Gary Valenciano finds way to connect with new generation of fans

Gary Valenciano | Image: INQUIRER.net/Jessica Ann Evangelista

Having been in the music industry for 40 years, Gary Valenciano has found a way to connect with his new generation of fans by being genuinely open to talking about mental health, which he admittedly was something that the older generations were deprived of.

In an intimate interview with select media on Nov. 14, Valenciano shared that he has been going to campuses not only to perform but to have heart-to-heart conversations with the students.

“When I come up there, they don’t really know me,” the singer admitted. “But it’s amazing how that word icon becomes so real to them when I’m able not to speak through them but to speak with them. I make sure that there’s a microphone that is reachable where they can ask me questions after I share my life and my music.”

Valenciano emphasized that he can be the “dad that those students never had” or a “brother that they missed” every time they are in need to someone to talk to.

Staying relevant

He shared a letter that he got from one of the students he recently engaged with.

“After my talk, she gave me a letter, ‘I changed my mind about this Saturday because this Saturday is the day that I was going to end it all,’ I was able to talk to her and found out what was going on. And it’s the same problem that many of the kids are going through, mental health,” shared the singer

“That’s the depth of the responsibility that an artist who has lasted for 40 years. If you were able to meet people at the point of their need without forcing anything down their throat, I think that’s partly the reason I can look forward to the next 20-30 years because that’s how I stay relevant,” continued Valenciano.

Mental health advocate

The 60-year-old singer admitted that young ones or artists have always been struggling with mental health, but not in the same level that this generation has.

“Maybe some are going through it but not at the depth of the people who are experiencing it today. They always say it’s because of social media and all. I must say that social media plays a major role, but it’s not the only reason why. I think many artists of before were struggling with mental health but not at the depth,” he said.

“It’s scary because sometimes when a person is struggling, especially an artist struggling with mental health issues, that actually can play a role in making that artist quite creative. You venture into sounds and music that you never adventured into before. You express things that you could only express through a song. It can certainly help in a certain way. But it’s sad,” continued the singer.

Valenciano shared the fears of some artists that he comes in contact with, as he admitted that he also struggled with mental health before, especially during the time when he was 19 and became a center of controversy after his wife, Angeli Pangilinan, got pregnant.

“I’m not going to mention names, but it’s sad when you sit down with one and then they tell you that I don’t even know why this is happening. My life is so perfect as it is, but there’s something going on here and all, and I think it’s really part of it: the pressure of what’s tomorrow going to be like, you know, what if another artist appears or what if my song is not as big as the last one, right? And I know, because I’ve been through that, but it didn’t hit me like the way the young ones are being hit now,” he shared. 

Despite the plans to hold his last big concert, the “Sana Maulit Muli” singer, who’s battling Type 1 diabetes, also clarified that he’s not retiring from music but only retiring from performing in front of a big audience, as he said that he’s not getting any younger and does not want to give the fans less of what they paid for.

After the first part last April, Valenciano’s “Pure Energy: One More Time” is set to return for an additional run on Dec. 20 and 22.