Jan Angelo Batongbakal

Gary Valenciano opens up about Gab Valenciano’s mental health journey: ‘Gab is doing extremely well’

Article (news)

Peter Andrew Acierto

Push Team

<div><em>Content warning: Mentions of depression and self-harm.</em></div><div><br/></div><p>Kapamilya singer-songwriter Gary Valenciano shared how his son, Gab Valenciano, has been doing “extremely well” as he braves his mental health journey. In a recent interview, the celebrity father recalled the challenging times his son had to go through in the past and how he overcame it with the help of everyone around him. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxsq01wLMdf/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A44248%2C%22ls%22%3A43904.39999997616%2C%22le%22%3A43906.69999998808%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="785" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>It was back in 2019 when Gab opened up about his suicide attempts and how he has been receiving the support from his family and friends since then. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/8/18/angeli-pangilinan-recalls-son-gab-valenciano-s-darkest-times-1414" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Angeli Pangilinan recalls son Gab Valenciano’s darkest times: &#x27;I just find myself so blessed that he’s alive’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>“We encountered problems with Gabriel. We noticed that he had that middle child syndrome that most people talk about, but it was not just that,” Gary shared.</p><p>Gary recalled how his son called them up in the wee hours of the morning to apologize for something he had done to himself. Immediately after hearing his son’s words, the Kapamilya singer and his wife, Angeli Pangilinan, rushed to his place.</p><p>“So Angeli and I looked at each other. We were in bed and we rushed to his place. To make the long story short, we were able to enter his place. It was messy, he didn’t look good and I ended up carrying him on my back from his room to the elevator,” he recalled.</p><p>“We brought him down and took him to Makati Med. It was at that time that he was diagnosed to be bipolar but it didn’t end there,” he added.</p><p>There was then a time which Gary shared that they were in the US and Gab was in the Philippines having a battle with his mental health. Their son was  with his then-girlfriend who made sure to bring him back to safety before anything worse could happen. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2021/9/13/fresh-scoops/gab-valenciano-shares-heartfelt-post-to-mark-suici-195714" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Gab Valenciano shares heartfelt post to mark Suicide Prevention Month<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>“His ex-girlfriend, who I’m thankful for, was holding on to him as he was latching on to the railing of his 27-storey condominium. He stepped out of the ledge and was hanging on to the rail with one finger. He was looking at her and said ‘look I just have to let go of this finger and it’s gonna be quick’,” Gary recalled.</p><p>It was a neighbor’s light from the balcony below which made Gab snap back to reality and realize what he was doing. Since then, Gab made sure to take on the challenge as he deals with improving his mental health. </p><p>Gary, who has been a witness to the growth of his son, expressed how things have turned around and how Gab has been doing well after the worrisome incidents. </p><p>“Today, Gab is doing extremely well and he’s become a spokesperson actually for people who are going through a mental health issue,” he ended.</p><div><em>If you or a loved one is in need of help, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) has trained respondents to properly deal with those in need. Contact the hotline at 0917-899-USAP (8727) / 0917-989-8727. You can also contact Hopeline Philippines at (02) 804-HOPE (4673), 0917 558 HOPE (4673), 2919 (Toll free for Globe, TM) </em></div>

<p>Gary Valenciano is happy that his son Gab Valenciano has taken on the challenge to improve his mental health.</p>

Gary Valenciano is happy that his son Gab Valenciano has taken on the challenge to improve his mental health.