In celebration of his 40th year in showbiz, Gary Valenciano, the inspiration icon and Mr. Pure Energy, continues to captivate audiences with his music. He is excited to use his passion for inspiring young people to make a positive impact.

"We're still here after everything. To some people watching around the world, it's like, 'Oh, he's done this before,' but not in this kind of season where you know what we've gone through. Look where we are today; we're everywhere. To me, the contract is just a symbol. But even if there were none, I'd think I'll still be here continuing what I believed I'm called to do in this time of my life," said Gary V after he renewed his contract with the Kapamilya Network last July 25.

Gary, 59, also emphasized what it means to be a Kapamilya.

"When you say Kapamilya, it's not just a tagline we add to ourselves. It is how we treat each other, and it resonates with how we are with everybody watching. We must be a Kapamilya to every person, whether Kapatid, Kapuso, or Ka-A2Z. It encouraged me to know that after 40 years, there are still many years to look forward to being that exactly—in the service of the Filipino worldwide," Gary shared.

Throughout his 40-year career, Gary has been a mainstay with ABS-CBN for 20 years as a host and performer for the country's longest-running musical variety show, "ASAP Natin 'To."

Apart from his electrifying performances on the ASAP stage, he helped hone the next generation of Kapamilya performers—serving as a celebrity judge and mentor in various talent shows, such as "X Factor Philippines," "World of Dance Philippines," "Your Face Sounds Familiar," and most recently with "Idol Philippines" and "Tawag ng Tanghalan."

He is also known as the immaculate voice behind the theme songs of ABS-CBN's hit teleseryes, including "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano," "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," "Tayong Dalawa," "Walang Hanggan," "Sana Maulit Muli," "Ikaw Lamang," and "Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo."

Gary V. shared insights about his musical career, health, and strong faith in an online interview.

1) What was your biggest achievement in 2022?

My biggest triumph was taking care of myself and my health. That enabled me to do my concert tour in 2022, my first since 2019.

2) What advice would you like to give yourself as we navigate 2023? 

The advice that I can give myself is that I need to continue taking care of myself. This is so I can continue to perform, write music, create content, conduct interviews, and develop ideas for projects I want to do. And to be able to do all that, I need to take care of myself. I also need to do it for the children I’ve been blessed with: Paolo, Samantha, my daughter-in-law, my grandchildren Leia and Luch, Gabriel and Kiana, and my wife. Even if the events may seem to get darker, people like family make our days brighter.  So I want to be able to spend more time with them as well.

3. What would you be willing to try outside your comfort zone to improve your health?

Going outside my comfort zone may not be necessary to care for my health. I think it’s a matter of being more determined, disciplined, and committed to staying healthy. Because, honestly, you cannot perfect it. You know when they say no one is perfect? It’s true. I told myself, “I’ll never eat potato chips again!” but I did, and I still do, once in a while lang. I’m going back to working out. I stopped for a while, but I have a US tour coming up, inspiring me to go back to working out. Biking is another thing I want to continue doing, even bowling and, recently golf, which I just got back into.  These are the things I need to continue doing to increase the status of my health.

4. How do you manage to look amazing despite having diabetes?

First and foremost, thank you for thinking of me in that way! In my life, I've always believed that, as a mountain biker, there's a valuable lesson to be learned from the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Just like a bike needs the right tension in its spokes, certain elements need to be aligned correctly in my life. These elements are diet, medication, exercise, and faith, which act as the "spokes" in my life. It's about more than tightening them to the maximum but finding the right balance for them to be most effective. Maintaining this balance is a critical factor in how people perceive me today.

I want to clarify that when people comment on my appearance, I say diabetes has played a significant role. Nobody chooses to be diabetic, but it forced me to care for myself to the best of my abilities. I share this because I don't want people to think that every day is solely dedicated to maintaining my health. I don't exercise every day, sports is part of my usual exercise routine. I need to get back to the gym and tighten that particular spoke.

I take my medications, they are in order, and my diet is good. Diabetes management through self-monitoring is another aspect of taking care of myself. Nowadays, many apps can track your food intake, calorie consumption, fat burning, and overall health. It's also important to monitor my sugar levels. It helps me gauge where I stand in terms of my health.

Regarding faith, I have a strong connection with God, and I love the Lord. However, when it comes to exercise, I need to work on it. That's my perspective. Surrounding yourself with people who speak life into you is also crucial. Constantly seeking validation from online sources that may not align with your current reality can harm your mental and emotional well-being. It's best to be surrounded by people who provide honest feedback and tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want.

5. You have been battling type 1 diabetes since you were 14. Take us back to the first time you were diagnosed with the malady. 

The first time I was diagnosed, my blood sugar skyrocketed to an alarming 700 something. It was so high that I had to be immediately hospitalized and begin insulin treatment. The emotional stress and burden it imposed on me made it even more challenging. I vividly remember when I was 11 or 10, witnessing my cousin running away from the nursemaid holding a syringe, crying in fear. My uncle explained that she was sick and needed to take 2-3 shots of insulin daily, which caused her pain and distress. In response, I told my uncle, "You know, Tito, I never want to have it." However, a few years later, at 14, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

The beginning was difficult as I had to adapt to numerous changes. As a growing boy, I had to manage my diet and restrict my calorie intake carefully. Balancing everything was challenging. Then came the early-stage maintenance routines that I had to follow. It's worth mentioning that this was before I even started checking my blood sugar levels. Initially, I had to rely on urine tests. I would collect a urine sample and place it in a test tube, adding tablets that would dissolve and indicate my sugar level based on the resulting color. This process was complicated. I couldn't do it consistently and had to carry the necessary tools to the bathroom. Waiting before getting the results added to the frustration. Eventually, things changed, and I began pricking my fingers to use glucose strips. However, at that time, it wasn't real-time. The next test was about 2 hours away, leaving me uncertain about how high or low my sugar levels might fluctuate during that time. The result was not immediate, making it difficult and time-consuming. Fortunately, the wait time was reduced to 5 seconds, which was an improvement. It's even better today as I have a device that seamlessly integrates with your body and provides instant readings.

