Gary Valenciano

Edgardo Jose "Gary" Santiago Valenciano (born August 6, 1964) is a Filipino singer and actor. Known for his musical versatility and performances, he is a recipient of various accolades, including 12 Awit Awards, three FAMAS Awards, and a Myx Magna Award.

Valenciano began his career in 1984 with the release of his self-titled debut album. In the succeeding years, he has ventured on screen, with appearances in several films and television shows. He has performed alongside artists such as Brian McKnight, George Duke, Paul Jackson Jr., Michael Shapiro, Ricky Martin, Cliff Richard, Leon Patilo, Michael W. Smith, Sandi Patti, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Kool & the Gang. Valenciano is also a philanthropist, having been appointed as the country's first UNICEF National Ambassador in 1997.

He is one of ABS-CBN's contract artists and has been a mainstay co-host of the weekly variety show ASAP since 2003.

Early life and education Edgardo Jose Santiago Valenciano was born in the Santa Mesa district of the City of Manila on August 6, 1964. He is the sixth of the seven children of Vicente Calacas Valenciano, a Bicolano from Camalig, Albay, and Grimilda Santiago y Olmo (1934–2019) from Arecibo, Puerto Rico. His parents met in New York City, married, and settled in Manila. His mother is a Puerto Rican of Italian descent who sang opera in Manila during the 1960s. Valenciano attended primary and secondary school in La Salle Green Hills, and was a part of the Kundirana.

Career

In 1978, at 14 years old, Valenciano made his first television appearance in an advertisement for Fress Gusto, a now-discontinued soft drink sold by San Miguel Corporation.

He started as a choir singer, then launched his career in singing and show business on May 13, 1983. He first appeared as a solo artist in 1982 in the television programme The Pilita and Jackie Show, and later in Germspesyal and Penthouse Live.

He had his first solo concert in April 1984 at the Araneta Coliseum, followed by a number of albums. Three of his albums were released internationally, including the Christian-inspired album Out of the Dark. He won the Awit Award twelve times in the "Best Male Recording" category alone. He has been called "Mr. Pure Energy" due to his high energy dance performances in concerts. In 2008, he marked his tenth year as a UNICEF Ambassador with a visit to Sitio Avocado, a former war zone in Negros Oriental.

Valenciano returned to acting in 2008 by appearing in the drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya, where he portrayed a prisoner who finds religion and becomes a born again Christian. That same year, he was nominated for "Best Single Performance by an Actor" in the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV.

In 2009, Valenciano released a collaborative album with Martin Nievera called As 1, with the carrier single of the same title.

In 2010, Valenciano was in a Holy Week drama special, Gulong ("Wheel"), a CBN Asia production shown on GMA.

For his 25th anniversary in 2008, STAR RECORDS, the music arm of ABS-CBN, released GV 25, a compilation of songs he composed and recorded sung by music stars of the Philippines like Sharon Cuneta, Rachel Ann Go, Martin Nievera, Piolo Pascual, Jed Madela, Erik Santos, and Christian Bautista.

For his 30th anniversary in 2013, his concert ARISE, which was originally staged at the Araneta Coliseum for two nights and restaged at the MOA ARENA to a jam-packed audience, won as PMPC's Best Concert of the Year. His album With You won the Best Inspirational Album for the same year at the Catholic Mass Media Awards.

Philanthropy Valenciano formed the Shining Light Foundation in 1989, focusing on supporting diabetics and a scholarship program that has produced many multi-awarded scholars and students.

Personal life Valenciano married Maria Anna Elizabeth "Angeli" Pangilinan, the sister of senator Francis Pangilinan, on August 6, 1984. Together, they have three children: Paolo Valenciano, a director and the vocalist of the band Salamin; Gabriel Valenciano, a singer, keyboardist, dancer, and director; and Kiana Valenciano, a model and singer-songwriter. The family resides in Antipolo.

He is currently living with type 1 diabetes, and has been an endorser for several wellness products related to the condition. In May 2018, Valenciano started feeling ill after a performance with his son Gabriel for the celebration of his 35th anniversary in showbiz on ABS-CBN's Sunday afternoon show ASAP, and had to undergo open heart surgery due to blockage of his left anterior descending artery caused by his diabetes. The procedure was successfully performed on May 6, 2018, and he was released from the hospital by May 12.

On April 17, 2019, Valenciano's mother died in Orlando, Florida, after battling pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and H1N1 flu.

Discography

Concerts Valenciano dubbed as Philippines "Mr. Pure Energy" has performed over 100 concerts worldwide throughout his career in the music industry.

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Notes Source 1984 Hotshots Mike Morales Valenciano's first movie appearance 1986 Horsey-horsey: Tigidig-tigidig Tommy Payaso cameo appearance 1987 Di bale na lang Nelson main role Maria Went to Town Fernando 1988 Ibulong mo sa Diyos Gilbert Tabuena main role Rock-a-Bye Baby Mike Montemayor main role Natutulog Pa Ang Diyos Mark Vilchez 1990 Kung Tapos na ang Kailanman Jeric Israel main role Papa's Girl Raffy Moreno main role Pangako ng Puso Jerry Cortez 1991 Kaputol Ng Isang Awit Johnny Abrigo main role 1996 SPO1 Don Juan: Da Dancing Policeman Bicycle Cop cameo appearance 2005 Gary V: Music Video Collection Himself Valenciano's music video collection 2007 The Bicycle (Gulong) Tito Lito 2011 Subject: I Love You Choy Based on the "I Love You" computer virus of 2000 2012 I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila! Nick Fuentebella

Television TNT 1-6 Head Judge

Awards and nominations Music

Film and television FAMAS

Golden Screen TV Awards

Other accolades First artist in the world to have a Sennheiser Special Edition microphone named after him – Sennheiser Evolution Series 2001 First and current UNICEF National Ambassador of Goodwill in the Philippines, 1998–present Stargate People Asia 2024 Men Who Matter - Legacy Awardee