Born in the suburb of Santa Mesa in Manila on August 6, 1964, he is the sixth of Vicente Valenciano and Grimilda Santiago Ortiz’s seven children. Santiago Ortiz is a Puerto Rican woman of Italian descent who became a popular opera singer in Manila during the 1960s, and her love for music passed down to her son, Gary. He took his primary and secondary studies in La Salle Greenhills. It was during his high school days, while on a brief stint with the musical group Kundirana, that he devoted himself to music.
Valenciano started performing in 1982 and launched his career in singing and show business on May 13, 1983. He first appeared as a solo in a television show called The Pilita and Jackie Show in 1982, but he was finally noticed after his performances in the TV shows Germspesyal and Penthouse Live. He had his first solo concert, in April 1984, inside the jam-packed Araneta Coliseum. That would be followed by 21 albums, three of them released internationally, including a Christian inspired album called Out of the Dark.
He is married to Maria Anna Elizabeth "Angeli" Evangelista Pangilinan, with whom he has three children: Juan Paolo Martin (a vocalist of the band Salamin), Jose Angelo Gabriel (a dancer), and Kristina Maria Mikaela.
The Answer
Gary Valenciano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A ticket to paradise
I can't stay here any more
And I've looked high and low
I've been from shore to shore to shore
If there's a short cut I'd have found it
But there's no easy way around it
Love is the answer
Shine on us all, set us free
Love is the answer
Who knows why
Someday we all must die
We're all homeless boys and girls
And we are never heard
It's such a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely world
People turn their heads and walk on by
Tell me, is it worth just another try?
Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer (let it shine)
Shine on us all, set us free
Love is the answer (you know the answer is love)
Tell me, are we alive, or just a dying planet?
What are the chances?
Ask the man in your heart for the answers
And when you feel afraid, love one another
When you've lost your way, love one another
When you're all alone, love one another
When you're far from home, love one another
When you're down and out, love one another
All your hope's run out, love one another
When you need a friend, love one another
When you're near the end, love
We got to love, we got to love one another
Light of the world, you got to shine on me
Love is the answer
Shine on us all (know that love can save the day)
Set us free
Love is the answer
(Just give it, just one more chance)
Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer (love, love, love)
Shine on us all, set us free
Love is the answer
(Lord, you just can't let it stop, Lord)
Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer
Shine on us all, set us free
"The Answer" by Gary Valenciano is a song that reflects on the search for a better life, for hope, and for love. The opening lines "Name your price, a ticket to paradise, I can't stay here any more" express a desire for an escape to a better place, a place where one can find peace and happiness. The singer has searched everywhere and tried everything, but there is no easy way to achieve what he wants. The chorus repeats the message that love is the answer, shining on us all and setting us free. It is a simple but powerful message that is repeated throughout the song.
The second verse brings up the theme of mortality, that everyone dies, and that we are all alone in this world. The message is that no one is listening, no one cares, and it is a lonely world. The singer asks if it is worth trying again, but the answer is clear from the chorus: love is the answer. The final verse offers a solution: to ask the man in your heart for answers, to love one another, even when afraid, lost, alone, or down and out. Love is the answer and it can save the day.
Line by Line Meaning
Name your price
Whatever you ask for, I will pay it
A ticket to paradise
I am willing to do anything to escape from this place and find happiness
I can't stay here any more
This place is no longer tolerable or livable for me to continue dwelling here
And I've looked high and low
I have searched everywhere
I've been from shore to shore to shore
I have traveled extensively
If there's a short cut I'd have found it
I have exhausted all possible options seeking a quicker or more efficient way to the solution
But there's no easy way around it
There are no simple solutions to this problem
Light of the world, shine on me
I am hoping for a glimmer of hope or inspiration to help me through this difficult time
Love is the answer
The solution to my problem is love, compassion, and kindness
Shine on us all, set us free
I hope that this love and compassion can free us from our troubles and guide us towards a better future
Who knows why
Nobody knows for sure
Someday we all must die
All of us will eventually pass away
We're all homeless boys and girls
We are all searching for a place to belong and people to love us
And we are never heard
Our voices are ignored and our needs are not met
It's such a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely world
The world can be a very isolating and lonely place
People turn their heads and walk on by
Many people ignore us or refuse to acknowledge us
Tell me, is it worth just another try?
I am questioning if it is worth continuing to keep trying and searching for answers
Ask the man in your heart for the answers
The solution lies within you, trust yourself and your heart to guide you towards the answer
And when you feel afraid, love one another
In times of fear and uncertainty, show love and compassion towards others
When you've lost your way, love one another
In times of confusion and disorientation, show love and compassion towards others
When you're all alone, love one another
In times of loneliness and isolation, show love and compassion towards others
When you're far from home, love one another
In times of being far away from home and family, show love and compassion towards others
When you're down and out, love one another
In times of being down and out, show love and compassion towards others
All your hope's run out, love one another
In times of losing hope and feeling hopeless, show love and compassion towards others
When you need a friend, love one another
In times of needing companionship and friendship, show love and compassion towards others
When you're near the end, love
In times of nearing the end of life, continue to show love and compassion towards others
We got to love, we got to love one another
It is imperative that we show love and compassion towards each other
Light of the world, you got to shine on me
I am asking for guidance towards the light and a better future
Shine on us all (know that love can save the day)
I hope that the light can inspire all of us to show more love towards each other and that it can be the solution to our problems
Set us free
Free us from our troubles and guide us towards a better future
(Just give it, just one more chance)
Do not give up just yet, give love and compassion another chance to make a difference
(love, love, love)
The message is clear, love is the answer
(Lord, you just can't let it stop, Lord)
I am pleading with a higher power to not let love and compassion fade away
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Wilcox, Kasim Sulton, Roger Powell, Todd Rundgren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jolem Tolentino
One of my favorites! I am so happy Sir that you are okay! Truly, Christ is the answer and when there is life, there is hope!