6. You have surrendered diabetes to a strong faith. How has it helped you manage the health issue?

Having faced death up close multiple times, my faith has carried me through. Through faith alone, I can live with confidence, not in my abilities or actions, but in the knowledge that the Lord has called me to fulfill significant purposes in the music industry and in people's lives. Taking care of myself regarding diabetes is paramount, allowing me to fulfill, prolong, and sustain my calling.

Faith has genuinely been my guiding light during the most challenging moments. It has also enabled me to surpass the 30-year life expectancy that doctors initially told my mom when I was diagnosed. Then, they said that, on average, people with diabetes had a life expectancy of 30 years, and I was only 14. So, by their calculations, my lifespan would be until I would reach 44. However, I am 58 years old today, and my faith in the Lord has been tremendously instrumental in this journey.

Regarding faith, there are also confirmations that prayers are answered. I am now using a device called the "FreeStyle Libre," which is a continuous glucose monitoring system. It has been a game-changer for me. All I need to do is apply the device to my arm, and that's it. Some non-diabetic individuals might question or find it inconvenient, but those who have diabetes will understand how sometimes it can become quite burdensome. Excusing oneself to prick a finger and undergo testing and cleaning can be tiresome. With this new device, it's like a patch that sticks to your arm, and you use a reader device like a beeper to scan it, instantly providing you with the glucose reading. I check my blood sugar now and then again in a few hours; it doesn't just provide the readings for those specific moments and monitors everything in between. This allows me to observe patterns and understand how certain factors, such as food intake or lack of exercise, affect my levels. It has been beneficial as it aids me in monitoring myself diligently. The fact that it is a continuous glucose monitoring system is a breakthrough because that's precisely what you need – to have constant knowledge of your sugar levels at any given time. Plus, it lasts for 14 days, after which I transfer it from my left arm to my right arm, and I can continue reading it as many times as I want. This device allows me to monitor myself constantly due to its continuous glucose monitoring capabilities.

7. Netizens have also prayed for your recovery. 

It's genuinely heartfelt gratitude, no, really, because I am here! I am here, alive, and still able to pursue what I love.! Until now, some people have asked about my health struggles and said, "We have been praying for you!". People's prayers for me have indeed been answered. So, thank you so, so very much. People will never fully comprehend the depth of gratitude in my heart for everyone who has lifted a prayer on my behalf. Maraming maraming salamat talaga.

8. Many lazy people don't want to manage their diabetes. What is your message to them?

When you want to travel from one place to another, let's say from here to Baguio? You have to take the North Diversion Road or NLEX. Then, from NLEX, you need to connect to SCTEX, TPLEX, or something similar, but you must pass through these places unless you want to take a much longer route to Baguio City. So, for those who may not want to manage their diabetes? Let me tell you, it's crucial to go through the process, embark on the journey, and follow the proper avenues to manage diabetes effectively and live a longer and more productive life.

Diabetes is a great deceiver. Sometimes, you may think you're doing well, but your internal health may need to be in better shape. I'm not referring to emotional well-being; your organs may not function well. It can be daunting to go for check-ups, but trust me if the doctors detect something early on, it's much better than discovering something too late because you neglected to take care of yourself or were afraid to seek medical advice.  Diabetes complications are, unfortunately, irreversible.

Physical activity is one of the best things you can do as a person with diabetes. I engage in mountain biking, bowling, golfing, and even walking. It's fantastic for the body, and you don't have to cover long distances! You don't have to overexert yourself; instead, find a balance that works for you and develop it into a routine. So, please take care of yourself. I'm just touching the surface with these answers, but I hope it sparks the interest of newly diagnosed diabetics to understand what diabetes is all about, honestly.

9. Please share with us some of your career plans or news for this year. 

There will be more music, including a highly anticipated concert in April 2024 and collaborations with talented artists. Additionally, I have plans to expand my involvement in theater. Above all, I aim to create meaningful moments to connect with my audience more deeply. I plan to do that through upcoming projects.

There's also the next leg of my #GARYVReenergized Tour. We'll visit Washington, California, Oregon, Canada, and more.  Check out our tour schedule and visit http://www.garyv.com/tour to get tickets!

 
SEPT 9 SAT 8 PM - BROOKS, CA
Cache Creek Casino Resort

SEPT 10 SUN 6 PM - PORTLAND, OR
Revolution Hall

SEPT 24 SUN 6 PM - CALGARY, AB, Canada
Rajveer Banquet Hall Calgary

SEPT 28 THU 8 PM - WINNIPEG, MB, Canada
Club Regent Event Centre

OCT 1 SUN 6 PM - TORONTO, ON, Canada
John Bassett Theatre

OCT 6&7, FRI & SAT 8PM - TEMECULA, CA
Pechanga Resort Casino