Kiana Valenciano with (left) Gary Valenciano and Sandro Tolentino. Screenshot from ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel, Image: Instagram/@kianavee
Gary Valenciano was all praises for his future son-in-law, Sandro Tolentino, fiancé of daughter Kiana, who the singer’s family considers “a blessing.”
In “The Greatest Showdown” segment of Kapamilya variety show “ASAP Natin ‘To” that aired last Sunday, Sept. 3, the father-and-daughter duo performed a soulful duet of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” in celebration of Kiana’s recent engagement to her boyfriend of four years. Incidentally, the Alicia Keys song that they covered is Tolentino’s favorite.
While Mr. Pure Energy preferred to relay to Kiana everything he wanted to say to his “forever princess” on her big day, he nonetheless expressed his appreciation for his future son-in-law, who is based in the United States.
“Sasabihin ko sa kanya [Kiana] lahat (I’ll tell Kiana everything) when she walks down that aisle. But I must say that the Valenciano family is truly blessed with the person that she has been engaged to. He has been a blessing to her. He has been a blessing to us,” he said.
Valenciano further expressed belief that Tolentino is the one meant for his daughter.
“[N]apatunayan niya sa amin lahat (He has proven to us all) that he is — There’s nobody else, there’s nobody else that’s meant to be with this princess of mine. He loves his family and he loves Kiana so very much, and he loves us. So, I’m just, you know, I’m truly blessed in every single way possible, and I can’t ask for anything more,” he further said.
Valenciano also pointed out that fathers should take advantage of the time they still have with their daughters before they begin a new chapter in their lives.
“To all the fathers that are watching right now, if you have a daughter and she’s nearing that [marrying] age na (already), even before, please spend as much time with your princess… You’ll never know when the pages will turn or when the chapter will come to an end to start another chapter,” he said.
The newly engaged singer was likewise congratulated by “ASAP Natin ‘To” mainstay Zsa Zsa Padilla, who asked the 30-year-old artist about the level of joy she feels in her heart.
“I really can’t put it into words. It feels very surreal, and I’m happy that I get to share it with everyone here today,” Kiana said.
Last August, Valenciano and his wife Angeli Pangilinan announced their youngest child’s engagement to Tolentino.
The 59-year-old Kapamilya artist, who recently renewed his commitment to ABS-CBN, has two more children, sons Paolo and Gab. He also is a grandfather to Paolo’s two kids, Leia and Luch, with wife Samantha Godinez. EDV