Gary V is a proud papa

MANILA, Philippines - There are many things in his 28 years in showbiz that Gary Valenciano is very proud of. But there’s nothing quite like the pride he finds in seeing his children following in his footsteps.

“While I was kind of expecting it, the pressure was more on me (that they would follow in my footsteps) because everybody was expecting it. But I never thought it would get to this point,” Gary tells The STAR in a one-on-one after a presscon for his forthcoming TV special and new CD compilation, both titled With Love, Gary Valenciano.

Gary adds that he never even expected he would last this long in the industry, and among the perks of this longevity are the opportunities to share the stage and spotlight with his children through concerts or TV shows.

Gary is a father of three with Angeli Pangilinan — Juan Paolo Martin, 26; Jose Angelo Gabriel, 23; and Kristina Maria Mikaela, 18. Paolo is the lead vocalist of the rock band Salamin and has starred in stage musicals; Gab is a dancer, actor and host who appears on ABS-CBN’s ASAP Rocks alongside his father; and Kiana hasn’t gone full-time in showbiz yet, but she already won Best Child Recording Artist for Once Again It’s Christmas at the 2000 Awit Awards.

Gary says that he has cast his full support behind his children’s showbiz endeavors, at the same time, has encouraged them to nurture other interests.

“My daughter, Kiana, is into fashion designing. I’m not forcing her to enter the music industry, but I really think that she should. I’m speaking as a father, but we’ve seen her that nobody does. With my eldest Paolo, I’ve been encouraging him to go into directing and video editing. But it looks like he’s already sold to the idea of becoming a songwriter, and he’s really enjoying himself,” relates Gary.

“With Gab, I could not give him any other option because he was like made for what he is doing now from the start. When he was three and four years old, he was right there with me in motorcades, waving at people,” he adds.

The spotlight can burn the children of the famous and intense public scrutiny can make it tough for them to find their niché. Did his kids ever go through periods of angst of having to live with their parents’ status or in their shadow? “They’ve all had their moments of difficulty. There’s a particular stage that’s always enhanced when you’re in showbiz. Every family goes through it, but I guess it’s a little more pronounced when you’re in showbiz being in the public eye. But they’ve come out it pretty well,” Gary says. “(But) I’ve made it clear to them that the world may compare you to me, but I am the one telling you that you don’t have to be like me.”

To which, Gab who is oft-described as the spitting image of his father, couldn’t agree more.

Gab recalls the role-playing games he did as a child. “I remember one time my cousin cried and ran to my mom complaining, ‘Gab is always Gary V and I’m the Manoeuvers (referring to his father’s favorite back-up dancers).’”

 “I always wanted to be like my dad,” confesses Gab, who is also dipping his hand into music producing. “When I would get up there and perform, it is surreal for me. It became a normal thing to perform and be up onstage. But I will always carry my dad’s name. It’s not something I’m ashamed of or something I want to get away from, he’s my dad and he’s not just any dad.”

Being in the business as a family has another advantage. “It’s easy to get corrupted in showbiz,” admits Gab. But he believes that because they do stuff together, temptations are somehow kept at bay.

What other things do they do together to keep a sense of normalcy in their lives? “We do stuff that many families have forgotten. (For example) we put the Christmas tree up and it’s just us. We would dress up in different ways. If you only see the video of (this family tradition), it’s hilarious! Angeli is the first to put the first ornament, while Kiana is the last; she puts on the star.”

He and wife Angeli are also ready just in case their eldest son decides to marry. The couple, who managed to have one of the most enduring unions in showbiz despite a tumultuous start, has this constant advice for Paolo: “Prayer and the Word of God because in it, there’s advice on loving and forgiveness. With that, everything will follow.”

Meanwhile, Gary also showed reporters a teaser of his TV special during the presscon. It will come across like a music docu, featuring a montage of past performances, talking heads and fresh arrangements of his songs alternately performed by him and his children.

The TV special airs tonight at 10:45 on ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best. It is directed by Johnny Manahan with musical direction by Marvin Querido and choreography by Georcelle Dapat of the G-Force. Arrangements were done by Mon Faustino, Marvin, Gab and Gary himself.

According to Angeli, the concert is synergized with his latest album, With Love, Gary Valenciano, a compilation of successful theme songs performed by Gary for ABS-CBN and Star Cinema. Among the latest are Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin from the recently-concluded hit teleserye of the same title and Where Do I Begin (Love Story) from the movie In The Name Of Love.

“It is also a testament of his 28th anniversary in the industry and the 25th year of Manila Genesis Entertainment (Gary’s talent management company which Angeli runs). This is a big year for us,” adds Angeli. “In the special, we put together the Kapamilya stars and special friends from the industry who gave insights on their relationship with Gary like Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Ryan Cayabyab, etc. It’s an exciting collaboration between Genesis, ABS-CBN and Star Records.”

As he approaches his 30th year in the business, Gary says that he hopes for continuity. “I’m at a stage where I’m continuing what I’ve always done. I’m at a stage wherein I’m ready to venture into other things like studying abroad. It’s long overdue, but then again it’s always there. It’s just there for the taking, and I just have to go. I’m also looking into acting again. I’m open to doing indie films. There are some other projects I’m working on which are going to be very, very different. That’s where I’m at now.”