I may not be his number one fan, but I could not help but feel sad the moment I heard the news about Francis Magalona’s death last Friday, March 6, 2009. I guess it’s a manifestation of how he touched the lives of so many Filipinos, mine included.
I belonged to the Bagets generation. I remember watching the first Bagets movie on the balcony of an old cinema house in Legazpi at three in the afternoon with two of my Grade 6 classmates. We didn’t realize that we were witnessing the birth of the movie careers of William Martinez, Herbert Baustista, JC Bonnin, Raymond Lauchengco ---- and who could forget --- Aga Muhlach.
Then there was Bagets 2. Like the first instalment, the movie was a big hit (even without Aga) and the movie goers could not get enough of the new addition to the original cast. Overnight, Jon Jon Hernandez (the lanky good boy), Ramon Christopher (the cute and cuddly little boy), and Francis Magalona (the boy-next-door with umm an attitude) became household names. Francis’ character was memorable as the break-dancing free-spirit Ponce.
I was also a part of the That’s Entertainment generation and I remember Francis Magalona as one of the first members of this youth-oriented variety show that helped define the Pinoy entertainment scene for that decade. Francis Magalona did more break dancing and a bit of singing on that show and started making a name for himself. He was fondly called Kiko by contemporaries and fans.
Then came “Mga Kababayan Ko”----the song that made him "FrancisM”. His bold use of the line “Mga kababayan….” made famous by the late President Ferdinand Marcos as the song Intro was haunting at a time when the voice of the people needed to be heard. Pinoys seem to have found their nationalistic hip hop side. The whole country rapped and sang along to this song. Children recited its lyrics. Who could forget the lines “Ang magkaaway ipagbati ... gumitna ka at huwag kumampi”? Soon it was one hit after another. I memorized and hummed to Cold Summer Nights, Girl Be Mine, Kaleidoscope World with a quiet pride for OPM. Memorable lyrics from his songs became taglines still used to this day like “ito ang gusto ko”, “tropang gising” (from the song Praning), and all of a sudden the symbols of the Philippine flag became “3 stars and a sun” to the cooler, hipper youth. As I listen to his songs that scream about national pride, I feel hope for this country and its youth. His music was his best instrument to show his love for his country and to reach out and tell the rest of the world about it. According to his wife, Pia Arroyo, Francis' goal was “to Filipinize the world one person at a time”.
People may remember him as the Master Rapper or the King of Pinoy Rap. But now, on a hot summer night that turned cold for his fans, I join the rest of the country in remembering FrancisM not only as a rapper/singer/actor but most importantly as a song writer, a poet, a mentor, a model father, a Dabarkad, a businessman, an artist, a nationalist, an inspiration, and a hero.
They say he lived a full life. And that his demise was sweet relief. There is no doubt that he touched the lives of many Filipinos. And as he continues to live through his music, we should be grateful and happy for knowing him. Yet news on his wake, tributes on his life and the out-pouring of love from his fans and colleagues leave a deep and bitter sadness that make me want to shed a tear or two for this great human being. Cheers to the man and his kaleidoscope world!
And yes, I guess I am forever a fan.
"So let the sun shine
Let the rivers run away
Cause it’s a beautiful day now to play now
As I close my eyes to pray
Lord, have mercy on me ‘cause I’m feeling kinda lonely"
“Girl Be Mine”
FrancisM (1964 -2009)
I belonged to the Bagets generation. I remember watching the first Bagets movie on the balcony of an old cinema house in Legazpi at three in the afternoon with two of my Grade 6 classmates. We didn’t realize that we were witnessing the birth of the movie careers of William Martinez, Herbert Baustista, JC Bonnin, Raymond Lauchengco ---- and who could forget --- Aga Muhlach.
Then there was Bagets 2. Like the first instalment, the movie was a big hit (even without Aga) and the movie goers could not get enough of the new addition to the original cast. Overnight, Jon Jon Hernandez (the lanky good boy), Ramon Christopher (the cute and cuddly little boy), and Francis Magalona (the boy-next-door with umm an attitude) became household names. Francis’ character was memorable as the break-dancing free-spirit Ponce.
I was also a part of the That’s Entertainment generation and I remember Francis Magalona as one of the first members of this youth-oriented variety show that helped define the Pinoy entertainment scene for that decade. Francis Magalona did more break dancing and a bit of singing on that show and started making a name for himself. He was fondly called Kiko by contemporaries and fans.
Then came “Mga Kababayan Ko”----the song that made him "FrancisM”. His bold use of the line “Mga kababayan….” made famous by the late President Ferdinand Marcos as the song Intro was haunting at a time when the voice of the people needed to be heard. Pinoys seem to have found their nationalistic hip hop side. The whole country rapped and sang along to this song. Children recited its lyrics. Who could forget the lines “Ang magkaaway ipagbati ... gumitna ka at huwag kumampi”? Soon it was one hit after another. I memorized and hummed to Cold Summer Nights, Girl Be Mine, Kaleidoscope World with a quiet pride for OPM. Memorable lyrics from his songs became taglines still used to this day like “ito ang gusto ko”, “tropang gising” (from the song Praning), and all of a sudden the symbols of the Philippine flag became “3 stars and a sun” to the cooler, hipper youth. As I listen to his songs that scream about national pride, I feel hope for this country and its youth. His music was his best instrument to show his love for his country and to reach out and tell the rest of the world about it. According to his wife, Pia Arroyo, Francis' goal was “to Filipinize the world one person at a time”.
People may remember him as the Master Rapper or the King of Pinoy Rap. But now, on a hot summer night that turned cold for his fans, I join the rest of the country in remembering FrancisM not only as a rapper/singer/actor but most importantly as a song writer, a poet, a mentor, a model father, a Dabarkad, a businessman, an artist, a nationalist, an inspiration, and a hero.
They say he lived a full life. And that his demise was sweet relief. There is no doubt that he touched the lives of many Filipinos. And as he continues to live through his music, we should be grateful and happy for knowing him. Yet news on his wake, tributes on his life and the out-pouring of love from his fans and colleagues leave a deep and bitter sadness that make me want to shed a tear or two for this great human being. Cheers to the man and his kaleidoscope world!
And yes, I guess I am forever a fan.
"So let the sun shine
Let the rivers run away
Cause it’s a beautiful day now to play now
As I close my eyes to pray
Lord, have mercy on me ‘cause I’m feeling kinda lonely"
“Girl Be Mine”
FrancisM (1964 -2009)
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