francis magalona (1964 – 2009)

Francis Magalona, a Filipino artist, died yesterday because of leukemia.

One may ask why give that much tribute to this person while there are other Filipinos who recently died, that have done far more nobler, greater things? That is a fair question and it deserves an answer.

For me at least, I pay this tribute to Francis M. because he was one of us, no matter who we are. And since he was family, it is but natural to feel the loss.

If you are the Pinoy “masa”, I’m sure you have watched and laughed with him watching him and the other “dabarkads” in Eat Bulaga, the quintessential Pinoy masa noontime variety show (incidentally, it was Francis who coined the term “dabarkads” which they use in the show).

If you love “loveteams”, Francis M. has “been there, done that” during the early part of his acting career. He was a matinee idol introduced in “Bagets 2” movie in 1985. Come to think of it, he was still a matinee idol because even though he was already 44 years old, he still looks young and “makalaglag-panty”.

Of course, for rap aficionados, he is the Pinoy rap icon (sorry Andrew E., no dice).

Even though Francis M. is a mainstream celebrity, underground and the so-called alternative crowd still considers him a cool guy, having worked in collaborations with some of the top and coolest Pinoy bands we have right now, bands and artists who also respect Francis M’s immense musical talents.

He was also a loving son to his parents, a devout husband to wife Pia, a great father to his eight kids, and a true dabarkads to his friends. Now, who can’t relate to that?

And during his time of sickness, he still maintained his coolness factor. He didn’t let the disease pull him down, he still kept his upbeat attitude towards life and yes, he asked for our prayers to help him overcome that pit, but he didn’t asked for our pity. He even was working with Ely Buendia of the Eraserheads, in a project called The Sickos (Ely too, has his own heart condition). Now, how cool is that?

He has his faults, I know. His drugs related arrests and then some but who among us have no faults? That, for me, is what makes Francis more human, more like us.

And of course, most probably didn’t know this, Francis M. was also an enthusiastic photographer, having won awards and the respect of his peers.

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

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the image above is for our francis m. tribute in our flickr group