Gary Valenciano speaks up on son Gab’s Facebook post

MANILA, Philippines – Gary Valenciano took the opportunity speak up about his son Gab’s Facebook post, which became a hot topic online.

Early this month, Gab posted on his Facebook page a long message about his battle with depression while he was active in Philippine showbiz. He wrote that he was “drowning in an industry I was never really accepted in and masking it by going out almost every night and making the worst decisions in life.”

He also shared how he was ridiculed, judged and hated for some reasons he could not understand. But he later said that he did not need approval from people, especially on social media.

“I don’t need social media and the approval of people to define my success. Why? Because I believe in a much bigger picture,” he wrote.

In an inteview with Tonight with Boy Abunda, Gary said he could have done something about it.

“I knew I played a fault at that. Because syempre as Gary Valenciano, as his father, there are things that I could have done para maiwasan iyon (to avoid it),” he said.

“But I’ve also seen what he’s gone through, the depression that he’s gone through and I assured him many, many times, ‘Gabriel, ‘I don’t expect you to talk, walk, sing, dress up, sing like me, dance like me. I don’t expect that. You have your own set of wings, use those wings to fly. I’ll fly with you but I will not fly for you,'” he added.

Gary said that he’s very proud of his children’s accomplishments. Gab, who is based in the US and married to Tricia Centenera recently attended the MTV Video Music Awards, where he was part of the nominees for Beyonce’s music video. Gary’s eldest son Paolo is a singer and musical director, while daughter Kiana is currently in London.

Aside from his collaboration for Beyonce’s video, Gab joined America’s Got Talent, appeared on a music video for Pitch Perfect 2, directed a video for Jessica Sanchez, and appeared on Lil Jon “Rock the Vote” video. – Rappler.com