We all know Gary Valenciano as Mr. Pure Energy, the guy who lights up every stage like he’s a firework! But beyond the concert spotlight and hit songs, there’s a fun and surprisingly relatable side to him that'll make you love him even more.
In a rare moment, the music icon gave us a glimpse into his life through some of his most unforgettable ‘firsts’—from the first song that put him on the map to the sweet first time he held his grandchild. There's even a kitchen confession that proves Gary is just like us!
Let’s kick things off with a trip down memory lane—what did ‘Gary V’ buy with his very first paycheck? Well, he admits it’s a bit of a blur (we get it, it’s been over 40 years), but it’s between two memorable purchases, either a second-hand car he bought from his dad or his very first piano, which he used to create some of his most beautiful and timeless hits, including "Sana Maulit Muli" and "Take Me Out of the Dark." And the piano is still working after all these years, though he eventually passed it down to his kids.
When asked to relive the first time he became a grandpa, Gary bursts into hearty laughter and says that's exactly how he felt in that moment. “It’s different, eh, when you have your baby, and then you go through life, you go through the ups and downs, and then your baby becomes a young man or a young woman, you share each other’s experiences, and then they have a baby," reflects Gary, who is fondly called 'Papi' by his grandkids because that was also his term of endearment for his mom's father, his grandpa, from Puerto Rico.
“Wala, I was speechless,” he recalls. “Tapos habang hawak-hawak ko si Leia, tinitingnan ko ‘yung anak ko, si Paolo, and I remembered when I was holding him like that also.” In that tender full-circle moment, Gary whispered heartfelt words to the then-newborn Leia, the first child of Paolo Valenciano and wife Sam: “Papi is going to love you forever. You will learn about that word as you go on in life. Life does not last forever, but Papi’s love will.” Aww!
While music and performing are Gary’s lifeblood, it’s his role as a family man that serves as his ultimate anchor, especially during his health struggles. He would look at his kids doing well, and realize life is still beautiful, so much more beautiful, despite the challenges. His eyes light up with pride as he speaks about his children—Paolo, Gabriel, and Kiana—each carving their own paths.
Gary shares that they always knew Paolo had the music genes, so it was no surprise when he ventured into performing and even became part of the band Salamin and, for a time, the frontman of the iconic Rivermaya. But somewhere along the way, the family noticed that he had an extraordinary vision, like his fascinating and insightful opinions about movie endings and comments on the visual aspects of films. They didn’t expect, however, that he would eventually pursue a career as a director. Now, Gary couldn’t be prouder of how well Paolo has done in his chosen field as a concert director, having worked on some of the country’s biggest musical productions, including concerts for Regine Velasquez, Rivermaya, Ben&Ben, and the upcoming concert of JK Labajo. In fact, Paolo will also be directing Gary’s own upcoming concert titled "One More Time" at the Araneta Coliseum this December 20 and 22.
"It's amazing to know that he is the way he is now," says Gary of his son.
Meanwhile, Gabriel, or Gab, has taken after his dad’s energetic soul. As former Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan, Gab’s godfather, puts it, if Gary is the ‘pure energy,’ then Gab is the ‘renewable energy’ because he never seems to run out of zest for life. In case you didn’t know, Gab is a professional racer, which totally reflects his thirst for adrenaline, adventure, and speed. But like his brother, Gab has inherited the creative bloodline as well. While Paolo is a master of directing concerts, Gab shines in producing videos. In fact, Gab passed on his skills to their youngest sibling, Kiana, in helping her edit the music video for one of her singles.
"It's amazing to see all three of them shine do'n sa mga talent na binigay sa kanila. It's not rolled into one; iba-iba. Paolo is into music and video production, and Kiana is a songwriter and singer. I can't ask for anything more, and I can't complain," expresses Gary.
Meanwhile, his first-ever single and his first hit English song was "Hang On," written by his best friend in high school, Tats Faustino, with whom he had always dreamed of someday creating beautiful songs together. Tats turned that into a reality by composing Gary’s debut single. However, the track that truly put Gary on the map, as he puts it, was "'Di Na Natuto," written by the late Danny Javier of APO Hiking Society, and which stayed on the charts for almost a year, making it the record that catapulted him into fame and bigger success.
In the final round of this "Kapamilya Chat Firsts" Challenge, the "ASAP" frontliner couldn’t help but laugh when asked about the first recipe he mastered in the kitchen. He’s been open about his journey as a diabetic, so his diet is very limited. But if there’s one culinary masterpiece he’s proud of, it would be his version of popcorn, which he spices up with pepper and garlic chips—sounds interesting, right? He also loves making dessert for his grandkids, like a homemade ice cream where he mixes frozen strawberries with a little milk and sweetener and mashes it all together. Recently, he started learning how to make salpicao, suited to his taste since he’s not a fan of overly saucy dishes.
What’s your favorite fun fact that Gary shared in this episode of Kapamilya Chat?