Filipino-Puerto Rican Recording Artist Brings Faith and Hope to the Stage
AFFECTING THE GENERATIONS
While his mother is from Puerto Rico, Gary is one of the leading Filipino recording artists and concert performers. Gary started his career at the age of 18 while performing at high school variety shows. His future wife, Angeli, was modeling and singing. Her manager took an interest in Gary and began promoting him. After seven months, Gary cut his first record, became a hot item on TV and spokesman for major advertisers like Coca-Cola, Sony, Toyota, etc. He soon found himself in demand worldwide.
When Gary was 14, his parents separated, and he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Active in several diabetic foundations, he believes that God heals, and Gary says he will see the manifestation of his healing when God wants to show it to him. He has continued to experience God’s faithfulness while living with and managing the disease. A few years ago, Gary nearly died from a hypoglycemia attack (when sugar levels in the body drop dangerously low). “Sugar does provide necessary fuel for the body even in diabetics,” says Gary.
In this case, Gary had jet lag and took his insulin without eating. His eyes rolled back into his head and his jaw locked. Fortunately, Angeli woke up at 3 a.m. and sent a text message for everyone to pray. Then she pumped glucose into his mouth and Gary swallowed! He says it takes discipline to take care of himself and relies heavily on family members who help guide him to pace himself. “Many times I have to say ‘no’ to people,” says Gary.
Gary and Angeli came to accept Christ after dinner at Angeli’s sister’s home in 1985. As they were leaving, Gary noticed a Bible on the table. When his brother-in-law asked if he knew who Jesus was, Gary said, “The Son of God.” (Gary had some religious training.) But when asked what would happen if he died that day, Gary stopped cold. Try as he might, Gary could only see heaven and hell. All his good deeds, benefits, etc., seemed pointless. Both Gary and Angeli accepted the Lord that night. They knew there was a difference: Gary’s career insecurities left, and his spirit lifted.
Gary is fondly known as “MR. Pure Energy” as he has avoided death and is recognized as a miracle by doctors. He has also survived a cardiac bypass and kidney cancer. He is an emissary to the Philippines with faith, hope and encouraging people in the Lord. “During the pandemic and the height of the lockdown in 2020, Gary was one of the leading artists in the Philippines in online events and releases. He launched a new series of videos on YouTube calling it the “Live & Raw” series, where he performed stripped down versions of some of his greatest hits.
He started with the inspirational song, “Take Me Out of The Dark,” amassing over 5 million views and followed it up with the likes of “Could You Be Messiah,” “Warrior Is A Child,” and more. Gary also participated and staged multiple fundraising events for the benefit of those whose livelihood was affected by the pandemic. Instead of a 37th anniversary concert originally to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on April 18 and 19 of 2020, Gary raised over 7 million pesos in cash and kind in an online concert, “Hopeful,” in partnership with Operation Blessing Philippines for the benefit of those affected by the pandemic. During these trying times, Gary continues to spread inspiration and hope through his online platforms.
According to Gary out of his health issues, losses etc., he has never lost hope. From his perspective the way to view those times is to realize “the many wonderful things that come out of losses and dire situations. I’ve talked to my wife about this and instead of focusing on the problem, let's focus on just the faithfulness on how God is going to see us through. We don't know how but He's going to see us through," he answered.
Gary’s music stays at the top of the pop charts, but he also sings Christian songs. There is a large population of Muslims who live in the Philippines. Gary says that if you looked at the CD collection of most of the Muslim homes, you would find several of his CDs. He finds this amazing because he always has 2 or 3 songs on his secular CDs which are overtly or indirectly about the Lord. While few Muslims go to any concerts, Gary’s motorcades before his concerts are always warmly received in Muslim areas.
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Take heart-know that no matter what happens, Gary knows where he is, in God’s hand. He affirms we can pray and be reassured that God is always with us, that He will never leave us and that brings Gary great peace in knowing that. When conditions happen that are opposite of what we are believing, it can become a struggle, but according to Gary that brings no surprise to God as He is totally aware of what is going on in our lives. At the end of the day, no matter what we encounter, we can talk with God and thank Him that He not only saw our day but that he “took us through it.”
Our daily prayer with God deepens our faith and trust in Him to answer us even if there is a delay or where we don’t “feel” His presence because God will always answer-just not always at the exact moment we are seeking Him. He says that the Lord will answer in three ways: Yes, No or the answer is delayed. Waiting is where the challenge is and to those suffering it is not based on how good a Christian we are, it’s that He sees us through the hard season. Referring to his personal struggle of diabetes and the question of why he has not been healed, Gary points to the faithfulness of God to be with him and what was supposed to be a shortened life (living with the disease) has turned into 42 years dealing with it and he is going strong. “If you are struggling now with answers you have to wait for…..let it not get you dismayed…not turn you off from the God who has so much more for you…” It is by the hand of the Lord, being the only way, that Gary has continued with a wonderful life and family.
AMBASSADOR TO PRAY.COM
Gary is referred to as “the beloved Filipino-Puerto Rican artist” and has partnered his faith, talent and energy with Pray.com to talk about faith and desire to directly connect and encourage people to pray.
Pray.com is a tool that was launched in 2017 to reach the community to grow faith through “the spirit of prayer.” Today the amount of people being reached with Pray.com has grown to more than 10 million people throughout the world with the inspiration to pray. It is a website as well as an app that has pastors from all over the world giving messages, music, devotionals, prayer plans, bedtime Bible stories (which he reads) that are designed to help us rest and fall asleep.
All this and so much more is included with the goal to “enrich and enhance your prayer life….during times of a pandemic, when life is uncertain, and in today’s world where depression and anxiety are rampant.” Pray.com has partnered with some in Hollywood such as James Earl Jones, a recording of Charlton Heston reading the Bible, Sean Astin (known for his role in Lord of the Rings and Rudy) and is offered in the languages of Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Gary has said, “I want to encourage everyone to pray. I am grateful, first of all to God, and to Pray.com for giving me a platform to help others draw closer to the Almighty God who gave His only Son to save us,” … “I want to encourage everyone – no matter what you are going through – take a moment, stop and pray. Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. Start a conversation with God who loves you, God who is everywhere, God who knows you and hears your every cry. The Word promises – we can approach His throne of grace and always, we will find help in our time of need; He who has promised is so much more than able.” On the app, Gary offers meditative prayers called “Morning Gratitude” to encourage listeners to start their day with the Lord.
Pray.com is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play
