Actor to hold benefit concert for Iloilo IP group

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Actor and singer Ian Veneracion will stage a special show in Iloilo City this weekend to show thanks for his wonderful experience while filming a movie in the city and province.

‘Ninuno, A Thank You Concert’ will be held at the West Visayas State University Cultural Center in Iloilo City on Sunday, June 12, 2022, to benefit the educational access for children of the Panay Bukidnon Indigenous Peoples in Calinog town.

His backing band and the crew for this show are expected to come in from Manila within the weekend.

In a press conference on Thursday, Veneracion said that the concert was a form of gratitude for the experience he had in Iloilo City and province.

He had spent a significant amount of time here within the months of March and April filming the drama series ‘A Love To Kill’, which is expected to be released within this year.

“In my hotel room, the other half of my room is just without space because of the multitude of gifts of food, more food, and more food, and stuff, souvenirs, t-shirts, from everyone. We shoot in the streets, and everywhere, and I’ve never experienced anyone who wasn’t happy to see us. Everyone was appreciative of the fact that we were shooting here, and we felt that it was a warm welcome,” Veneracion said.

“It’s a such a wonderful experience [being in Iloilo] because everyone was so accommodating and was so supportive [in] all the locations where we went to, from Happy Farm to the [city] center and [Casa Real], we shot scenes by the river. I’m excited to show what Iloilo looks like on film because I think it’s beautiful, so I hope that people will get to see that,” he remarked.

He explained that the title ‘Ninuno’ was from his original song which was released while he was here in Iloilo, which was about seeking wisdom from ancestors and also stems from his appreciation for older Original Pilipino Music (OPM).

“I’m going back to the roots of [OPM], trying to make people remember that we have a lot of good songs that are ours. I think Filipinos are so good with the arts and music, but we always start with the influence of others,” he said.

The actor-singer hopes that his fans, especially his “army of titas of Iloilo”, will come to see the show because it would also be reminiscent of old and new OPM songs.

“I hope the titas of Iloilo support the show because it’s a combination of the familiar songs which haven’t been heard for a long time, a lot of ‘kilig’ songs, a lot of songs which I know are very relatable because it’s my generation, and aside from that it’s reminding of the past OPM songs. So I hope many will come,” he called out.

Veneracion’s filmography stretches back to 1982, including the television series Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Encantadia, Got to Believe, and Pangako Sa ‘Yo, as well as the films Feng Shui 2, The Achy Breaky Hearts, and Block Z.