Acclaimed pop balladeer RJ dela Fuente and Mr. Pure Energy himself, Gary Valenciano, are set to release the music video for their new single “Blessings,” which serves as a reinterpretation of Laura Story’s beloved 2011 hit.

Directed by Jason Maximo, the music video will premiere on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Thematically, the visual narrative presents a deeply personal and visually stripped-down interpretation of the song’s powerful message: that grace often finds us in life’s most challenging moments.

The release marks a significant moment for the two generations of Christian music artists, serving as a creative collaboration built on faith, mentorship, and shared artistry, as well as a poignant yet moving showcase of spiritual and emotional depth.

“We didn’t want it to be too literal with the visuals,” Gary Valenciano, the top-selling Christian artist in the Philippines, explains. “A play of lights, a plain set, simple attire… It all kept the message crystal clear.”

MV Director Jason Maximo shares that the visuals mirror the journey from darkness to light, unraveling a metaphor for discovering the presence of Jesus even in life’s most uncertain spaces. “We started in black limbo, a void where light slowly begins to rise with the music, mirroring how hope often begins quietly. RJ stands in cool, desaturated tones: calm yet distant. Gary Valenciano is wrapped in warm, golden hues: vibrant and intense. Two different seasons, but in both, God is moving.”

Maximo adds, “And then, the shift—light floods the frame, the black disappears. They stand in white, fully surrounded. It's not just brightness; it’s the presence of Jesus, overwhelming everything. Darkness doesn’t just fade; it surrenders.”

Indeed, the production employs chiaroscuro-like lighting and minimalist sets to underscore the song’s themes: moments of darkness that gradually give way to light, reminiscent of the trials and triumphs of faith.

The concept was a deliberate choice, guided by RJ and Valenciano with the director duo of Jason Maximo and Myles, who both share the same church community as the performers.

In every frame, the focus remains on the powerful and resonant performances, with camerawork and lighting designed to support and not overshadow the spiritual message.

“The lyrics are so powerful, we didn’t want the visuals to distract from that,” RJ shares. “This video is special not just because of the song, but because I get to do it with Tito Gary, who’s been an inspiration to me since I was younger.”

Behind the simplicity lies a deep emotional charge. Valenciano describes the dimly lit moments in the video as symbolic of life’s trials, while the brighter transitions stand for hope and healing that faith can bring. “It’s one of those songs I wish I had written,” he admits. “Blessings don’t always come wrapped in joy. Sometimes, they arrive in disguise, through struggles we never expected.”

For RJ dela Fuente, “Blessings” is also a defining moment of growth. Known for his past performances on American Idol and The Voice Philippines, he now steps confidently into a new phase of being an artist in his own right, grounded in his faith and mentored by the country’s most enduring icon of Christian music, Gary Valenciano.

The collaboration comes ahead of another project reuniting the two: the upcoming run of “Joseph The Dreamer,” a landmark theater production in which both Valenciano and dela Fuente will take on key roles.

The story of Joseph, marked by betrayal, imprisonment, and ultimately, redemption, echoes the themes explored in “Blessings.” Catch the limited run of Joseph The Dreamer on July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

For Valenciano, the parallel is clear. “Joseph’s story didn’t look like a blessing at first. It was years of hardship and waiting. But that’s how many of God’s blessings arrive: disguised in difficulty, only to be revealed in full later.”