Gary V celebrates 30th anniversary with ‘Arise’

MANILA, Philippines – Performer Gary Valenciano celebrates 3 decades in showbiz through an anniversary concert.

G Töngi reports.

Legendary Philippine recording artist Gary Valenciano celebrates his 30thyear in the industry.

Known as Mr. Pure Energy Gary V prepares for his concert this weekend at the Araneta Colliseum. Gary V co-directs the concert called “Arise” with his eldest son, Paolo Valenciano.

Paolo says the pressure to make this concert better than the last one is nerve racking.

PAOLO VALENCIANO, CONCERT CO-DIRECTOR: I’ve been directing concerts before, but this is the most attention I’ve gotten as a director. So there’s a lot of pressure. How do i watch a Gary Vshow and see everything fresh? Like how do iIpresent everything fresh to myself? That was really the challenge there.

In 1984, Gary V. held his first major sold out concert at the Araneta Coliseum. Coming back to the venue exactly 30 years later is nostalgic, especially for Gary’s wife, who also manages his career. Angeli Valenciano says Gary’s excellence comes from hard work and from being a man of faith.

ANGELI VALENCIANO, MANAGER OF GARY V: Well Gary V’s lasting power I think is a power that we don’t see. It’s a power that comes from above. It’s really the lord that has I believe, sustained him.

Gary Valenciano says the concert is his way of giving back. Proceeds of Arise go to the victims of the recent typhoon Haiyan.

GARY VALENCIANO, MUSICIAN: I can guarantee people that if they come to the concert and they donate, in any way, no matter how much or how little, when you see people rebuilding in Tacloban, and you know that you played a part in that. It’s the inspiration and the encouragement is beyond what you’ve ever experienced before. That’s one reason. The second is, I just wanna celebrate. And I want people to come and join me celebrate. Thirty years of being in an industry that’s very fickle-minded, you know, you’re here today and gone tomorrow. They’ve supported me all of these years. So this is my way of saying “Come. Let’s have fun. Enjoy the music. And there’s more to come too.”

There’s only one Gary V.

Spanning three decades as an artist, Gary V copes with the daily struggles of his diabetes. He rose above the shallow and superficial early in his career to evolve into one of the most enduring icons of Philippine showbiz. As he wows his audience with his gift of song and dance he inspires them to share in a concert of renewal and hope.
G Töngi. Rappler Manila. – Rappler.com