Gary Valenciano's Interview with President Marcos Reveals the Power of Music in Filipino Life

A Conversation Beyond Politics

In an interview that premiered on October 5, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sat down with one of the Philippines' most enduring musical figures, Gary Valenciano. The conversation, which aired as part of Valenciano's ongoing work as a broadcaster and interviewer, offered a rare glimpse into the President's personal relationship with music — a relationship that stretches back to his school days in England and continues to shape his daily life.

For Valenciano, the interview represents another chapter in a career that has always straddled music and media. Known as "Mr. Pure Energy" for his electrifying dance performances, Valenciano has been a mainstay of ABS-CBN's ASAP since 2003 and has spent decades as one of the country's most recognizable voices. His willingness to sit down with the President — and to steer the conversation toward music rather than politics — reflects his own belief in music's connective power.

Marcos on Music: 'It's the Only Thing That Can Change My Mood'

During the interview, Marcos described music as an essential part of his existence. "I just don't know how I would get through the day," he told Valenciano. "It's the only thing that can change my mood. There are two things that can change my mood. Music's one of them. The other one's my children."

The President traced his musical awakening to Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side," which he heard a fellow student playing while making his rounds before class. That moment sparked a lifelong passion that led him to pick up the flute and saxophone, study music theory, and even join several orchestras during his youth. He recalled that his interest in music began as a constructive outlet after a housemaster at his secondary school in England told him, "You're here all the time. You're always in trouble. Go find yourself a hobby so that you can occupy your time by doing something constructive."

Marcos also offered a philosophical reflection on the art form. "Unlike any other art form, music doesn't exist anywhere else except in your brain," he said. "A sculpture you can touch, a painting you can look at and see the brushstrokes. This is just sound and it only becomes music because your brain interprets it as music. But the universality of it — everyone understands."

The Soundtrack of a Life

Perhaps the most revealing moment came when Marcos described how music anchors his memories. "I've come to the conclusion that my life was lived with a soundtrack," he said. "When I hear a song, I remember when I first heard it, what I was doing, how I was feeling. Every big event in my life there was an accompanying track ongoing."

It's a sentiment that resonates deeply in the Philippines, where music is woven into the fabric of daily life — from jeepney radios to barangay fiestas to the ubiquitous videoke machines that turn every gathering into a concert. For Valenciano, whose own career has spanned more than four decades and produced albums that have become part of the national soundtrack, the President's words likely struck a chord.

Why Filipino Audiences Are the World's Best

Marcos also weighed in on a question that has long puzzled foreign observers: why Filipinos are such exceptional singers. While he admitted he couldn't fully explain it, he was unequivocal about one thing — Filipino concert audiences are unmatched.

"I've heard it from Elton John, I've heard it from Sting. I've heard it from The Corrs. I've heard it from many of these artists that come," Marcos said. "And they said, 'The audience does all the work for me. I don't have to sing. I don't have to perform because the audience is singing for us.'"

That observation aligns with the global reputation of Filipino audiences, who are known for singing along with such fervor that international artists often comment on it. It's a phenomenon that OPM artists like Valenciano have witnessed firsthand — the same crowds that fill arenas for foreign acts also pack venues for homegrown talents, creating a vibrant ecosystem where local and international music coexist.

Music and Controversy: The President's Concert Habits

The interview also comes against the backdrop of Marcos' well-documented — and sometimes controversial — enthusiasm for live music. In January 2024, he drew public criticism after using the presidential helicopter to attend Coldplay's concert at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, a decision he defended by calling the show "unmissable." "It was, by the way, fantastic," he told reporters afterward. "Ask anybody who attended the concert. The show they performed was spectacular. I haven't seen anything like it."

Then, in September 2024, Marcos found himself in the headlines again after British pop-rock band Duran Duran was flown in to perform at his 67th birthday celebration at a Pasay City hotel. The Presidential Communications Office maintained that the party was organized by "old friends" and that the band's appearance came "at no cost to the government."

These episodes have cemented Marcos' reputation as perhaps the country's most prominent music fan in public office — a detail that adds texture to his conversation with Valenciano, who has spent his own career navigating the intersection of music, celebrity, and public life.

Valenciano's Enduring Role in OPM

For Valenciano, the interview is a reminder of the unique position he holds in Filipino music. With 12 Awit Awards, three FAMAS Awards, and a Myx Magna Award to his name, he has been a fixture of the OPM landscape since the release of his self-titled debut album in 1984. His first solo concert at the Araneta Coliseum that same year marked the beginning of a career that would see him perform alongside international artists such as Brian McKnight, George Duke, Ricky Martin, Cliff Richard, and Kool & the Gang.

Beyond the stage, Valenciano has been a UNICEF National Ambassador since 1997, the first Filipino to hold that title — a role that underscores his commitment to using his platform for social good. His interview with the President, then, is less a political statement than an extension of that mission: a conversation about the thing that brings people together, regardless of their station in life.

As the Philippines continues to grapple with the issues of the day, moments like these — a President reflecting on the songs that shaped him, a music icon asking the questions — serve as a reminder that music remains one of the most powerful connectors of the human experience. And for Filipino audiences, who sing louder than anyone else, that connection is something to be proud of.