Gary Valenciano’s mom Grimilda Ortiz dies at 84

GARY Valenciano. RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano’s mother Grimilda Ortiz has passed away at the age of 84.

Valenciano announced the news of her death Thursday via his Instagram account. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwX93kQlVUp/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=zv8tgnp011r7

He said his mother passed away after battling pneumonia, congestive heart failure and H1N1 flu. 

“Today at 12:42pm here in Orlando (12:42am in Manila) … my mom was welcomed home into the arms of her Lord and savior Jesus Christ,” Valenciano wrote. 

“She was always the life of any gathering, but last week was really tough on her as she had to battle it out against pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and H1n1 flu…all of which came almost at the same time on her 84yr old body,” he added. 

The veteran singer also reminisced how his mother loved and lived for others. 

“‘Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.’ Somehow this sums up how she lived… and how she loved,” Valenciano said. 

He listed the things he would mostly miss about his mother like “her crazy comments, her jokes, her words of encouragement, her laughter, her habit of standing by the driveway waving goodbye to us until our car turns the corner.”

Despite the loss, Valenciano looked forward to a new beginning and said he knew that his mother’s love will always stay within him. 

“A new season in our lives has begun. We now move on, forward to life with mom not being around us… but in us,” he said.

“It will take some getting used to but I believe if we can practice to love each other the way she loved us, which was always as unconditional as can be, we will get by with more laughter, yes with some tears, with thankfulness, and gratitude for having had her with us for these many years,” he added. 

Singers and actors from the industry commented and expressed condolences to the family of Valenciano.

Among them were Darren Espanto, Bianca Gonzalez, Heart Evangelista, Sylvia Sanchez, John Prats, Armi Millare, Mark Bautista, Christian Bautista and more. /cbb