Gary Valenciano is a Filipino singer, songwriter, television host, actor and model. Jump to song list.
Latest Update
February 16, 2023 – Kapalaran, a song by Gary Valenciano, is used as OST of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.
Personal Information
Real Name –> Edgardo Jose Santiago Valenciano
Nickname –> Gary V
Birth Date –> August 6, 1964 (Age 58)
Hometown –> Manila, Philippines
Height –> 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm)
School –> La Salle Green Hills
Family
Wife –> Maria Anna Elizabeth “Angeli” Pangilinan, the sister of former senator Francis Pangilinan (Mariied: August 6, 1984)
Children –> Paolo Valenciano, Gabriel “Gab” Valenciano, and Kiana Valenciano
Father –> Vicente Calacas Valenciano from Camalig, Albay
Mother –> Grimilda Santiago y Olmo (Puerto Rican singer of Italian descent)
Siblings –> 6
Showbiz Career
In 1978, at 14 years old, Valenciano made his first television appearance in an advertisement for Fress Gusto, a now-discontinued soft drink sold by San Miguel Corporation.
He started as a choir singer, then launched his career in singing and show business on May 13, 1983. He first appeared as a solo artist in 1982 in the television program The Pilita and Jackie Show, and later in Germspesyal and Penthouse Live.
He had his first solo concert in April 1984 at the Araneta Coliseum, followed by a number of albums. Three of his albums were released internationally, including the Christian-inspired album Out of the Dark. He won the Awit Award twelve times in the “Best Male Recording” category alone. He has been called “Mr. Pure Energy” due to his high energy dance performances in concerts.
As an actor, he won the “Best Single Performance by an Actor” trophy when he performed in a drama television movie for GMA7 in the 90s. He has appeared in 14 full-length films as the lead actor for some of the top movie companies like Viva Films, Regal Films, Seiko Films, and Star Cinema, with leading ladies like Vilma Santos, Maricel Soriano, Lorna Tolentino, Kris Aquino, Sharon Cuneta, Gretchen Barretto, Princess Punzalana, and Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres.
As an inspirational artist, he recorded a number of Christian albums and was chosen to do a music video for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) for a song he co-wrote, “Could You Be Messiah,” in 1994. He was then tapped for Global Mission in Puerto Rico in 1994 where he performed with Michael W. Smith and Steve Green. BGEA tapped him as well as in Amsterdam 2000 where he performed for over 10,500 evangelists. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Christian Broadcasting Network, producers of The 700 Club. He performed at the 50th anniversary of CBN in Virginia Beach and has guested on The 700 Club USA many times.
As a performing artist, he was called the “Michael Jackson of the Philippines” in the 80s and 90s, and continues to hold concerts all over the world. He has sold-out venues and theatres in the Philippines and all over the world, performing in venues like the Shrine Auditorium and Microsoft Theater in California, the Roy Thompson Hall in Canada, the Budokhan Hall in Japan, the Navy Pier in Chicago, and the Sydney Entertainment Center and Hillsong Auditorium in Australia. He has performed all over the world, including in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Oman, Qatar, Paris, London, Finland, Norway, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, and Amsterdam.
In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines’ first National Ambassador. In 2006, the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee has named Gary Valenciano the official performer of the Asian Games’ theme song, “Side By Side”. In 2008, he marked his tenth year as a UNICEF Ambassador with a visit to Sitio Avocado, a former war zone in Negros Oriental.
Valenciano returned to acting in 2008 by appearing in the drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya, where he portrayed a prisoner who finds religion and becomes a born again Christian. That same year, he was nominated for “Best Single Performance by an Actor” in the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV.
In 2009, Valenciano released a collaborative album with Martin Nievera called As 1, with the carrier single of the same title.
In 2010, Valenciano was in a Holy Week drama special, Gulong (“Wheel”), a CBN Asia production shown on GMA.
For his 25th anniversary in 2008, STAR RECORDS, the music arm of ABSCBN, released GV 25, a compilation of songs he composed and recorded sung by music stars of the Philippines like Sharon Cuneta, Rachel Ann Go, Martin Nievera, Piolo Pascual, Jed Madela, Erik Santos, and Christian Bautista.
For his 30th anniversary in 2013, his concert ARISE, which was originally staged at the Araneta Coliseum for two nights and restaged at the MOA ARENA to a jam-packed audience, won as PMPC’s Best Concert of the Year. His album With You won the Best Inspirational Album for the same year at the Catholic Mass Media Awards.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Song List
Letting Go
Take Me Out Of The Dark
Babalik Ka Rin
‘Di Bale Na Lang
‘Di Na Natuto
Each Passing Night
Eto Na Naman
Gaya Nang Dati
Hataw Na
Hindi Kita Malilimutan
How Did You Know
Ililigtas Ka Niya
I Will Be Here
Ikaw Lamang
Kailangan Kita
Kapalaran
Lead Me Lord
Mahal Na Mahal Ko Siya
Narito
Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos
Muli
Paano
Reachin’ Out
Sana Maulit Muli
Shout For Joy
Warior Is A Child
‘Wag Ka Nang Umiyak
We Are The Reason
Gary Valenciano Albums
2016 – @Primetime
2014 – With You
2011 – With You
2008 – Rebirth
2006 – Relevance
2003 – At The Movies
2002 – One2One
2000 – Revive
1994 – Hataw Na
1991 – Shout For Joy
1989 – Faces Of Love
1986 – Inside Out
1985 – Gary.. Next
1984 – Gary
Television Programs / Web Series
2022 – Idol Philippines season 2 (as judge)
2021 – Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 3
2019 – World of Dance Philippines
1995 – CBN Asia Holy Week Special
1997–2000 – SOP
1988, 1990, 1992 – Ryan Ryan Musikahan
Movie List
2012 – I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila!
2011 – Subject: I Love You
1987 – Di bale na lang
1986 – Payaso
1986 – Horsey-horsey: Tigidig-tigidig
1984 – Hotshots
RELATED: Biography of Piolo Pascual; Allen Ansay; Vince Crisostomo
See also: List of Filipino Singers, Male and Female
See also: List of Famous Filipino Actors
