Gary V.'s energy still at all-time high

MANILA, Philippines - This year marks Gary Valenciano’s 29th year in the entertainment scene yet he shows no signs of slowing down. His passion to make good music never falters a bit and the ability to perform bone-breaking footwork indubitably fits him the title Mr. Pure Energy. The young people, he says, keep the energy in him at an all-time high.

“I have such a heart for the young people. I really do,” Gary begins. “Today’s generation is different; it’s nice when you carry a conversation with them, you get to really learn. You get to realize that even as a grown up, you still have a lot of room to grow and I really enjoy doing that.”

That’s why, he adds, every time young guys around him introduce something new — either a concept or a hit on-line — he makes it a point to check it out because “it’s what the young (people) are seeing and hearing.”

Just recently, Gary was amazed how YouTube sensation AJ Rafael performed on stage. “At first I told myself, ‘Sige na nga, let’s see what the young kids are talking about.’ And what I saw was really admirable, he performed covers then went on with his original compositions and he even played the keyboards without looking at it. The young guys now are naturally thinking way ahead and they have so many things to offer.”

His children Gab, Paolo and Keanna’s new ideas during his concerts often leave Gary in awe. The proud dad shares how Paolo and his friends made music videos for When I Hear You Call and Home. Paolo also took part in the editing of the opening video for Gary and Martin Nievera’s As1.

With young people around, Gary is all the more inspired to come up with something that is appealing to the present generation.

“Something happens to the brain when you get to the age of above 40s,” he quips. “Because the ideas I have now may not necessarily be meant for me to execute. It might just be meant for me to present but somebody else will execute it. I’m excited with the ideas that I have.”

These days, Gary is in the process of writing a story which he aptly describes as, “inspirational in nature but not in the typical way of dealing with pain. It’s going to have a lot of action scenes like you never imagined it to be.”

He, too, is taking time out to sit and talk with the ASAP team for the show’s twice a month segment called With Love where Gary frontlines with stories that hit the heart. He and some ASAP artists sing a song or two after saying inspirational thoughts in every featured story.

“We want to make sure you get more than just entertainment.”

Aside from doing a series of shows in April at the Music Museum and a US concert he calls as a “Valenciano Concert” in June, Gary is dipping his hands in acting on the silver screen again via Straight Shooters Media’s I Do Bidoo, Bidoo with Zsa Zsa Padilla, Ogie Alcasid and Eugene Domingo.

“All I can say is ‘Yeh!’ It’s a nice feeling to do a movie again after a long time. I did a cameo for the indie Gulong but in the mainstream, the last was 1995 pa for Hataw Na.”

On TV, he is one of the regular hosts in ASAP every Sunday. He is also the voice behind the theme song of Coco Martin starrer Walang Hanggan, included in the repackaged edition of With Love CD under Star Records.

Asked how he gets things done with much energy, Gary replies, “You really have to love what you do, because if you just look at it simply as work then it will just become a routine.”