With heart at peace, Gary V ready to step into life’s ‘unknown horizons’
Gary Valenciano is no stranger to elaborately crafted concerts that highlight the breadth of his artistic talents.
But after 40 years in the industry, there was, as it turned out, still room to go even bigger. In “Pure Energy: One Last Time,” he made sure to pull out all the stops for what could very well be his final outing at a major venue.
The series’ packed second night at SM Mall of Asia Arena last month kicked off with “Shout for Joy,” which promptly displayed the full scale of the show. Onstage with Gary was an army of some 80 dancers from various dance crews like the A-Team and of course, his longtime collaborators, the Maneouvres. Together, they filled the expanse of the stage with dynamic choreography that emphasized the songs’ festive new jack swing vibe.
Exuberant, uplifting
The atmosphere was exuberant and uplifting. And in the middle of it all, Gary was in full flow, matching the younger performers move for move, all while belting out high notes. The message was clear from the get-go: the show was a celebration, not a farewell.Gary delivered some of his warhorse numbers, like his trademark cover of Chick Corea’s “Spain.” With its many twists and turns, changes in tempo and intricate ad-libs, the eight-minute performance was a showcase of vocal stamina, agility and mental presence that had the crowd roaring in approval.
In “Babalik Ka Rin,” visuals of Filipino indigenous textile patterns were displayed on the screen and mapped out across the stage’s gently sloping floor, making it seem like Gary was dancing on richly colored tapestries. In “The Warrior Is a Child,” the lights and screens evoked a torrential downpour, heightening the sense of drama for the ballad. Gary invited special guests onstage for rousing duets and frenetic dance routines:
“Could We” with Zsa Zsa Padilla; “Hang On” with Martin Nievera; “I Will Be Here” with Ice Seguerra; “Everybody Get Down” with the P-pop band BGYO; a Jackson 5 mashup with his kids Kiana and Gab Valenciano; and a medley of “Each Passing Night,” “Reaching Out,” “Narito” and “Sana Maulit Muli” with Jona and Darren Espanto.
But among all the collaborations, two numbers stood out: Gary’s musical duel with rap icon Gloc-9 on the song “Walang Pumalakpak,” which gradually intensified into a haunting crescendo; and his duet with Ebe Dancel on the somber, but reassuring ballad “Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak,” which let their beautifully pure vocals shine amid sparse instrumentation.And just when everyone thought the show was winding down to something quieter, Gary cranked up the energy—and put it in a shot of nostalgia, for good measure—with “Growing Up” from the film “Bagets.” On the floor, Aga Muhlach danced along together with fans who grew up watching the film.
From his catalog of inspirational songs, Gary drew the likes of “Sa Yahweh ang Sayaw,” “Natutulog Ba ang Diyos” and “Lead Me Lord,” which he dedicated to people facing personal battles in silence.“People around you, or even you yourself, may be having personal wars—the kind of war that the world will never know or even care about. This is for the hearts of the lost, anxious and hurting … for those who need healing,” said Gary, who was joined by his guests and other friends from the industry for the said number.In “Saranggola,” which had composer Ebe playing the guitar, Gary reminded everyone that hardships in life push people forward. Quoting the late former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Gary said: “Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.”
Outpouring of affection
“The harder the wind blows, the farther, the higher the kite goes. The things that come against you may actually be what God uses to strengthen and enable you not to fly, but soar,” pointed out Gary, whose impassioned speeches about life, love and faith always put the audience in a contemplative hush.
In an interview prior to the concert, Gary admitted that some of the things he will miss about doing big shows like this one were the thunderous applause and the outpouring of affection from his devoted supporters.
As he sang “Kailangan Kita,” Gary made sure to get as close to the crowd as possible, hopping offstage and making his way around the perimeter of the venue’s lower box, where fans giddily swarmed him for a photo or a handshake. In “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin,” the singer, now visibly emotional, couldn’t help but pause every now and then, if only to savor every second.
But more than anything else, the concert, Gary revealed, was the culmination of a vision from God in 2008 during his 25th anniversary concerts. He recalled being in such a bad shape vocally that, on the morning of his second show, he asked his wife, Angeli Pangilinan, to pray for him. “I had nothing left,” he said.
He remembered only the first few words of Angeli’s prayer because her voice started fading away.
This was replaced by a vision of God and his light “enveloping” him with “indescribable peace.” Gary saw himself walking at night toward unknown horizons. “God said that it was okay to stop,” he said.
“He was pointing toward the horizon, but it was empty. But my heart knows that, standing there beside me, He knew what’s out there. He had no intentions of leaving me. He said, ‘It may not be as grand, but it will be fulfilling.’ I just nodded. And then I started walking toward the horizon with Him once more,” he related.
Sixteen years later, that day has finally come.
“I will be turning 60 (on Aug. 6). Nakakapagod din,” admitted Gary, who soldiers on despite his lifelong battle with Type 1 diabetes, and more recent health scares like kidney cancer and heart disease.
But the concert wasn’t goodbye. The fans will still see Gary doing music, just not in an arena. He’s just closing a chapter in his book; there are still blank pages waiting to be filled up with his future endeavors. And with the reassurance felt from the vision he had years ago, he can now venture into his life and career’s unknowns with a willing heart.
“As long as this heart continues to beat, I want to continue uplifting and encouraging people through my music. I have given you my all as I have consistently tried to do so with every performance. This is how I wish to be remembered,” he said, before ending the night with “Take Me Out of the Dark.”
“I’m going to walk into the great unknown horizon with its challenges and victories, with each step taken with energy, hope, faith … by wholeheartedly trusting Him, the source of all pure energy,” he said. INQ“Pure Energy: One Last Time” will have a third show on May 10 at SM Mall of Asia Arena. INQ
