Masayang humarap si Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano sa entertainment press, kasama ang PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), sa presscon na inihanda ng ASAP XV para sa kanya at sa anak na si Gab Valenciano kahapon, June 18, sa 14th Floor ng ELJ Building sa ABS-CBN.
Nag-renew kasi for another year si Gary sa ASAP, habang si Gab naman ay pumirma ng kontrata sa ABS-CBN para sa mga shows niyang ASAP at Banana Split.
Mag-aanim na taon na si Gary sa ASAP, pero isa sa mga rason kung bakit gusto niya pa rin ang show ay, "ASAP kasi is where I'm together with artists who come out of their shell. Many of these artists every time you see them on television, they're playing a role in a teleserye or something like that. In ASAP they're not playing, they're just being themselves. They can dress up in the way they want to. They're singing songs even though some of them are not really singers. But still yung pagiging Kapamilya is something that really makes me want to stay in ASAP."
Yearly ang pinili ni Gary sa pag-renew ng kanyang kontrata sa ASAP.
"The reason why I don't go longer than that because I don't know what else is out there. May mga schedules din ako, requirements. And there's always that open door for the probability of moving abroad to have a career there. So, I have to be open all the time. But the contract mainly is about being, you know, to appear and play the role that I am called to play... I'm glad to be where I am and I'm looking forward to the next year of ASAP."
CREATIVE CONTRIBUTION TO ASAP. May mga gusto pa siyang gawin sa show, at ang mga contribusyong ito "doesn't have to be stuck in front of the camera. Because there are things that I wish I could feed, yung mga ideas ko. But I never get to see because I'm performing. So, I'm only imagining... But I have ideas, creative ideas that I would like to allow others to express. But I would love to think or present an idea for a particular number, for a particular artist, to look in a particular way. It doesn't matter whether it could be a number of Billy Crawford, a number of Sarah [Geronimo], a number of the It Girls, a number of the Supahdance. But mine is more like looking at the entire picture and say, 'How could all of these work in the show?' I have these big ideas. And now that I have the chance to do that, I want to be part of that. Not just for my number but for other artists."
Parang ang naiisip niya ay posisyong katulad ng kay Ogie Alcasid na creative consultant sa kalabang show.
"Yeah. I think we have so many minds working on the creative team. But the final outcome, how is it gonna look? Because I'm really blessed when it comes to music. I'm into the timing, I'm into the syncopation. How do you put that together so that when people ask, you know what to say. In the next few months I'll be playing that role. But, of course, I would still do my numbers."
Package deal ba sila ni Gab kaya sabay silang pumirma ng kontrata?
"No, it just so happened na we're both free today. Sinabay lang talaga. We're not package deal or something. I have my own thing and he has his own thing. Iba kasi yung kay Gab. He is branching out into a pretty cool musical arranger. As a matter of fact, he's leaving for the States next week for a tour and he's doing a lot of arrangement for Jericho Rosales' songs. Na hindi naman alam ng tao yun but that's what he does."
Speaking of Gab, magkakaroon sila ng special number ni Gary sa ASAP XV bukas, June 20, bilang bahagi ng Father's Day celebration.
NO OFFER FROM OTHER STATION. Totoo bang may offer sa kanya sa kalabang istasyon dahil yung title daw ng show nila ay bagay sa kanya?
"Let me just say something about the word 'party.' When I saw the other show on YouTube, their stage does not portray a party. It portrays a concert, which is great. Concert theme yan, e. But because ASAP has a smaller venue and a more intimate venue, it does have more of the party feel.
"There was no offer. I can't recall. But maybe because they've had the talks but it wasn't clear. But I believe at this point in time, until that calling changes, this is where I need to stay. I want to make clear about that."
OPM BOARD MEMBER. Samantala, bukod sa kasiyahang dulot ng renewal ng kanyang kontrata sa ASAP, masaya ring ibinalita ni Gary na finally ay nakapag-eleksyon na sila ng board of directors ng Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), isang samahan ng mga singers at performers. Isa si Gary sa anim na nasa OPM board ngayon na kinabibilangan din nina Ogie Alcasid, Jose Mari Chan, Noel Cabangon, Dingdong Avanzado at Christian Bautista.
"I'm excited, I'm very honored," ang sabi niya sa pagkakasama niya sa board of directors. "Hindi ko pa alam kung ano ang posisyon ko. I don't know where I would be effective."
Ang muling mabuhay daw ang OPM ay isang napakalaking bagay.
"I've been with OPM since 1986. So, lahat ng mga rights, lahat ng mga mabuting gawain ng OPM, I experienced it. E, what about the others out there? Hindi naman natigil ang OPM. I think it just needs time to gather us together. And si Ogie went out talaga to tell everybody na we have to get together for OPM...
"Malaki ang paniniwala namin na may magagawa kami. We have our plans at least for the next two years. At sana makuha rin namin yung cooperation ng government, ng media, both radio and television, to really establish what OPM was meant to be.
"Before the nominations took place there was a rundown, almost like bullet points, as to what OPM has done from the day that it was established. And it's sad na many of the things we continue to fight for have not really progressed at a level that can really change. For example, the rights of the artists, not all artists know about their rights."
GOOD WORDS FOR OGIE. Kahit na magkalaban ang shows nila every Sunday, puring-puri ni Gary si Ogie sa pagiging masigasig nito na tulungan ang music indutry.
"I think with somebody like Ogie, I don't know if you remember the time nung Ondoy, siya rin yung nag-assemble ng napakalaking event where we had all artists here and there. All the fans were there also. That's because of Ogie. I'm truly hats off to that guy.
"I was talking to Ogie. Sabi niya before that meeting happened, ang dami niyang kinausap na bands. Imagine Ogie Alcasid, he's a solo artist pero he's the one asking to meet yung mga banda. Grabe daw yung nalaman niya na hindi alam ng mga ito ang karapatan nila sa industriya. We have a lot to do. And I hope that kung anuman ang nagawa namin for the next two years, will only open for things to come."
Posible bang si Ogie ang mapili ng board na maging presidente ng OPM?
"Para sa akin it will all be determined by all the six directors. But Ogie has really been showing all the effort. And he has not backed out when people need him to be there... The fact that we are all together. Doon sa first night pa lang when we were talking, ang dami na naming nabuong plano."