After health scare, Gary V is not retiring yet
MANILA, Philippines — “I wasn’t sure if I could do this concert tonight after battling with severe hydration,” said Gary Valenciano onstage Sunday night for the second performance schedule of “Pure Energy: One Last Time” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The total entertainer fell ill on Friday after throwing up, causing the show to end prematurely after only eight songs and Gary to be rushed to the hospital.
“I’m really taking my time because I want to finish this show for you,” Gary told his audience. “I’m not running on empty because I’m running on the fuse of God.”
Gary has been a juvenile diabetic since he was 14. No wonder there was a portable IV (intravenous) strapped to his left arm while he was performing.
But the show must go on. That was always an important declaration in show business. Everyone was on tenterhooks on Sunday morning, when even from his hospital bed, Gary assured everyone the second night of his “Pure Energy: One Last Time” concert would go on as scheduled.
“I will be at the Araneta today,” announced Gary on social media Sunday morning. “No weapon formed against me will prosper.”
The statement sounded tentative for everybody, but Araneta Coliseum was filled to the rafters, and everyone was anticipating whether or not Gary could pull through with his promise.
Before the announcement was made, Gary was cleared by his endocrinologist of 19 years, Dr. Michael Villa, to be discharged and checked out for Sunday night’s concert.
“At 8:15 this morning, I told my wife, ‘I cannot do this concert,’” Gary shared. “But the kind of wife that Angeli is, she was persistent. She believed I could not do it, but God can.”
At the Big Dome, the atmosphere of excitement was palpable. Everyone anticipated Gary’s entry into the stage as he started the performance with his iconic Shout for Joy anthem, with close to a hundred dancers backing him up.
No wonder, even after he finished the first song on his set list, Gary was immediately rewarded with a standing ovation by the crowd, who was all screaming and clapping to see him back to performing onstage — and Gary was obviously overwhelmed.
His wife, Angeli Pangilinan, disclosed Gary checked out from the hospital at 12 noon yesterday and went straight to the Araneta Coliseum. “He was lying down for four hours before the show and even had a portable IV on his arm while performing,” she said.
His director-son, Paolo Valenciano, made sure everything was on point — from the songs Gary would perform that night which were partly changed to even the camera in a drone hovering above the stage and the audience.
Gary obviously deviated from his physically demanding dance moves for his signature hits. “Hindi na namin sinundan ang original lineup for this concert,” Gary announced. “Our deadline was at 9 a.m. if I would push through with this concert or not.”
The five-member rock-alternative band, Over October, warmed up the stage before Gary’s entry and dished out their original songs, including 123, Ating Dalawa and concluded with Ikot.
Twice while performing, Gary closely monitored his blood pressure to make sure he was still good to continue onstage. He got consistent affirmation that pleased him and the audience, as well.
He was joined by his stellar guests. First was rapper Gloc 9. “There’s no one like him,” Gary said of the hip-hop artist, who penned and rendered Walang Pumapalakpak.
“When a career hits the big 4-0, you’d think there was nothing else in store this year,” Gary said. “But tonight, I’d like to sing this one song from the award-winning songwriter Gloc 9.”
“I hope this song speaks to those of you who have been working hard, doing his best, and still, never getting acknowledged for what you do. Never getting appreciated for what you do,” he added.
The crowd went wild when SB19, today’s hottest boy band, joined Gary onstage and proudly rendered one of their signature hits, Gento, with the latter.
South Border keyboardist and songwriter Jay Durias, on the other hand, performed I Will Be Here with Gary. “The song speaks about the reason for the season,” shared Gary, who proudly said Jay joined him in singing original adlibs for I Will Be Here.
“I am so, so blessed tonight,” said Gary. “This man inspired not just singers like me, but also musicians that you see. He (Jay) actually joined me in my first run for this concert at the Mall of Asia Arena (last April). I wasn’t sure if he was available for any of these shows, but he said yes to Dec. 22.”
Kiana Valenciano-Tolentino and Darren Espanto joined Gary in Each Passing Night, Narito and Sana Maulit Muli. They later joined Gary, Gab Valenciano in Sa Yahweh ditty.
Toward the end of his performance, Gary commended his eldest son, Paolo, for a job well done, which obviously pleased his dad and made him consistently proud of him.
“If you saw the concert of Sarah G, that’s Paolo. If you’ve seen the Ben&Ben concert, that’s him. Concert of Juan Karlos (Labajo), that’s him. Concert of E-heads, that’s him. Marami pa, hindi ko lang maalala lahat.”
“Paolo, to say that I’m proud of you is too much of an understatement. I love you so dearly. You were such an example to your brother (Gabriel) and your sister (Kiana). Your children have a good mom and dad taking care of them. They love you so much,” he further said.
Gary, however, reiterated that he is not retiring from showbiz. “There is a reason the title of this concert was ‘One Last Time’,” Gary explained. “This is a repeat of what we did last April, ‘One More Time.’”
“I’m not sure if you are familiar with a vision. It’s what God reveals to you. I want to disclose what I will do in the coming seasons of my life. Once a career has lasted this long (40 years), it often brings to mind the question, how long can this go on for?” he continued.
“I saw this God-given vision, (which) is usually meant to symbolize what would take place in the future. That future is now... it may not be as grand, Gary, but it will be fulfilling, maybe even more fulfilling than the past.”
In this season of Gary’s 60th year in his life (he proudly turned senior last August), he admitted that doing things like performing has never been easy.
“Nakakapagod din,” he attested. “But there is a calling and a leading that is energizing me to continue to move in to the spirit of uplifting, encouraging and inspiring many more now than ever before.
“For as long as this heart beats, that’s what I’ll be doing. I’ve given you my all tonight, as I’ve consistently tried to do so in every performance I’ve given you the past 40 years, all meant to move you right here (pointing to his heart).
“This is how I wished to be remembered. I know this is like a drama, but the final page of the chapter is being written right here, but it’s not the final page of the book. Me, I’m going to walk into that empty horizon with challenges and victory.
“With each step taken, it will be with energy, hope, by faith and wholeheartedly trusting him, the source of all my pure energy.”
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