Gary Valenciano - Career

Career

In 1975, Valenciano made his first television appearance in an advertisement for local soft-drink Fress Gusto. when he was 14 years old at that time. He started as a choir singer, then performing in 1982 and launched his career in singing and show business on 13 May 1983. He first appeared as a solo artist in 1982 on the television programme The Pilita and Jackie Show, and later in Germspesyal and Penthouse Live. He had his first solo concert in April 1984 at the Araneta Coliseum, followed a number of albums, three of which were released internationally, including the Christian-inspired album Out of the Dark.

Valenciano has released multiple albums. He has won the Awit Award for "Best Male Performer" eleven of the past 21 times. He has been called "Mr. Pure Energy."

In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines' first National Ambassador. In 2008, he marked his tenth year as a UNICEF Ambassador with a visit to Sitio Avocado, a former war zone in Negros Oriental. Valenciano returned to acting in 2008 by appearing in the drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya, where he portrayed a prisoner who finds religion and becomes born again. That same year, he was nominated for "Best Single Performance By An Actor" in the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV. In 2009, Valenciano released a collaborative album with Martin Nievera called "As 1", with the carrier single of the same title. In 2010, Valenciano was in a Holy Week drama special, Gulong, a CBN Asia Production shown on GMA; this was his third GMA Holy Week special since 2006. He also released his 25th full-length album, and his fourth compilation album "Replay" was recently released with the carrier single, "Did It Ever".