At 44, singer-composer Gary Valenciano admits that he's not getting any younger and his body sometimes gives him signals about what he can and can't do.
In fact, during his silver anniversary concert last November, Mr. Pure Energy told his audience that there will come a time he will be limited to what he can ably do in a concert.
"My legs are a little tired now," said Gary during the press conference for the upcoming DVD copy of his 25th anniversary concert last week. "And I said that in the opening, di ba? Today, the heart beats a little harder and the breathing is a lot deeper."
But Gary immediately clarified that this does not mean he will put a stop to his career as a performer.
He told the media, "Please, ha, do not take na hindi na ako sasayaw. I still will pero hindi na 'yong tipong, 'Si Gary Valenciano, live concert at the Araneta Coliseum, and hahataw na tayong lahat!'
"For a while, you know, you have to listen also to what your body is saying so that hindi ka na umabot doon sa punto na, 'Ay, hindi na niya kaya. Nahihirapan ka na.' Ayaw ko ng ganun. I'll still create music, either I dance to it or others will dance to it."
GARY V. THE BIKER. Everyone knows that Gary has long been fighting with his lifetime enemy, diabetes. It's very important for him to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
At one moment during the press conference, Gary and his wife Angeli Pangilinan gave a few meaningful tips about diabetes and the kinds of food that should be avoided by a diabetic.
Aside from healthy diet, Gary says he also does some exercises to keep fit, and one of these is biking.
"I love mountain biking," said the singer-composer. He even joked to the press, "If there is a banyo here [Red Box at TriNoma in Quezon City] for me to shower in, I would have biked from the house, from Antipolo to here, which is what I do in ABS-CBN.
"I bike from the house to ABS-CBN for ASAP. Well, not upper Antipolo, but like near the Marikina area, from there Marcos Highway then, malapit lang yun up to Santolan, right to Gilmore, right to N. Domingo.
"Let me tell you, I'm not alone, ha. The car is following me but in some distance. Ayaw ko kasi pag malapit, then you attract attention. E, Pagdating sa Santolan, traffic, naiiwan ko na sila."
Gary is aware that riding a bike may not be safe. That's why he's very careful whenever he's biking.
He said, "Actually, it's dangerous and not dangerous at the same time, especially when you're traveling in traffic times, you're the only one moving, every car is stop, nobody's moving. And I don't ride on the road, sometimes I ride on the side walk because that's what my bike is made for, e. I do this almost every Sunday. Pag medyo puyat ako, I don't."
What does he do when people notice him?
He smiled, "I look at them and say 'hello' or sometimes kapag may mga pedestrian, 'Uy, si Gary Valenciano!' [I would say], 'Hello.' [Kapag nagtanong], 'Saan po kayo pupunta?' [Sagot ko], 'Ay, sa ABS-CBN po.'
He reiterated how much he prefers biking because it's safer than a motorcycle. He said, "I've been biking for five years and I haven't gotten into accidents. If I fall, I fall on dirt or I fall on grass. Gabriel, riding his motorcycle, has been riding less than a year and he gets into an accident hitting another car. That's why I don't like to do that. I stick to something that's beneficial to my health."
HIS GUARDIAN ANGELI. Gary has gone through countless injections and finger pricks in his long fight against diabetes. Throughout this battle, Angeli Pangilinan has always stood by her husband and Gary is full of gratitude.
In fact, when the topic shifted to him being a "rebel" in their marriage, Gary admitted that without her he might have succumbed to his illness.
"I probably wouldn't be alive today. My heart would have been too broken to live. But really, have I gone through anything, with regard to diabetes, because of my rebellious ways, I don't know if I'd be here."
In appreciation for Angeli's unconditional love, Gary plans to take her on a trip on their 25th anniversary. "Hopefully this year, hopefully. I just hope to take her on a cruise, with or without the kids," said Gary at the end of the interview.