Mr Pure Energy to perform live

Gary Valenciano will perform live to cap the Filipino celebrations during the Dubai Shopping Festival

For Filipinos, all roads will lead to the Global Village Amphitheatre on February 3. That’s when Gary Valenciano and guest Vina Morales - two of Philippine’s prominent artists - will perform live to cap the Filipino celebrations during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF).

Success all the way

Gary Valenciano has come to be known as Mr Pure Energy for the energy levels he’s been exuding during his two-decade career. Gary has recorded more than 21 albums, and has received numerous awards in the Philippines (FAMAS, AWIT, ALIW and Star Awards).

Gary’s achievements go beyond his country. He received the Special Asian Award during the 14th Tokyo Music Festival in Japan and an Achievement Award for Outstanding Performance in San Diego, California. San Francisco celebrated August 19, 1995, as Gary V Day while Honolulu did so on May 10, 1996.

That’s not surprising considering his albums have done remarkably well in the market. Di Bale Na Lang, Dancin’ in the Moonlight, a Christian contemporary album released in the US, and Outside Looking In, released in Asia, received platinum awards.

He was the first Filipino artist to release an interactive CD-Rom album, which received a gold award in a month.

Beyond music

Gary’s talent goes beyond the music world. He’s an actor too and is involved in musical theatre. He was the lead star of the play Joseph the Dreamer. He has also acted in a dozen films, co-starring with some of the best actresses including Vilma Santos and Lorna Tolentino.

Gary’s many laurels have only spurred him on. He believes that he is a man with a mission, whose music can influence people’s lives.

Gary became a spokesperson for Unicef in the Philippines during the 1991 Fill the World With Love campaign and continues to be involved with the organisation.

In 1998, Gary was bestowed the honour of being the only Unicef Goodwill Ambassador in the Philippines.

Other Unicef ambassadors include Cate Blanchett (Australia), Luis Figo (Portugal), Laurence Fishburne (USA) and prominent personalities committed to improving the lives of children worldwide.

Vina Morales to share stage

Gary performed in a concert last year called Wave of Hope, proceeds of which were used for those hit by flash floods in Quezon Province in the Philippines and for the tsunami survivors in Asia.

Gary will share the stage with Sunday show ASAP Mania co-host Vina Morales. Vina was a guest performer during the New York International Music Festival in 2003. Last year, she released an album titled Mamahalin Ka Niya.

Gary and Vina have done several concerts internationally including the Gary V Request in the US and Gary V One on One Tour in Japan.

This will be Vina’s first guest appearance in Dubai but it’s Gary Valenciano’s second major one. Both, hopefully, will come back for more.