JERRY OLEA
Sobrang proud si Ian Veneracion sa limited series na Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence kung saan bida sila ni Harvey Bautista, sa direksiyon ni Shugo Praico.
Gumanap si Ian bilang Fr. Tom, na nagpasimuno ng rehab program para sa mga kabataang adik sa isang isla.
Sabi sa official trailer, mula 2016 hanggang 2022 ay merong 30,000 reported killings dahil sa drug war sa Pilipinas.
“Nung nabasa ko yung script, hindi ko alam kung papaano namin gagawin because of schedule and stuff,” pahayag ni Ian matapos ang screening ng pilot episode ng serye noong Mayo 7, 2026, Huwebes ng gabi, sa Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Premiere Theater, Mandaluyong City.
“Pero I felt I really had to be part of this because we have to tell the story. Because it’s the story of our people, and it’s a part of our history, and our humanity.
“And ngayong napanood ko, bumabalik sa akin lahat ng emotions ni Fr. Tom. Because as an actor, parang my job is to go through that life emotionally at least.
“And now it brings back memories. So, parang mabigat. Mabigat pa din.
“Pero yun, sobrang natutuwa ako sa cinematography, sa editing, sa storytelling ni Direk Shugo.
“And sana, sana maraming makanood. Because kuwento natin ito, e. Tayo ito, e. So sana, mapanood ng mga taga-ibang bansa din.
“Kasama dito yung kagandahang-asal nating mga Pilipino, at yung mga hindi rin magandang parts natin. Kasama yun, e.
“And it raises a lot of questions also. And sabi nga ni Direk Shugo, yun ang gusto natin — to have conversation about it.
“And hopefully find better ways of doing things, and better policies and better system.”
DRUG WAR: A CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE CAST
Maliban kina Ian at Harvey, nasa cast ng six-episode series na Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence sina John Arcilla, Lotlot de Leon, Jane Oineza, Romnick Sarmenta, Yayo Aguila, Ryan Eigenmann, Joem Bascon, at Gabby Padilla.
Kasama rin dito sina Miggy Jimenez, Malou Crisologo, Yogo Singh, JM Salvado, Alex Medina, Rolando Inocencio, at Art Acuña.
Read: Johnny Manahan finally reveals reason why he left GMA-7
NOEL FERRER
Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence raises a lot of questions.
Ano ang intensiyon ng palabas? Sinagot din ba ng limited series na ito ang mga tanong na iyon?
“Our intention is to show perspectives,” tugon ni Ian Veneracion.
Andiyan ang perspective ng adik na si Kiko Agustin (karakter ni Harvey Bautista), ng paring si Fr. Tom (karakter ni Ian), at ng policewoman na si Yana Macabeo (karakter ni Jane Oineza).
Pagpapatuloy ni Ian: “Iba-iba yung pananaw about how to fix the same problem. And how to rehabilitate or punish or you know…
“There’s a long conversation about it that we have to have as individuals. And depende yon, kasi ang ibang tao, hindi naman apektado. So they don’t care.
“Yung ibang tao, nandun mismo. Kung saan kami nag-shoot, that is isa sa mga lugar na totoong nangyari yun. Doon sa lugar, kung saan kami nagsu-shoot.
“And so, yung vibe doon, yung… makikita mo, e. Yung ibang tao, affected by it talaga.
“And we as artists, and Direk Shugo as storyteller, we want to make propositions, and ask questions.
“Pero we’re not there to lecture or provide answers. We’re not there to solve problems.
"We’re there to point out different perspectives. And I think that’s the intention.”
DRUG WAR DOES NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT DUTERTE'S DRUG WAR
Susog ni Direk Shugo Praico, hindi layunin ng limited series na sagutin ang mga tanong kaugnay sa drug war ng administrasyong Duterte.
“What we hope is through the drama, yung mga taong nakaka-relate sa kuwento can find answers within the series itself,” sabi ni Direk Shugo.
“Dahil doon sa perspektibo na sinasabi ni Sir Ian na perspektibo ng bawat karakter, minsan kasi iyon yung nagka-cloud sa atin. Hindi natin nakikita yung perspective ng kabila.
“So our hope is when you’re on the other side, and then you see a perspective from the other side — whatever side that is — you find the answer na hinahanap mo.”
Inaasam ni Direk Shugo na mauunawaan ng Filipino audience ang mensaheng gustong iparating ng limited series.
Read: Yasmien Kurdi pursues law degree to protect and defend her family
GORGY RULA
Nagkatrabaho sina Ian Veneracion at Harvey Bautista sa 2017 supernatural horror film na Ilawod, directed by Dan Villegas.
Co-stars nila roon sina Iza Calzado, Xyriel Manabat, at Therese Malvar.
Ibang-iba na ang dynamics nina Ian at Harvey bilang co-actors sa limited series na Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence.
“Ang galing-galing ni Harvey!” bulalas ni Ian.
“Sobrang… yung commitment niya into getting into the character. And it takes a lot of emotional generosity for an actor to open your heart.
“Hindi siya madali, ha?! I mean, maraming nakakahiya na… minsan physically lang, e. Nahihiya tayo.
“So as actors, siyempre kailangan masanay ka na physically that’s your instrument, hindi ka mahiya.
“Pero mas mahirap yung emotionally naglalabas ka ng totoong hinanakit mo, yung ganun. And si Harvey, at a very young age, he’s a very good actor.”
Nakita niya yung improvement ni Harvey bilang aktor?
“Sobrang laki ng improvement. Sa sobrang mature niya now as an actor,” sambit ni Ian.
“Parang beterano. Ha! Ha! Ha!”
Mas magaling bang aktor si Harvey kesa sa tatay niyang si Herbert Bautista?
Natawa muli si Ian bago sumagot: “Hindi ko pa naka-work yung tatay niya. O, di ba? Pero… depende naman sa role na ibibigay.
“I mean, how can you compare? Depende sa project and stuff also. Pero dito, napakagaling talaga ni Harvey.
“Dahil napakabigat ng karakter na ginampanan niya dito. Ambigat nung istorya pero nadala niya.”
Read: Vico Sotto wins $1M grant at Bloomberg's Mayors Challenge