Ian Veneracion (left) and daughter Deirdre “Dids” Veneracion | Photo: Instagram/@ianveneracion1
Actor Ian Veneracion is one proud dad to his lesbian daughter, Deirdre “Dids” Veneracion, as he addressed the latter’s detractors.
The matinee idol posted his daughter’s magazine cover in celebration of Pride Month and praised her values, saying they should not be diminished just because of her sexual preferences.
“Seriously, let’s all just cut the bullshit. People should be honored and respected for their compassion, courage, and integrity—not for the choices they make in the privacy of their bedrooms. Proud of my daughter for embodying these values. Who she loves is her business,” the actor wrote in his Instagram caption.
In 2020, Ian shared that his daughter came out to him when she was 16 years old, and the actor assured her that she would always have his full support.
“Just don’t ever be apologetic about it, not even to me.’ Sabi ko, ‘You can be whoever you want to be, and I have full support.'” he said at the time.
The actor-athlete asserted that people only have one life, and they should live the most out of it by being true to themselves.
“Nakaka panghinayang lang, isa lang ang buhay natin. Tapos pag nabuhay ka—ano pa, apologetic ka pa, na nahihiya ka sa sarili mo, hindi mo mailabas ang pagkatao mo. What a waste of life,” he expressed.
In a separate interview, he underscored that he cannot impose the things he likes on his children as he can only support them.
“We have our lives to live, and they have their lives. They don’t come from us; they come through us lang. Hindi ako willing to strain that relationship just para masunod ang gusto ko kahit hindi ’yun ang gusto niya. That’s absurd,” he said.
In 2017, Ian said he considered Dids his “mini-me,” saying, “She’s so much like me, sa ugali at sa mga hilig.”
“She plays the piano and the guitar. So, pag may piano at guitar, kunwari pumunta siya sa piano, kunin ko iyong guitar. Magja-jam kami,” added the actor.
Aside from Dids, Ian shares two other sons with his wife of more than 25 years, engineer Pam Gallardo.