Tracing Gary Valenciano’s musical family roots

GRIMI Valenciano with her son now (left)—and in her youth (right).

In interviews, Gary Valenciano doesn’t hesitate to attribute his famous singing voice to his mother, Grimi Santiago Valenciano, a former stage actress from Puerto Rico. Asked if he took formal training in music, he answers in the negative, but attributes to La Salle’s Kundirana his development during his high school days.

Was his singing inborn or developed? “Both. Kundirana helped me develop it, but I guess since my mom was also a singer, I inherited my gift of singing from her.”

And, his dancing? Pia Valenciano-Parchment, who is five years older than Gary shares: “Gary and I went into dance music, modern jazz and the top 40 tunes of the ‘70s. It was also at that time that Gary’s talent became evident—he could hum, drum and sing!”

First love

It was Gina Valenciano-Martinez, the third sibling, who showed a love for dancing early on, when Gary was old enough to attend dance parties. Gina and Gary were always first on the dance floor. She became a member of the original Hotlegs dance group. She and Gary always regarded  dancing as “our first love.”

Recently, it was discovered that the Dancing Valencianos’ talent may have had its roots linking them to another show biz family, with whom they have blood relations in Bicol—the Anson family of Camalig, Albay, where Gary’s father comes from.

Vic Valenciano is a first cousin of Oscar Anson, Boots Anson Roa’s dad, who is more popularly known by his screen name, Oscar Moreno—a film actor of Sampaguita Pictures who appeared as the leading man of its principal actress, Carmen Rosales, in many films.

Six feet tall, Oscar possessed a baritone singing voice, which was put to good use in musicals like Lebran Films’ “Romeo at Julieta.” His signature movie was “Ang Asawa Kong Amerikana,” directed by Eddie Romero, which won the first Asian Film Festival award for Best Screenplay (by Luciano B. Carlos).

MORENO. Starred in Eddie Romero’s award-winning film, “Ang Asawa Kong Amerikana.”

Oscar and his five handsome brothers were the toast of Bikolanos and Manileños during their prime. They were noted for the way they lit up ballrooms. Waldo’s wife was also a Sampaguita star, Myrna Delgado.

At a Bicol Varsitarian festivity  held at the Manila Hotel, one of the highlights was a dance exhibition, a tango number, executed by Oscar and Gary V’s mother, Grimi.

Vic Valenciano, a two-time president of the Camera Club of the Philippines, photographed the event and recorded it for posterity in his book, “Gary Valenciano Part II,” which will be launched soon. He’s also a consultant of the book to be published by Oscar’s daughter, Boots.