In the entertainment industry, ‘energy’ isn’t just a buzzword---it’s practically Gary Valenciano’s middle name. His timeless hits and unstoppable stage presence remind us why OPM will always have a heartbeat. And on “Your Face Sounds Familiar,” several contestants over the years have paid tribute to Gary V., from dance numbers to heartfelt ballads, it was definitely a tribute to Mr. Pure Energy himself.
Take a look back in time and relive these 6 Gary Valenciano performances that hyped up the “YFSF” stage.
Marco Masa and Sam Concepcion (YFSF Kids Season 2, 2018) - “Eto Na Naman,” “Hataw Na,” & “Di Bale Na Lang”
It was a full-on Gary V. tribute when Marco Masa teamed up with Sam Concepcion for a medley of “Eto Na Naman,” “Hataw Na,” and “Di Bale Na Lang” at the “YFSF” All-Star Reunion. The duo delivered powerhouse vocals and dance moves like the Mr. Pure Energy himself, who later surprised everyone by joining them onstage.
Gary Valenciano had nothing but praises for the two performers. He lauded Sam as a versatile artist, saying, “Kaya niyang makapag-impersonate ng kahit sino.” For Marco, Gary encouraged fans to keep an eye on him, confident that his talent will take him far. The highlight came when Marco requested a sample performance---and Mr. Pure Energy himself gladly obliged.
Sam Shoaf (YFSF Kids Season 1, 2017) - “Hataw Na”
Judge Gary Valenciano couldn’t hide his smile as Sam Shoaf stepped out of the ‘iconator,’ instantly hyping up the crowd with his charm. Performing the 1994 classic “Hataw Na,” Sam went all out with vocals, energy, and even Gary V’s signature moves.
Judge Ogie Alcasid, a proud Gary V. fan, admitted that Sam must now realize the challenge of impersonating such a powerhouse. “Mahirap talaga siya gayahin. Great effort,” Ogie said, adding that Sam nailed some of Gary’s iconic moves. Judge Sharon Cuneta echoed the praise, “In your own way, you were able to pick up a lot of Gary V.’s moves, and naturally you gave your best sa boses.”
And finally, the man himself, Judge Gary V, gave his comments to Sam. He pointed out the small details Sam picked up and praised him for vocally capturing his style. “Ginaya mo ‘yung notes ko… You did a pretty good job. Thank you so much for doing justice,” He said, clapping in approval.
Sam placed 6th at the end of the season.
Edgar Allan Guzman (YFSF Season 1, 2015) - “Eto Na Naman”
Edgar Allan took the audience straight back to the ’90s with his performance of the 1990 classic “Eto Na Naman.” From the dance moves to the vocals, even down to the hairstyle and outfit, he nailed the signature Pure Energy style. Afterward, Edgar Allan admitted feeling the pressure of performing in front of Gary himself. The excitement reached its peak when Gary V. joined him onstage for a mini showdown.
The judges were impressed. Coach Jed Madela commended Edgar Allan’s performance, saying, “You delivered, you took up the challenge… you entertained us.” Judge Sharon noted how he embodied Gary V.’s style, “Kuhang kuha mo si Kuya Gary, ang galing galing mo. Hindi ka nagpatalo.”
Judge Gary shared that he understood Edgar Allan’s jitters, since he too was nervous when he first performed the song years ago. He commended Edgar for mimicking his adlibs, nuances, and signature look. “Thank you na ginawa mo ang lahat para gayahin ako,” he remarked with appreciation.
Edgar Allan placed 4th at the end of the season.
CJ Navato (YFSF Season 3, 2021) - “Ililigtas Ka Nya”
Gary V. isn’t just about energy---he’s also the voice behind timeless ballads. CJ Navato honored this side of Mr. Pure Energy with his heartfelt take on “Ililigtas Ka Nya,” the soundtrack of “FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.”
As soon as CJ sang the opening line, Judge Gary was already impressed. After his heartfelt performance, CJ grew emotional, showing how proud he was to honor Mr. Pure Energy. Gary admitted he hadn’t expected CJ to sound so much like him, saying, “You had tears in your eyes kanina, because it confirms that I believe you are a good musician, and there is so much music and life beyond ‘Your Face Sounds Familiar.’ They got the right person to imitate Gary V.”
Judge Sharon, a proud Gary V. fan, shared her admiration for CJ’s effort, “Sa pag-aral at pag-gaya mo sa kanya… I guess one day you’ll be just like him and Ogie.” The heartfelt comment moved CJ, and Judge Ogie added that CJ’s performance stood out because he sang from the heart, much like Gary does.
CJ placed 6th at the end of the season.
Darren (YFSF Season 4, 2026) - “Shout for Joy”
Known for his fun yet accurate Gary V. impersonations on “It’s Showtime,” Darren brought his talent to the “YFSF” stage with a lively performance of the 1991 anthem “Shout for Joy.” After his performance, even greeted the audience like Gary V., earning laughs from everyone.
Later on, Darren shared how fun it was to experience the transformation process just like the real contestants. He admitted feeling nervous but was glad to have delivered a strong performance. As preparation, Darren revealed he studied Gary V.’s “Shout for Joy” performances online, and his past experience performing with Mr. Pure Energy on “ASAP” helped him understand how Gary commands the stage.
The jury described Darren as a true bundle of joy, his positive energy evident every time he performs. They even noted that if he were an actual “YFSF” contestant, he would likely score high points week after week.
Jarlo Base (YFSF Season 4, 2026) - “Ililigtas Ka Nya”
Jarlo Base unleashed his inner balladeer with a heartfelt rendition of “Ililigtas Ka Niya.” Before performance day, he shared that he bumped into Gary V., who wished him good luck since he wouldn’t be able to watch live. Jarlo took the blessing to heart---and it showed, as he delivered a moving performance onstage.
Coach Nyoy Volante praised Jarlo for the command he showed onstage, saying, “Ang sarap mong panoorin, and lalo na nakikita namin [na] you were enjoying your performance.” Coach Klarisse De Guzman echoed the sentiment, commending Jarlo for embracing the joy in his performance and noting that despite the difficulty of impersonating Gary V., he still managed to deliver well.
The Megastar praised Jarlo for showing improvement week after week, adding that Gary V. himself would surely be proud of his performance. Judge Ogie followed with a short background on the song, explaining how it reflected Gary’s personal struggles at the time. He commended Jarlo for delivering the piece with pure intention and sincerity.
There was nothing but praise for Mr. Pure Energy himself, as the performances and jury comments never fail to remind us how iconic he is as a performer. Our Gary V ka-familiars definitely did not miss with their pure energy performance.
If you'd like to see more jaw-dropping performances, catch “Your Face Sounds Familiar” weeknights, 7:15PM on Kapamilya Channel, ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) and iWant.