Dranreb Belleza showcases artworks in one-man art exhibit
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For many showbiz fans, Dranreb Belleza is known as the son of two famed actors in the showbiz industry, Bernard Belleza and Divina Valencia.
He was also a popular child actor who starred in several movie veterans such as the late King and Queen of Philippine Cinema, Fernandor Poe, Jr. and Susan Roces.
However, not many know that aside from honing his acting skills then, Dranreb was also polishing his art skills at the same time.
“I've been in the art scene for 30 plus years. I don't know anything else, it's my language,” he said.
He recalled being introduced to art at four years old while on the set of the movie titled Dalawa ang Nagdalantao sa Akin (1974).
“I was filming the movie Dalawa ang Nagdalantao sa Akin starring my ninang, Susan Roces; Boots Anson-Roa; and Ronaldo Valdes. I played the role of a test tube baby. During break time, my Ninang Susan gave me big coloring books and big Crayolas,” Dranreb shared during a recent virtual interview with select entertainment media, including GMANetwork.com.
Since then, according to Dranreb, his interest in art grew bigger.
“So at an early age, I really love drawing and coloring. Then, I met artists through my Ninong [Emmanuel] “Maning” Borlaza [director of classic movie Bituing Walang Ningning]. I lived a very charmed life. I met artists at a very young age.
“Also because of Kaluskos Musmos and Kabataang Barangay, we were the kids who opened the Makiling Art School [in Laguna]. Madaming [pagkakataon] na it was leaning towards painting.
“In my free time, I would always doodle, invent robots during the time of anime. So, when I graduated high school from La Salle, there was no other university that I wanted to enter except UP. I had to take the talent determination exam.”
While he eventually got into UP College of Fine Arts, Dranreb was not able to finish his Visual Communication course because he left for California in 1989 to pursue the same course at Santa Monica College, which was fully supported by his ninong FPJ.
Later on, he registered for a summer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for studies in Art History. Then, he returned to the UP-CFA in 1994. It was then that he took to formal learning of Studio Arts.
According to Dranreb, he has yet to finish his course in UP because he had to put it aside again after receiving an opportunity to hold his solo show, “Pedestrian Vanities,” at the Philippine Center in New York, USA, in 1995.
After 32 solo and collaboration shows, Dranreb is doing another solo exhibit called “It's All Connected” at the Art Circle Gallery in UP Diliman on August 6 to 12.
“It's like a homecoming also, most of my professors are coming,” he briefly said.
On going back to showbiz
Although he's now more focused on painting, Dranreb admitted that people still recognize him as an actor.
He said, “I've been trying to separate the actor from the painter. But I'm always labeled as an actor-painter. Maybe it's a blessing because… I consider myself as a nepo baby because my parents and my godparents have opened doors for me, which other artists might have a hard time getting into.
“But if you don't have talent, you won't have staying power in the arts also. So, I would consider myself given talents by the Holy Spirit, both in showbiz and in the art scene.”
Doesn't he miss acting?
“I do miss it,” he answered. “But what I miss more is the waiting hour and making kuwento with co-actors and the work itself.”
“You know, it's so different when I visit sets and when I visit mom. Moviemaking now is so different from what I know of the golden years. I don't think I can relate.”
However, Dranreb wasn't sure if he could still fit in the industry that used to be his home.
He said. You know, it's so different when I visit sets and when I visit mom. Moviemaking now is so different from what I know of the golden years. I don't think I can relate.
In fact, he mentioned that he was offered to be part of a teledrama, but he had to beg off at the last minute. Aside from the changes, he also had to consider a very important factor, his mental health.
“I was being asked to play a dad role on a teleserye and they were going to do a screen test, I think two or three days before the screen test, I begged off.
“At the same time, I don't think they can accommodate me because I have PTSD and I have bipolar. I take medications at a certain time. I don't think they can accommodate me with their working hours. Kasi, at 8 p.m., tulog na ako, so I don't think they can accommodate me and let me go at 7 p.m. I cannot [stay up late] because of my mental health.”
Dranreb feels content now with his career as a painter.
“My language is art. And most of the people that I want to work with are not working na rin, so merong kaba joining the industry again. So, it makes me think twice about joining,” he ended.
MEANWHILE, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL ARTWORKS OF LOCAL CELEBRITIES:
