Twelve years to be exact nang huling lumabas ang tinaguriang Mr. Pure Energy na si Gary Valenciano sa award-winning drama anthology na Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) ng ABS-CBN. Ngayong Biyernes, December 14, muling mapapanood si Gary sa MMK para gampanan ang isang importanteng role sa episode na idinirek ni Ruel Bayani.
Nakausap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Gary sa presscon na ibinigay ng Maalaala Mo Kaya kahapon, December 11, sa ABS-CBN compound.
PEP: Paano ka napapayag na gawin ang episode na ito ng MMK?
GARY: I think it was... Well, number one, the fact the script was wonderfully written with me in mind, I guess, kaya ako na-convince na gumawa ulit ng isang episode for MMK. Pangalawa, I think which is even more important, talagang yung may schedule na ako para talaga makapag-shoot na ako.
Very emotionally draining for any actor to do MMK, or any actress for that matter. And when I looked up my schedule and I saw the time that I had, may oras din para mag-recuperate, so, okay lang.
PEP: Anong adjustments ang ginawa mo para maging epektibo sa pagganap mo bilang si Alex Ramos na nakulong sa salang hindi niya ginawa?
GARY: You know, the character is a case of mistaken identity, ‘no? So, biglaan yung nangyari. So, when I read the script, ang ginawa ko, hindi ko binasa nang paulit-ulit. Ang ginawa ko, I learned a lot of what I had to do dun na mismo sa spot. To treat everything like parang surprise din. Kasi talagang out of nowhere, may dadating sa ‘yo, kukunin ka, dadakpin ka, parang ganun. So, I prepared myself with the thought of everything happening by surprise and that apparently happened doon sa buhay nga ni Alex.
PEP: Nakilala mo ba personally si Alex?
GARY: Yes, nag-meet up kami sa likod... Actually, before my first scene was taken, yung unang eksena ko, ini-interrogate ako ng isang pulis at pinapa-sign ako ng isang kontrata na nagsasabi na ako ang nagmamay-ari o si Alex ang nagmamay-ari ng shabu.
Nung nakita ni Alex mismo yung eksenang ‘yon, lumapit siya sa akin. "Parang ganun mismo ang nangyari sa akin." Bumalik daw lahat ng mga eksenang ‘yon, yun ang nangyari talaga sa buhay niya at parang naiyak-iyak daw siya nung nakita niya ‘yon kasi talagang na-revive daw siya sa nangyari na 'yon.
PEP: Simula na ba ito ng pag-revive din ng acting career mo and soon ay mapapanood ka na rin sa isang teleserye?
GARY: Hindi ko alam kung 'yan talaga ang maaari kong gawin in the future, ang teleserye. Kasi ang teleserye, halos 85 percent ng oras ng isang artista ay napupunta talaga sa isang teleserye. ‘Pag ganun, maaaring ma-affect din yung mga concerts ko, mga recordings ko, mga live performances ko. Maaaring maapektuhan ng teleserye. So, I think na mas okay sa akin yung paminsan-minsan na lalabas ako ng ganito. Pero tuwing lalabas ako, may impact na ganito. Tipong yung ginawa ko, parang sa MMK.
PEP: Ano ang naging reaksiyon ng mga anak mo nang malaman nila na aarte ka ulit sa Maalaala Mo Kaya?
GARY: Siyempre, jokingly, especially my eldest son [Paolo] is parang ‘Wow! Back to acting, huh!' Kasi siya talaga ang mahilig din umarte, si Paolo, in theater. So, nung sinabi ko na I'm doing an MMK, parang very excited din sila na makita nilang umarte ako ulit.
Gabriel [second son] just finished a movie called Rebound. It's a movie that meant to minister to lost souls. It's about basketball. Sa DVD lang ‘yan na-release, pero I'm very proud of my son and his work. So, parang ako naman, Paolo did theater, Gabby did a movie called Rebound, and now it's my turn to do MMK.
Hopefully, someday... As a matter of fact, last year we were supposed to do... This year, earlier this year, we were supposed to do a movie—me and the two boys. Hopefully, we can release that or do something like that for Father's day next year.
PEP: Bakit hindi natuloy?
GARY: Time. Paolo was with his band finishing his album, Gabriel was supposed to leave also for the States, and then my tours came up and everything had to be shelved. This was supposed to be directed by Erik Matti for Dondon Monteverde's film outfit. So we'll see what comes up for next year.
PEP: (Kasabay ng presscon ni Gary V para sa MMK ang pagtanggap niya ng award bilang one of the most admired TV personalities ng Anak TV Seal.) Ano ang pakiramdam na mabigyan ng ganitong klaseng parangal?
GARY: It's very rewarding kasi yung mga bata mismo ang bumoto. I think it's very timely because recently I've been talking to my team sa Genesis at sa GPPI about certain projects that I have in mind. It's going to be value-oriented and very family-oriented, so I think it's timely that it's been three years in a row that I've been given award from Anak TV Seal. Instead of doing things that would further, you know, touch on my musicality, I think na that there are other things that I can do in return to do things for other, for the benefit of others, not for the benefit of Gary V, so I think it's timely. As to what these projects are, you'll find out in time.
PEP: Itong projects ba na iniisip mo ay more on the music side of Gary V or sa pagiging artista mo rin?
GARY: "We don't know. I don't know. I have ideas that have very little to do with Gary V the artist or the singer, but a lot to do with Gary V the producer, which means I produce for others—whether in audio or video. I'm open to that.
PEP: Kasama ba dito ang anak mong si Gabriel?
GARY: Gab is always a part of the equation. But Gabriel is leaving, you know. He'll be studying in the States next year. So, he'll be gone maybe one, two, maybe even three years. I want to support him kasi talagang excited siyang matuto ng mga bagay na makakatulong talaga sa kanya.
PEP: This is the first time na mahihiwalay si Gabriel sa kanyang pamilya. Ano ang pakiramdam mo bilang ama?
GARY: It's not easy I'm telling you. I think about it and its' not easy. Hindi madali para sa akin, and even sa kanyang Kuya Paolo and his sister, Keanna. That's something we don't talk about often, but we know we're going to cross the bridge when we get there and that bridge is coming up very soon.
So, we're preparing ourselves emotionally, and he's [Gabriel] the... Ano yun, e, talagang spark plug ‘yon. Kaya, like any car, kapag tinanggal mo ang isang spark plug, medyo iba na ang takbo ng kotse. But we're happy for him and we'll support him one hundred percent.
PEP: How true na may mag-aasawa na rin diumano sa mga anak mo?
GARY: No, there's no truth to that. Siguro kasi Paolo is already 23. Paolo and I have talked a lot about the future, you know. At natutuwa ako doon sa anak ko, yung panganay, dahil talagang iniisip niya, "Dad, ano ang puwede kong gawin ngayon para pagdating sa panahon na puwede na akong magkaroon ng asawa, I will have enough to take care of both?" And I'm very proud na he thinks about that now.
At pagdating doon, you don't joke about, "Uy, huwag mo nang isipin ang mga ganun." No, he's 23 years old... In four or five years it's there, so prepare now. So, yun lang, yun lang ang pinag-uusapan namin. Pero wala namang plano, you know, magpakasal kahit sino sa mga anak ko, especially my daughter.
But I'm excited especially with Paolo who is already thinking about his family. How he's gonna support his family? I'm excited because I know that whoever, kung sinuman ang maging asawa niya, she's gonna be married to a man who is already focused way ahead of time on what he wants to do with his family. That's good.