Pure energy and unconditional love
Published Feb 11, 2018 12:05 am
Text by Terence Repelente
Images by Noel Pabalate
Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano or Gary V, as we like to call him, has been electrifying the stage for more than three decades. He is one of (if not) the most versatile performers of his generation and, to be honest, no one comes near to this day. Supporting this claim are multiple accolades, achievements, and awards under his belt. But it seems that for him, these are mere decorations, the real honor lies within the thousands of people he has inspired and helped through his fantastic performances and sincere advocacies, on and off the camera. Despite the immense fame, Gary wears nothing but humility, sewn from the adversities and miracles he himself has experienced.
In an exclusive interview with The Manila Bulletin, Gary explained where he gets the pure energy that keeps him moving and grooving. “I don’t think my source of inspiration has changed at all, even after 35 years. Because I’m never in front of the same audience twice, even if I do the same songs in the same place, I’ll never have the same crowd. My songs will always speak to them differently—that’s my primary inspiration right there,” he said. “It’s not really about shoving anything down people’s throats, but rather sharing with them the joys, victories, defeats, struggles, and the truth about my life and faith.” Gary speaks boldly about these things because, according to him, nine years ago, he should’ve been gone from this world. “Because the average life span for a type 1 diabetic from the day of diagnosis is 30 years, and I was diagnosed when I was 14 years old. If you do the math, at 44 I should’ve been struggling with my eyes, or maybe with my legs, and all that, but I am now 52,” he said. “And I have none of those signs. As a matter of fact, the other day I went to get new glasses, and when they checked my eye, the doctor found that it refracted and my grade went down, which never happens, especially to a diabetic. Those little blessings keep me inspired to continue doing what I do.”
SOMETHING DIFFERENT. On Valentine's Day, Gary V is singing with and dancing to a big band, 100 percent of the proceeds of the dinner concert will go to the Shining Light Foundation and Operation Blessing, as well as to the victims of the Mayon Volcano eruption
GARY’S RAKET
“When I was a kid, during our many family trips to my hometown, Camalig, Albay, looking out the window of our car, I would always see farmers with their carabaos (water buffalos). Of course the first thing I would notice is the carabao, but a farmer’s face, the look of an entire day of hard work, has always struck me,” he recalled. “I would always try to catch their attention and make them smile. As a 10-year-old, I didn’t really know if that made any difference, but when the farmers smiled back, I remember that it made me feel so good.” Gary has since made a habit of making random people smile through little things. Just recently, he started a Vlog/video series doing exactly that. The video series is titled “Raket”—as in Random Acts of Kindness Every Time—which was formerly a slang he doesn’t want to hear, especially at his office. “I’ve always disliked the word raket. It doesn’t strike a nice chord, because for me, raket means ‘wala na akong paki-alam sa inyo, basta ako, may raket ako (I don’t care about any of you, what’s important is that I have a personal sideline).’
This changed when his friend and publicist Chuck Gomez told him “Why not transform the word into something beautiful?” And Raket was born. “When he told me about redefining raket into Random Acts of Kindness Every Time, instantly, I was like ‘Say that again?’ It was a brilliant idea,” Gary said. “It’s something that can be easily accomplished just by doing anything, simple or grand, which will basically benefit someone else.”
The short videos, which he uploads on his Youtube channel, chronicles Gary’s passion project to make other people smile. With simple acts, from offering lunch to a cigarette vendor who doesn’t know him to giving a CD to his driver who turned out to be a really huge fan, Raket aims to make giving, helping, and loving random people contagious. “It’s really good when there are witnesses because it creates an impact. Something as simple as giving a piece of candy can really matter to somebody and inspire others to do the same,” he said. “That’s what Raket is and I’m going to continue doing it.”
LOVE IN MOTION
The first “Love in Motion” was staged last year, Gary’s first solo Valentine’s show in Manila after almost two decades. With musical and vocal direction by Mel Villena and Mon Faustino respectively, stage direction by his son Paolo Valenciano, and accompaniment from the Amp Band, the concert became his perfect Valentine comeback. This year, to jumpstart the yearlong celebration of his 35th anniversary in the industry, Gary will emulate the success of last year’s “Love in Motion,” and he may even surpass it. During the interview, he talked about the preparation and how this year will be different. “I’m going to do some songs, which I really need to refresh myself with. It will be different. Everyone who will go will have to go with a mindset that this is going to be a new experience. They will see a Gary V na hahataw (who will give it all) in a dinner concert,” he said. “Jona is going to be one of the main differences from last year. I think her voice, based on what she does today, which is pure pop R&B, will really fit the big band. I’m a believer of her talent.” Another factor that will surprise everyone, according to Gary, is his daughter Kiana, “Her songs are usually R&B, as in Millennial R&B, but not too long ago, she did something with Brass Monkeys at Solaire, a big band sound but in a smaller scale. Now, working with Amp, she’s really looking forward to it. And I know she’s going to fit in flawlessly. It’s amazing how, at first, you see these young talents get out of their comfort zones and do something different,” he said. “I am lost for words, telling myself ‘Wow, ang gagaling talaga nila (they’re really good).’ These young people—Kiana and Jona—are the perfect additions to the new things we will show in this concert.”
Gary expressed, with great enthusiasm, his excitement about the concert. “Physically, it’ll be surprisingly different. The moves, ang sarap eh (it feels really good), when you’re with a big band. There’s a lot of syncopation, the sound, the horn section, everything—it’s the real deal! And it’s such an important thing for me to do it like that.”
Just like last year, 100 percent of the proceeds of “Love in Motion 2018” will be for the benefit of Shining Light Foundation and Operation Blessing, and this year, the victims of the recent eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay as well. After the interview, I was given the chance to see Gary rehearse one of his dance numbers for the concert. During a short break, drenched in sweat, catching breath, he went where I was seated. “See, this is how I torture myself,” he said. And that’s the performing arts superhero we all know and love. Mr. Pure Energy willing to wreck himself to give us a sensational show and, off the stage, Gary Valenciano whose hands are always reaching out to someone, ready to inspire and offer an act of kindness.
For tickets, call TicketWorld at 02 891 999;www.ticketworld.com.ph
Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano or Gary V, as we like to call him, has been electrifying the stage for more than three decades. He is one of (if not) the most versatile performers of his generation and, to be honest, no one comes near to this day. Supporting this claim are multiple accolades, achievements, and awards under his belt. But it seems that for him, these are mere decorations, the real honor lies within the thousands of people he has inspired and helped through his fantastic performances and sincere advocacies, on and off the camera. Despite the immense fame, Gary wears nothing but humility, sewn from the adversities and miracles he himself has experienced.
In an exclusive interview with The Manila Bulletin, Gary explained where he gets the pure energy that keeps him moving and grooving. “I don’t think my source of inspiration has changed at all, even after 35 years. Because I’m never in front of the same audience twice, even if I do the same songs in the same place, I’ll never have the same crowd. My songs will always speak to them differently—that’s my primary inspiration right there,” he said. “It’s not really about shoving anything down people’s throats, but rather sharing with them the joys, victories, defeats, struggles, and the truth about my life and faith.” Gary speaks boldly about these things because, according to him, nine years ago, he should’ve been gone from this world. “Because the average life span for a type 1 diabetic from the day of diagnosis is 30 years, and I was diagnosed when I was 14 years old. If you do the math, at 44 I should’ve been struggling with my eyes, or maybe with my legs, and all that, but I am now 52,” he said. “And I have none of those signs. As a matter of fact, the other day I went to get new glasses, and when they checked my eye, the doctor found that it refracted and my grade went down, which never happens, especially to a diabetic. Those little blessings keep me inspired to continue doing what I do.”
SOMETHING DIFFERENT. On Valentine's Day, Gary V is singing with and dancing to a big band, 100 percent of the proceeds of the dinner concert will go to the Shining Light Foundation and Operation Blessing, as well as to the victims of the Mayon Volcano eruption
GARY’S RAKET
“When I was a kid, during our many family trips to my hometown, Camalig, Albay, looking out the window of our car, I would always see farmers with their carabaos (water buffalos). Of course the first thing I would notice is the carabao, but a farmer’s face, the look of an entire day of hard work, has always struck me,” he recalled. “I would always try to catch their attention and make them smile. As a 10-year-old, I didn’t really know if that made any difference, but when the farmers smiled back, I remember that it made me feel so good.” Gary has since made a habit of making random people smile through little things. Just recently, he started a Vlog/video series doing exactly that. The video series is titled “Raket”—as in Random Acts of Kindness Every Time—which was formerly a slang he doesn’t want to hear, especially at his office. “I’ve always disliked the word raket. It doesn’t strike a nice chord, because for me, raket means ‘wala na akong paki-alam sa inyo, basta ako, may raket ako (I don’t care about any of you, what’s important is that I have a personal sideline).’
This changed when his friend and publicist Chuck Gomez told him “Why not transform the word into something beautiful?” And Raket was born. “When he told me about redefining raket into Random Acts of Kindness Every Time, instantly, I was like ‘Say that again?’ It was a brilliant idea,” Gary said. “It’s something that can be easily accomplished just by doing anything, simple or grand, which will basically benefit someone else.”
The short videos, which he uploads on his Youtube channel, chronicles Gary’s passion project to make other people smile. With simple acts, from offering lunch to a cigarette vendor who doesn’t know him to giving a CD to his driver who turned out to be a really huge fan, Raket aims to make giving, helping, and loving random people contagious. “It’s really good when there are witnesses because it creates an impact. Something as simple as giving a piece of candy can really matter to somebody and inspire others to do the same,” he said. “That’s what Raket is and I’m going to continue doing it.”
LOVE IN MOTION
The first “Love in Motion” was staged last year, Gary’s first solo Valentine’s show in Manila after almost two decades. With musical and vocal direction by Mel Villena and Mon Faustino respectively, stage direction by his son Paolo Valenciano, and accompaniment from the Amp Band, the concert became his perfect Valentine comeback. This year, to jumpstart the yearlong celebration of his 35th anniversary in the industry, Gary will emulate the success of last year’s “Love in Motion,” and he may even surpass it. During the interview, he talked about the preparation and how this year will be different. “I’m going to do some songs, which I really need to refresh myself with. It will be different. Everyone who will go will have to go with a mindset that this is going to be a new experience. They will see a Gary V na hahataw (who will give it all) in a dinner concert,” he said. “Jona is going to be one of the main differences from last year. I think her voice, based on what she does today, which is pure pop R&B, will really fit the big band. I’m a believer of her talent.” Another factor that will surprise everyone, according to Gary, is his daughter Kiana, “Her songs are usually R&B, as in Millennial R&B, but not too long ago, she did something with Brass Monkeys at Solaire, a big band sound but in a smaller scale. Now, working with Amp, she’s really looking forward to it. And I know she’s going to fit in flawlessly. It’s amazing how, at first, you see these young talents get out of their comfort zones and do something different,” he said. “I am lost for words, telling myself ‘Wow, ang gagaling talaga nila (they’re really good).’ These young people—Kiana and Jona—are the perfect additions to the new things we will show in this concert.”
Gary expressed, with great enthusiasm, his excitement about the concert. “Physically, it’ll be surprisingly different. The moves, ang sarap eh (it feels really good), when you’re with a big band. There’s a lot of syncopation, the sound, the horn section, everything—it’s the real deal! And it’s such an important thing for me to do it like that.”
Just like last year, 100 percent of the proceeds of “Love in Motion 2018” will be for the benefit of Shining Light Foundation and Operation Blessing, and this year, the victims of the recent eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay as well. After the interview, I was given the chance to see Gary rehearse one of his dance numbers for the concert. During a short break, drenched in sweat, catching breath, he went where I was seated. “See, this is how I torture myself,” he said. And that’s the performing arts superhero we all know and love. Mr. Pure Energy willing to wreck himself to give us a sensational show and, off the stage, Gary Valenciano whose hands are always reaching out to someone, ready to inspire and offer an act of kindness.
For tickets, call TicketWorld at 02 891 999;www.ticketworld.com.ph