The curious case of matinee idol Ian Veneracion

MANILA, Philippines – Before this decade, matinée idols were the likes of Richard Gomez, Aga Muhlach, Rico Yan, Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz and Dingdong Dantes, the essence of the tall, sexy and handsome in their early 20s. The gorgeous male actors who are women magnets, the definition stayed constant but the age factor evolved.

An indication they have matured, Derek Ramsay, 40; Richard Yap, 49; and Ian Veneracion, 41, are widely considered as 40-something matinee idols when they were never considered as such in their younger years. But now they are lead actors to stunning lead actresses 10 years younger their biological ages. Even Richard Gomez, the matinee idol of all-time who is now 50, enjoyed a return.

Take Ian as exemplar. He is Anton Noble IV, the high-flying CEO and president husband of Grace (Iza Calzado) in the fresh ABS-CBN primetime series A Love to Last. She decides to seek an annulment and he finds love in newly-single Andrea (Bea Alonzo). Before this, he starred in pivotal projects All You Need Is Pag-Ibig (2015), The Achy Breaky Hearts (2016) and the remake of the classic series, Pangako Sa Yo (2015).

A child actor who transitioned into an action star, Ian is now enjoying a reemergence as a matinee idol in a different circumstance in Ilawod, the transrealism thriller about the waterborne demon set to open in cineplexes on Jan. 17.

Ian plays reporter Dennis who is husband to Iza as Kathy, the father of Ben (Harvey Bautista) and Bea (Xyriel Manabat), the friends to Isla (Therese Malvar). Carlos (Epi Quizon) is his photographer. They are a normal family until he accidentally invites the ilawod into their home where it latches onto him.

What follows is an inevitable battle that risks not only the family’s lives, but also their souls. The demonic attack causes his family’s breakdown. What great risk will a mother take to fight the mystery enveloping her family?

Are you brave enough to witness?

Why Ian’s stellar comeback? He has proven himself as a competent and convincing viable actor mainly as the favored actor of domestic partner writer/helmer Antonette Jadaone and Ilawod megman Dan Villegas and romcom’s boom as bankable entertainment material.