Seeing Gary Valenciano move onstage, one would be surprised to know he went through two major operations just a few months ago.
In May, Gary had an open heart surgery, and in June, a part of his kidney was removed because of kidney cancer.
"Minsan nakakatakot na nga, baka yung iba isipin na gimmick-gimmick lang iyan,” Gary told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) after his show at the Cloverleaf Mall in Balintawak, Quezon City.
"Pero miraculous talaga para sa akin.
"Dumating na rin ako sa punto na, kailangan pa ba or baka kailangang mag-slow down nang konti. At talagang nangyayari iyan dahil nangyari nga sa lahat.
"Pero sa ngayon, kaya pa rin."
The singer-performer conceded that he needs to slow down at work especially now that he is 53 years old.
"Yes, I've thought about it na. Kasi bago ko pa maramdaman yung sakit sa dibdib ko, meron na rin akong mga thoughts na siguro, kailangan ko nang mag-slow down.
"Pero, slow down lang, kumbaga, kung may concert ako para sa press, sa media, siyempre, gagalaw ako. Pero kung mga concert like Araneta, Pure Energy, that, I can slow down."
Gary also revealed that after his open heart surgery, he thought he wouldn't be able to perform like he used to.
He narrated, "Yeah, kasi nagkaroon pa ako ng post-surgical depression.
"Talagang nangyayari raw iyan sa mga patients. E, ang problema ko, hindi lang isa, dalawang surgery. Habang gumagaling ako rito, natamaan ako sa kidney ko so it became two surgeries.
"So talagang pumasok sa isip ko na yung tipong, 'Kapagod to. Magwo-workout na naman ako, 'tapos gagawin ko na naman ang lahat para umabot dun sa dati.'
"Baka sobrang mataas ang expectation ng tao sa akin.
"At saka, marami na rin ang kumausap sa akin na, 'Wag kang ma-pressure, wala ka na rin namang kailangang patunayan sa tao.'"
HELPING OTHER ARTISTS
Nonetheless Gary continues to perform because he loves being onstage.
"It's really that," he said.
"Kasi, once I go on that stage na hindi na ako nag-e-enjoy, hindi na talaga puwede."
He added that whatever worry or doubt he had before, has now been replaced with excitement.
"Medyo excited na nga ako kung ano pa ang darating. Kasi, meron pa kong ideas, e."
Gary says he might have a major concert next year, but more than that, he is planning for the next five or ten years of his career.
He noted, "I think binanggit ko ito before three or four years ago. Maybe, ako ay magko-contribute sa career ng iba. Hindi na ako ang mag-e-execute, iba na ang mag-e-execute.
"Maybe someday I can help out with somebody else. Kasi, marami pa akong ideas."
Based on Gary's hour-long performance that day, we could say that nothing about Gary's energy and talent have changed.
But Gary knows he has not yet fully recovered.
"It’s refreshed, but hindi pa siya umaabot sa one hundred percent [gaya ng] dati.
"Mga nasa 85 to 90 percent," he revealed.
He added, "Kasi, masyadong mataas ang standard ko para sa sarili ko. Ako ang pinaka-critic sa sarili ko. Vocally, I’m okay kasi three months din after na nangyari to, tagal bago ko kumanta ulit.
"At least now I can say, vocally, I’m okay, I’m back. Physically, nasa gym ako ulit, and, I think, mas malakas pa nga ako sa gym ngayon.”
For someone like him who is a diabetic, his recovery from his two surgeries has been swift.
"For a diabetic, ang bilis, ang bilis ng healing," he said with a smile.
"I think, it was God. I think, meron pa siyang gustong ma-fulfill, and until it’s done and over..."
Even Gary's wife Angeli called it a "miracle."
"Yeah, miracle talaga. Okey lang sana kung block lang sa heart, ninety five percent yung block 'tapos nandoon pa sa artery na yun ang dahilan sa karamihan ng heart attack na nangyayari."
Gary went on, "It’s miraculous because hindi nangyari on national TV. Doon ko naramdaman, e. Sabi ng doctor ko, maaaring isang talon na lang, pumutok na yun.
"Kasi, na-shock ang doctor ko noong angiogram. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit yung puso ko at mga ugat, it's a heart attack of a 20 years plus. Ganun kalinis, pero yung isang ugat na yun, that’s the miracle itself."
He added, "Sabi rin ng doctor ko, kung pumasok daw sila sa kidneys ko at hindi nila alam ang status ng heart ko, baka sa pagbigay lang sa akin ng anaesthesia, pumutok na yun.
"Kaya sabi niya, orchestrated pa rin.'"