Angeli Pangilinan reflects on husband Gary Valenciano’s ‘extended life span’
Angeli Pangilinan was overwhelmed with gratitude as she celebrated the 61st birthday of her husband Gary Valenciano, who was once told by doctors he would only live until 44 years old.
Angeli marked the celebration through her Facebook page on Thursday, Aug. 7, with a recollection of the veteran singer’s 20th birthday in 1984 — which was also the day of their wedding.
“We had a civil wedding. Soon after, the doctor told me that his estimated life span was 30 years after the date of diagnosis of his Type 1 insulin dependent juvenile diabetes—1978. Meaning his estimated life span was till 2008, at age 44,” she recounted.
“But that was when diabetes management was not advanced and through the years, technology gave us real-time glucose monitoring gadgets that allowed him to check his sugar levels 3 to 4 times a day. Thus extending his life span,” she said.
Angeli stressed that aside from religiously monitoring his health and learning more about his condition through modern technology, Valenciano has also tightened his diet and exercised regularly.
“Now, his eyes, which are a window to the state of his health, have always been glaucoma-free! Miraculously, today the grade of his eyes even went down after 47 years of the disease,” she exclaimed.
“Every year of Gary’s life is a bonus from God!” she underscored. “We praise God for this miraculous special life who has inspired millions of lives through his songs and his life!” Glory to God!”
Aside from type 1 diabetes, Valenciano also battled with kidney cancer in the past. In a 2022 interview, the singer spoke about his gratitude for having lived longer than expected.
“I’m not ashamed to tell people how old I am. Because I’m not living on borrowed time. I’m living on His time,” he declared at the time. /ra
