Veteran singer-songwriter Rey Valera has opened up about his serious health challenges brought on by his stint as the Punong Hurado (Head Judge) on ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ (TNT) on ‘It’s Showtime’.
The OPM icon disclosed that the stress of eliminating contestants and hitting the dreaded gong led to frequent hospitalizations and eventually, two stomach surgeries.
In an interview with broadcast journalist Bernadette Sembrano, Valera recounted how his role took a toll on his well-being.
“Nagkasakit ako. Du’n sa ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’, kasi ako ang taga-gong du’n. Tuwing naggo-gong ako, naoospital ako. ‘Yung sikmura mo kapag nai-stress ka, siyempre trabaho ko ‘yung mag-gong du’n.”
The singer admitted that eliminating hopefuls, especially those striving to build a career in music, weighed heavily on his conscience.
“Pero ayaw ko ‘yun. Akala mo ba ‘yung ginong mong ‘yun, akala mo lalabas pa ‘yun sa baryo nila? Hindi na. Mawawalan ng trabaho ‘yun.”
One instance that deeply affected him was when he had to eliminate a music teacher whose performance did not meet the competition’s standards.
“Siyempre, obligado ka ngayong i-gong. Sabi niya sa akin, may magpapaturo pa ba du’n? E ‘di tinanggalan mo ng trabaho.”
Carrying that emotional burden affected his sleep and overall health, ultimately leading to two medical procedures for his stomach.
“Nasa isip ko lahat ‘yun. Hindi ako nakakatulog noon. Naoperahan ako dalawang beses, sa sikmura.”
Due to his declining health, Valera stepped away from ‘TNT’ and has since moved to TV5’s ‘Sing Galing’, where he enjoys a more relaxed and lighthearted role as a judge.
“Mas gusto ko ‘yun, relaks lang. Katuwaan lang. Kung makakapagbigay ka ng advice, better.”
Currently, Rey Valera serves as a judge on ‘Sing Galing’, airing every Saturday at 5:45 p.m. on TV5, alongside hosts K Brosas and Randy Santiago.
