Many may not know it but the 1988 poignant monster OPM hit "Sana Maulit Muli" by Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano was inspired by the late teen actress Julie Vega.

During a media conference for his upcoming "Pure Energy: One Last Time" concert held in Quezon City on March 1, Gary revealed the song was initially written in English when Julie passed away in May 1985.

Gary said he found himself writing the song in English when he saw a tabloid that featured a picture of Julie in bed with Fernando Poe Jr. beside her.

"I was just moved by the picture I saw in the tabloid. The picture showed Julie in bed and FPJ was beside her with his head down. I wish I kept that tabloid. I was just moved by how a young and fresh performer could have an impact on someone as seasoned as FPJ," Gary recalled.

"At that time, I was affected by that and I used to tell that story on stage. And this is the song I ended up writing. But in Tagalog, she (Angeli Pangilinan) wrote that song," he said.

"The song 'Sana Maulit Muli' was written by Angeli Pangilinan. In fact, nahanap ko yung original na English version which was written for Julie Vega when she passed away.

"The line goes, 'Kung kaya kong iwanan ka.' With Julie's song, 'But why'd you close your eyes so soon?/Why'd you leave us all behind?' That's what it was.

"And then in the part 'Ito, ang tanging nais ko.' At that time in the English version wala pang lyrics yun. It was only the late interview I had with the late Kuya Germs and Kuya Ike Lozada," Gary said.

Gary V promised Julie's parents that he would never release the English song.

"I promised the parents I would never release the English version. Never. I don't want to make money from that," he said.

Angeli, Gary's wife, wrote "Sana Maulit Muli" under a new concept but with the same background when Universal Records asked him for a ballad song.

"When Universal Records said, 'Wala ka bang ballad that you can come out with na Tagalog? Hindi naman ako marunong magsulat ng Tagalog at that time. But she (Angeli) could. She said, 'Give me that song of Julie I'll write it in Tagalog.'

"Sabi ko, 'Hindi puwede kasi it's about kamatayan eh.' And then she said, 'No. I'll make a whole new set of lyrics.' Pero Angeli knows na nangako ako sa parents ni Julie na I will never release the English version. And sabi nya, 'No. I will make an entirely new song. It has no connection (with Julie's death) except the background. So sabi ko, "Okay. sige."

Gary said he never met Julie in person but he was aware of the rivalry of fans between Julie and Janice De Belen who both starred in popular television series in the 80s.

Of all the songs he wrote and sang, Gary admitted "Take Me Out of The Dark" and "Sana Maulit Muli" were closest to his heart.

"It would probably be the song "Take Me Out of the Dark." Among all my inspirational songs, that's the one. But among all my pop songs, a ballad. It's "Sana Maulit Muli."

Gary V said the song "Take Me Out of the Dark" makes him cry. "Many times when I sing it, not because I'm reflecting on it, but suddenly, I'm feeling what the people are feeling."

"When I'm on stage, you're watching me. You're seeing me. But when I'm on stage, I look into their eyes, which is the soul of people. That tells a story. I don't just see one or two. That's saying everything to me. They're telling me a story without telling me a story. So that's the one that's meaningful to me. And during the pandemic, that song went worldwide. You get instant reactions from different people. That's probably why that song really means a lot to me," Gary V said.

Cover songs

Gary wanted to correct the misconception that he was the original singer for "The Warrior Is A Child" and "I Will Be Here."

"I remember arriving from abroad, and then there were these street kids, and they didn't even know my name, but they knew the song.

"It was the second or third anniversary of People Power. And Francis Magalona was still alive at that time. When Francis came out, he was doing Mga Kababayan.

"The thing is when Francis Magalona raw was singing, nagkatuwaan ang mga kabataan that time. Sila Marvin Agustin, Jao Mapa. 'O pare, kapag namatay ako, yung Mga Kababayan yan ang gusto kong marinig sa huling ano ko ha. So tawanan sila.

"But when I came out and did 'The Warrior Is A Child,' according to sources, Rico Yan told his handler, kapag may nangyari sa akin, ito ang gusto ko marinig ng tao sa final service. That was February. Good Friday of that same year; we were in Batangas enjoying Holy Week when Angeli got a call and screamed. 'What? No! Gary, Rico Yan died.

"There were two questions in my mind. What happened? Why am I being called? I was not close to Rico. I knew him. Then Angeli explained. The last service raw he wants that song," Gary recalled.

"Wow! Okay, I'll do it. After I performed it, the song became popular. Siya yung naging tool para yng song would mean to be heard. Until today, the song is a theme song to many.

"I also sang it in another wake. The song was written by a woman. Si Twila Paris. I heard that song in 1985. My life changed, and I gave my life to the Lord.

"One time, pumasok ako sa isang maliit na bookstore sa Makati. At that time, wala akong genre for that kind of music. I asked one of the sales ladies, 'meron ba kayong mga inspirational songs dito?' So meron doon cassettes and CDs. So, I choose randomly. Then I went into my car, played some songs, and heard 'The Warrior Is A Child.'

"Sabi ko, 'Oh my God! One of these days, I want to sing this song in my concert. I just heard it. That time I only wanted to sing it in my concert. Kahit one concert lang okay lang. I didn't realize I was going to record it, and then it took that route with Rico Yan dying and all," he said.

Gary said he had never met Twila, but she had seen her in person. "I saw her, but I never got to meet her. Ang tangkad! Mga 6 '1 yata."

"There's another singer by the name of Steven Curtis Chapman. He came to Manila and he said, 'hey man! Thanks for making my song popular here. The song is 'I Will Be Here.'

"Hindi ako ang original noon. But when he came over, he thanked me. You made my song popular. We had coffee together in the States. And he's been through a lot," Gary ended.

Tickets for Pure Energy: One Last Time, which will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on April 26 and 27, are in high demand, and to make tickets available for the fans, the SM MOA Arena team reconfigured the venue seat plan six times to better accommodate the requests of ticket buyers.

SM Tickets sold out all the premium seats on the weekend the tickets were released online. The Manila Genesis team, Gary’s production and management group for 38 years, together with SM MOA Arena’s ticketing team, has requested the fans to be patient as they try their best to adjust the massive stage design and video screens to open up more seats for sale. For more information and exciting updates, follow Gary Valenciano on Instagram and TikTok.