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Diane Ventura on directing ex-husband Ely Buendia: ‘He just keeps getting better’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

<p>Aside from being the writer and director for the much anticipated Eraserheads documentary <em>Eraserheads: </em><em>Combo on the Run</em>, Diane Ventura is also known for having very close ties with the iconic OPM band, having been their manager, producer, and also Ely Buendia’s ex-wife and close friend for decades. Diane and Ely also have a 24-year-old son named Eon Drake, who is the vocalist for the band Nobody’s Home. </p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-31" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGNq3A8zvj-/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A31%2C%22os%22%3A13146124.399999976%2C%22ls%22%3A502555.7999999523%2C%22le%22%3A502562.2999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-31" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/3/4/director-diane-ventura-on-making-eraserheads-documentary-nothing-was-easy-1029"><strong>READ: Director Diane Ventura on making Eraserheads documentary: ‘Nothing was easy’</strong></a></div><p>During the press conference for <em>Eraserheads: Combo on the Run</em>, director Diane shared with PUSH ABS-CBN just how much Ely has changed over the years.</p><p>“As an artist, I think he just keeps getting better, I think he’s a very open-minded genius and so having that sort of attitude, he allows new things to inspire him. You can see that reflected in his work. As a person, I’ve known him for a while and I could say that I’ve seen all different versions of him and so far, he’s at his best now and the level of wisdom and maturity that he has currently is nothing short of inspiring. More inspiring than even his work. That’s the kind of person that he is.”</p><p>The documentary director also wanted to assure Eraserheads fans that Ely is also taking care of his health. “Ely is super healthy. He goes to his checkups and there’s no issue currently,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-32" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DG2ppqNzl1p/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A32%2C%22os%22%3A13146147.099999905%2C%22ls%22%3A502555.7999999523%2C%22le%22%3A502562.2999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-32" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/2/18/ely-buendia-denies-eraserhead-song-spolarium-is-about-pepsi-paloma-1932"><strong>READ: Ely Buendia reiterates Eraserhead song &#x27;Spoliarium&#x27; is not about Pepsi Paloma</strong></a></div><p>Although she admitted that she would like to go back to directing feature films after this documentary, Diane said it was well worth all the energy she poured into it in the past two years so that fans could get a closer look at their idols.</p><p>“I think psychology or therapy or emotions is something that I’m passionate about. It didn’t really feel like work to me. Having had this exclusive access and this exclusive peek into the internal emotional life of these internal fascinating people, that sort of gave me a lot of stamina and endurance in finishing the project. And I think every time that I would have difficulties just pushing through because of the gargantuan task ahead of me, parang I would always think of just the privilege that I had in having to talk to these guys. It was healing to me so I felt that I should just keep pursuing.</p><p>&quot;This includes mga parts dun where we interviewed the executive producer Francis Lumen about the process of the 2022 concert. So I think may coverage of that and also the behind-the-scenes of the making of. That’s part of it,” she admitted.</p><div><br/></div><div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive" style="padding-bottom:0px;height:565px"><iframe allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; ch-prefers-color-scheme *" src="//iframely.net/g0epPxy?v=1&amp;app=1" style="box-shadow:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06) 0px 1px 3px"></iframe></div></div><script async="" src="//iframely.net/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/3/19/after-watching-docu-ely-buendia-reflects-on-eraserheads-journey-1638"><strong>READ: After watching docu, Ely Buendia reflects on Eraserheads&#x27; journey</strong></a></div><p>Diane said that she hopes that people can take away a deeper understanding of the Eraserheads after watching the film on the big screen.</p><p>“I’m not one to dictate how the audience should react to the film. I think maybe I could just share my personal experience and learnings from having done the documentary. I think it really is about growth and in the process of making it, I’ve learned a lot about myself in watching the guys allow themselves to be so raw and so honest and vulnerable. Parang it gave me the courage to also allow myself to access those feelings that I did not allow myself to really face for a long time and I hope that they can have a similar takeaway from watching the film.</p><p>&quot;At the end of the day, what I can say is, I really tried my best to really uphold their truth. So I think what people can expect is that this is a no holds barred sort of depiction of their story and nothing was swept under the rug,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-33" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHQm6BbT_YT/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A33%2C%22os%22%3A13146157%2C%22ls%22%3A502555.7999999523%2C%22le%22%3A502562.2999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-33" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-34" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHX2n6GTAoR/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A34%2C%22os%22%3A13147690.099999905%2C%22ls%22%3A502555.7999999523%2C%22le%22%3A502562.2999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-34" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Originally intended as a  two-part episodic documentary, <em>Eraserheads: Combo on the Run</em> runs at one hour and 40 minutes and will hold its exclusive cinema run in select cinemas from March 21 to 23, 2025. The film is directed by Diane Ventura and produced by Dvent Pictures and WEU. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. </p>

<p>‘Combo on the Run’ documentary director Diane Ventura talks about working closely with her ex-husband, Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia. </p>

‘Combo on the Run’ documentary director Diane Ventura talks about working closely with her ex-husband, Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia.