So how is it to be an icon?
“It takes 40 years to learn,” said Gary Valenciano, who is marking four decades in the local entertainment scene.
Gary’s journey has not been without challenges. Over the years, he has battled serious health conditions, including a 45-year struggle with Type 1 diabetes, hepatitis, tuberculosis, a heart bypass surgery, kidney cancer, dengue fever, pneumonia, and an angioplasty this year. Despite these hurdles, his passion for music and performing remains as strong as ever. His son, Paolo Valenciano, will direct his upcoming concert, “Pure Energy: One More Time,” with Mon Faustino as musical director. It will happen on December 20 and 22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Last year, Gary celebrated his 100th solo show at the Music Museum with the wildly successful, sold-out 10-night series Gary V: Back at the Museum. Initially planned for four shows, the run was extended twice due to overwhelming demand, underscoring his enduring popularity. He also received multiple standing ovations during his US-Canada tour, though his announcement of “Pure Energy: One Last Time” initially led fans to believe he was retiring. Gary later clarified that while he’s stepping back from headlining large solo shows in arenas, his passion for music and performing remains as strong as ever.
Reflecting on his legacy, Gary shares how he connects with the younger generation.
“It’s amazing how I can go to school – I’ve visited college and high school students. They don’t really mix. I see junior and senior in college and 11th and 12th graders in high school.
“When I come out there, I [tell] them, I know you didn’t really know me,” Gary shared. “Maybe you’re just familiar with my songs. Or from your older brothers or sisters, your moms and dads. Maybe even your grandmas and grandpas.
“It’s amazing how that word ‘icon’ becomes so real to them when I’m able not to speak to them, but to speak with them. I make sure there are microphones in the audience that are reachable, for them to ask me questions after I share my life and my music.”
“It becomes so deep when you have students around. Others are saying their attention span is so short. It really is, but only when you speak to them. But when you speak with them, I tell them, ‘Maybe I can be the dad that you never had or the big brother you missed.
“I’m not the one who see hosting on ‘ASAP,’ although I am. Then they laugh. Then I share music that I know meets them at a point in their lives. That was all learned through 40 years of hits and misses.”
Gary emphasizes the importance of sharing his journey honestly. “I guess that’s what an icon really is. It’s not somebody who’s perfect. It’s somebody who’s where he’s at, despite all the challenges in his life.”
Music remains a vital part of his connection with his audience. In his upcoming concert, Gary will perform “Saranggola,”an OPM song written by Ebe Dancel for the “Awit at Laro” album. He explains, “Kites are like their dream. They are not meant to fly, they are meant to soar. I always tell the students the stronger the wind is, the higher and the farther the kite goes.”
