Gary V goes big ‘one last time’

MANILA, Philippines — It all started with a vision he had in 2008.

When Gary Valenciano goes big in a concert, “one last time,” on April 26 and 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena, he said audiences will understand why “it’s the last time of such scale.”  
The OPM icon recently shared the circumstances and inspiration that led to his decision to headline what will be his final arena show, “Pure Energy: One Last Time.”

“I called it ‘One Last Time’ because I really want this to be the last big solo, hataw na all-out, ‘Oh, watch Gary, he’s gonna go pure energy again,’” said the singer-songwriter, also known as the entertainment industry’s Mr. Pure Energy, for gifting the concert scene these past four decades with his signature electrifying and high-energy performances.

“I don’t wanna get spiritual here but in 2008, this is a long way back, I experienced literally, a vision. I was wide awake, I was with my wife (Angeli) and all of a sudden, I saw this thing take place.

“It wasn’t because my sugar level was low and I was fully conscious because it’s so vivid that I can tell you in detail what that vision was. That vision will be shared in this concert. It won’t just be shared, but people will also see what I saw that hopefully, would make them go, ‘Okay, we understand now why it’s the last time of this scale.’

“In 2008, when it happened, I couldn’t understand it. Why? What was that all about? But then recently, I’m willing to say, wait a minute, yung mga nangyayari sa akin ngayon, yun yun eh.”

Gary V began contemplating his last major solo concert when he had successive health issues in 2019. The Type 1 Diabetic had a heart bypass, followed by a kidney cancer diagnosis (he’s now cancer-free).

When the possibility was then discussed with his Manila Genesis team, he shared, “Napaiyak talaga ako.”

“If this is the last major concert, what are the songs that I need to do, what are the non-negotiables? Sana Maulit Muli, Take Me Out of the Dark, Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos, Warrior is a Child, Hataw Na. While we were looking at (the list), I just went wow, (I bowed my head) and Angeli came to hug me,” he further recalled of the scene that got captured by son and perennial concert director, Paolo Valenciano, in a photo shared on social media.

“But I want to make it clear that in 2019, iba yung mindset ko. Iba yung ‘ayoko na’ (due to health conditions) kesa let’s move on.”

They were supposed to hold the major concert in 2020, but the pandemic hit. In 2021, he did concerts online and realized his vocal chops were still strong enough for live shows. In 2022, he embarked on the “Reenergized” concert series. While he would perform 16 songs only, 10 out of those numbers required him to dance, and “it felt good.”

On a plane ride to New York for the last concert of the 2022 US tour, “there was another vision that happened and how the concert was going to come to a close. And that never escaped my mind.”

That vision would stay with him even after his 10-night, sold-out concert series “Gary V: Back At The Museum” in 2023.

So, contrary to perception and reactions to his December 2023 social media post announcing “Pure Energy: One Last Time,” he stressed, “It’s not really about hindi ko na kaya, or I’m retiring or for health reasons, no, no, no!”

Slowing down is likewise not the right term, although he’s very open about how he’s now feeling his age, as it takes longer for him to recover from two-hour shows compared to before.

Perhaps, the more fitting term is transition. There are other exciting things Gary V wants to do or revisit on and off stage.

“I know, it’s gonna be emotional for me. I remember when I went to watch Regine Velasquez’s ‘Regine Rocks,’ pagpasok ko sa MOA Arena, I heard the people and had this feeling na talagang you’re gonna give all of these up?

“Aren’t you going to miss this? And I really will miss it! But the body is saying, yeah, but there will be other things that you can do, too.”

During a concert break, Gary recalled two audience members requesting for a selfie with him. “Habang nagpi-picture kami, sabi niya, ‘Sir, sorry hindi kami nakapanood ng concert mo sa Music Museum kasi wala ng ticket. But we’re going to watch you here (MOA Arena) in your concert. But we found out it’s your last concert here? Why?’

“So, I looked at her and said, ‘Well, it’s hard to say goodbye to all of this, but at the age of 59, it’s kinda hard to…’ Then, she stopped me, ‘Sir, you’re 59?’ And I said, yes, I am.

“Then she went like, ‘Sir, I understand.’ I don’t even know this person, she understands that to come out there and be Mr. Pure Energy, it is not just all this (making dance moves), it’s also about (pointing at the heart and mouth). And it’s also the music that you hear on your own that doesn’t have me there, but my music is there, and that’s part of the whole pure energy image.”

Gary V also sees this two-night concert as one season in his life. “It’s a moment in my time where this is it, you know. I think Rod Stewart was supposed to come (to Manila) and his was called ‘One Last Time,’ too.

“He will have ‘One Last Time’ in Manila, ‘One Last Time’ in Singapore, ‘One Last Time’ in … and so it’s maraming ‘One Last Time.’

“So, for me, it’s a time, it’s ‘One Last Time’ and if we have two shows at the MOA and they extend it to one more, great! If they want the ‘repeat’ to end at Araneta Coliseum, it would be excellent because that’s where it all started.

“That’s the time now. But if next year, let’s say 2025, and you say, oh, na-miss namin yung ‘One Last Time,’ dapat mag-repeat kayo. Ay no, you missed your time (laughs).

“Sometimes, I would joke to other people, 40 years old na ako sa industry, hindi niyo pa ako napapanood?...

But yes, this one shouldn’t be missed because “this is the culminating event of my 40th year.”

Speaking of Gary V’s four-decade feat in the industry, there’s only one word for him to describe it — blessed.

“In that (word), you can put everything, all the feedback I’ve gotten online… when people write to you on Instagram, ‘I remember watching you at the Music Museum when my boyfriend was still alive… you sang the song that was giving him strength to deal with cancer.’ Thank you, that’s all I wanted to hear.

“That is a bigger reward than getting a physical reward like Best Concert Artist of the Year. The award is great but when you’re able to touch a life, that makes it real. And I’m gonna be on this stage in front of thousands who have touched my life.

“This is just my way of giving back and saying, look if you wanna go on the journey, it continues after this. But it’s up to you, you can come with me, I’d love to have you with me but there’s more to come.”

Meanwhile, other projects Gary V is looking forward to continuing or doing again include starring in a musical anew.

“There was talk to do a Gary V musical, I don’t know how that’s going to come about,” he shared.

“I wanna go back to acting and try doing a movie… something different. I’ve always wanted to score a film.”

He’s also set to tour with his “ASAP” family in August. There are plans to stage a repeat of the “Back at the Museum” shows.

Gary V is also eyeing an online show featuring songwriters after meeting so many of them as a judge of “Idol Philippines” last year.

While he may be transitioning to smaller venues or other avenues to connect with his fans, he doesn’t think he’s going to be dancing or performing less. He did just that when he continued “Face to Face,” his mental health advocacy wherein he visits high school and college campuses. The most recent one was after his angioplasty operation last month. He said that for as long his heart beats, he will continue doing it.

“These are high schoolers and they’re jumping with me, (singing), ‘Di ko na alam kung makakaya ko pa,’” he said of his latest “Face to Face” encounter.

“Blessed ‘di ba? I feel like I don’t deserve it but that’s what’s been happening. And I think that’s going to continue for years to come.”