The real name of Gary Valenciano is Edgardo Jose Martin Valenciano. He was born on August 6, 1964 in Santa Mesa, Philippines and is a Filipino singer and musician. He is sometimes called “Mr. Pure Energy.” Gary had in his name 26 albums and he was given the award for 11 times as “Best Male Performer.” Gary was hailed as the first UNICEF National Ambassador of Goodwill for the Philippines. His parents were Vicente Valenciano and Grimilda Santiago Ortiz who is a Puerto Rican, and was a famous opera singer in Manila in the 1960’s. Gary inherited her love for music. Gary studied in La Salle Greenhills during his primary and secondary years. He was a member of the famous “Kundirana” when he was in high school. Gary had six siblings.
It was in 1982 that he started performing and he was eventually launched as a singer and actor in 1983. He had appeared in television shows entitled ‘The Pilita and Jackie Show,” “Germspesyal,” and “Penthouse Live.” In 1984, he performed in his first ever solo concert in Araneta Coliseum, and the rest was history. 21 albums followed, including the Christian album entitled “Out of the Dark.” Three albums were internationally released. He had also released an album with Martin Nievera entitled “As 1,” in 2009.
Gary Valenciano was diagnosed with a person living with type 1 diabetes but this illness did not in any way hamper in his singing career. He however, became successful despite being a diabetic. He was only 14 when he was diagnosed with diabetes but even though there were complications, he still pursued with his singing. There was even an instance when he fell unconscious due to very low blood sugar, in 2005. Good somebody had immediately discovered him, since it would have resulted to a coma. Gary was just so thankful that he was still given the chance to survive, and by faith he had overcome all the hardships related to his disease. Gary had been openly sharing his experiences with diabetes, one way of letting people know how to deal with it and how to prevent it.
It was only recently that his father died of cancer, and although Gary is depressed, he is still thankful that his father is in a better place now. His father was his photographer, and a two time president of the Camera Club of the Philippines, and had released a biographical book about his son, Gary. He was an avid fan, a mentor of Gary’s life and career.
Gary is still with ABS-CBN appearing in a Sunday Show entitled ASAP, and still showcases his talent as a singing artist and musician.
His oldest son Gab left for the US to study in a media school in Orlando, Florida for two years, after which he plans to tour US and Europe and see where he can apply what he had learned. Gary says he will miss his son because this is the first time one of them separated from the family. But he is still happy to know that Gab is the one who will fulfill his dream when he was younger of studying abroad.
