian, referring to his father, painter Roy Veneracion. “As soon as I got home from school, I would play my Dad’s vinyl records…Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, The Beatles. Early on, I was exposed to the music of the older generation. I also listened to such bands as Razorback, Wolfgang, Dawn.”

His repertoire includes songs of the ‘80s like those of Stevie Wonder, Ric Segreto and Jose Mari Chan. (Ian did a promo recording of Joe Mari’s A Love To Last a Lifetime for his and Bea’s TV show.) He will also jam with flutist Jong Cuenco on three songs, with Ian on the piano.

“For sure,” he stresses, “I won’t be lip-synching. If you are an actor promoting your movie, people suspect that you are just lip-synching. ‘Yon ang ini-expect nila. Ayoko mag-lip-synch. Otherwise, huwag na lang mag-concert.” 

As a nod to Ian’s being an actor, the (okay, okay) concert is divided into three acts: The first is called Who You Know (“Consisting of stuff people expect from me”), the second is Who You Don’t Know (“The side of me nurtured by the songs of Cat Stevens, Eric Clapton, Sting and others”), and the third is Who I Am (“Combination of me as a shy guy who doesn’t want attention and the public guy who craves attention…you know, the shy and the not shy”).

Since Ian is also a painter (he will play Cesar Legaspi, National Artist for Visual Arts, on Charo Santos-Concio’s Maalaala Mo Kaya/MMK tomorrow night, April 14), the concert was conceptualized to be “more intimate” and a “relatable experience” for the fans by using stunning visual imagery projected on giant LED screens directed by Mike Alcazaren, including a clip from the music video of We’re All Alone which Ian himself has composed and sung, recently uploaded on Spotify but will have its live debut performance on the show.

“We’re All Alone is about what happens when you realize you are all alone, parang mid-life crisis,” explains Ian who is years away from that, uhm, “crisis.” “It’s an ultra-personal song about the travails of an artist constantly in the spotlight and yet he feels all alone.”

The reality is that Ian is not all alone. He has a happy family which he keeps away from the public eye. His wife (of 20 years), an engineer, doesn’t even have a social-media account. They have three children: Draco, 19, a Psychology sophomore in La Salle; Deirdre, 17, a high school junior; and Duccio, Grade 5.

“I have my own world and my wife has her own world,” is how Ian describes the set-up. “I am lucky to have a wife who is accomplished in her own field.”

Asked if Mrs. Veneracion doesn’t get jealous of the women swarming around Ian (it’s understandable because he’s one of the few desirables in his rank), Ian says no.

“I think she’s adopting a correct strategy,” Ian surmises. “If I go home from a late shoot or taping, she doesn’t make kulit, ‘Saan ka nanggaling?’ She doesn’t do that. Ako tuloy ang nag-iisip why.”

Mrs. Veneracion has no reason to be jealous or “suspicious.”

“Like any actor, I get attracted to my leading ladies, or any beautiful lady in general. I would not be normal kung hindi; that’s my work as an actor…to be convincing in my portrayal at least during the shoot. The challenge is how to draw the line. Kapag ‘Cut!’ dapat ‘cut’ na. Hindi mo na iniisip pag-uwi mo sa bahay.”

When he was barely five years old, Ian played Sto. Niño in then Broadcast City’s Christmas presentation (a few years before he did Joey & Son). That’s why when teased, Ian would say, “Itong mukhang ‘to gagawa ng kalokohan.” Then he would flash the Sto. Niño sign. That joke has stuck.

Make no mistake about it, though.

“I love my wife!”

Asked if he is faithful, Ian declares without blinking, “Yes, I am!”

And then he flashes the Sto. Niño sign.

Phenomenal Holy Week at Kamay ni Hesus

Healing priest Fr. Joey Faller at his Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon, during the recent Holy Week

The recent Holy Week was phenomenal at Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon.

According to resident (healing) priest Fr. Joey Faller, about four million visited the place from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

“Early on Good Friday,” related Fr. Joey, “people walked 40 kms. in Alay Lakad to Kamay from Lucena City and some parts of Laguna. Counted manually and electronically, the number reached around one million. Ninety percent of those who participated in the annual Alay Lakad were mostly young people. They said they did it to atone for their sins. That night, our place was transformed into the biggest campsite ever. After the long walk, they climbed up to the Grotto.”

Fr. Joey thanked the PNP for helping maintain peace and order.

“I predicted the surge of pilgrims because of the people’s strong faith in God,” continued Fr. Joey. “They are followers of my daily gospel reflection and healing on the Facebook #Altanghap which has already more than a 100,000 views. To upgrade our service to the people, we came up with our new project to build Kamay ni Hesus healing Dome which will accommodate five to seven thousand people. Hopefully, it will be finished this year as my gift to the sick as I celebrate my 25th anniversary as a healing priest next year.”

Fr. Joey’s healing ministry started on April 8, 1994 after a vehicular accident that made his hand look like the hand of Jesus. “We are appealing to those who are financially able to help us build our healing dome. We will also put up a Giant, live Rosary in front of the healing dome.”

Jake back in concert

Jake Zyrus (above) topbills Music & Me, a rare concert tracing his musical journey after becoming a transman, at the Skydome on May 25.

The concert will serve as a birthday and 10th anniversary celebration. It is his way of expressing his gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the people who have stood by him these past few years. He is more than thankful for all the blessings despite all the hardships and painful situations that he has faced. 

“This show is a spin-off of my first concert as Jake Zyrus last year. It consists of songs that talk about my personal life and singing career, that’s why it’s called Music & Me,” says Jake.

Directed by Calvin Neria with Adonis Tabanda as musical director, Music & Me is the second major offering of Jake after I Am Jake Zyrus, both produced by Echo Jham Entertainment Production. Joining the concert are special guests (from top left) Kyla, Iñigo Pascual and Jessica Sanchez.

(Tickets are available at SM Tickets and Ticketworld.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare. or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)