This is one of the three photos in Francis M’s last blog entry dated Jan. 14, 2009 as he was preparing for his fourth chemo.
by Bibeth Orteza
Thursday night, March 5, I had a meeting with Malou Choa-Fagar, Executive
Producer of Eat Bulaga. The meeting stretched all the way to 4:30 a.m.,
Malou had been informed by Tita Rose (Rosa Rosal) that it was a matter of
time, for Kiko. My friend of many years back was sad, terribly sad, for
Francis called her ³Mama,² and was really close to her. The next day, March
6, at a lunch meeting with Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza, I got a text
from Malou: ³Francis passed this noon.² I was stunned.
March is usually when I work on The ³Eat Bulaga² Holy Week drama episodes as
writer and director. For this year, before we found out we weren¹t going to
do any, Kiko through his wife Pia agreed to the plot I outlined on the
phone. He was to play himself, he was willing to lend us videos and photos
of his treatment, do his voice-over narration, with scenes of his treatment
to intercut with fictional stories about other people who want to give up
because jobless, because spurned by a lover, because unable to deal with an
in-law, etc., with the message ³Yo, I ain¹t giving up, so don¹t.² The
project sadly didn¹t push through.
I rang up Malou and we both wept on the phone. Following my meeting with
Liza, I still had another one to go to, with Vic Sotto. Vic had made the
announcement of Kiko¹s demise on Eat Bulaga, and I felt he wasn¹t exactly up
to meeting in a restaurant as originally planned. We met instead, in Eat
Bulaga hosts¹ room on Broadway. I got in and Vic and Joey and the other
hosts were being interviewed by a slew of news and TV movie talk show
reporters. Everyone was emotional, and understandably so, for Kiko had been
with the show since what, 1996?
After the reporters had gone, Joey was trying to figure out how badly Kiko,
or anyone else, received his diagnosis the first time around. ³Ang hagulgol
siguro niya. Mahirap iyon.² Then he remembered I was a survivor. He turned
to me and asked, ³Ikaw, gaano ka katagal nag-iiyak?²
³Hindi gaano,² I answered. ³Nalungkot ng todo, pero hindi talaga nag-iiyak.²
³Ows²
³Joey, kasi you only have two options after diagnosis. Ang umiyak, o
lumaban. Pipili ka. Saan ka dadalhin ng iyak? Saan ka dadalhin ng laban?²
Kiko, in our first encounter right after my diagnosis, asked me, ³Direk,
laban?² I shot back, ³Laban.²
Then last year, on the phone, after he found out about his illness (Acute
Myelogenous Leukemia with Mixed Lineage), I asked him. ³Kiko, laban?² How
quickly he replied, ³Laban!²
And boy, how he fought his ³Happy Battle,² as he termed it.
Francis Michael Durango Magalona was the son of screen icons Pancho Magalona
and Tita Duran. He could have easily entered the film and television
industry on the strength of his family name. But his first job was in the
advertising section of the now-defunct ³Mr and Ms Magazine.² He truly worked
his way up.
I¹m not saying he was perfect, or that he never made mistakes. But he
confronted his demons, and way before he fell sick had already quit smoking
and drinking and this and that. He was a good husband and a good father to a
brood of eight.
It is an honor to have known him, to have worked with him.
I shall miss him terribly.
Photo credit: Thanks to PEP for Bibeth’s photo. Got it at Google.
That’s the spirit, Bibeth.
Kiko, in the way you faced death, you showed us how to live. You are my idol. You and Bibeth.
By: Francis M.
Mga kababayan ko
Dapat lang malaman nyo
Bilib ako sa kulay ko
Ako ay pilipino
Kung may itim or may puti
Mayron naman kayumangi
Isipin mo na kaya mong
Abutin ang yung minimithi
Dapat magsumikap para tayoy di maghirap
Ang trabaho mo pagbutihin mo
Dahil pag gusto mo ay kaya mo
Kung kaya mo ay kaya nya
At kaya nating dalawa
Magaling ang atin
Yan ang laging iisipin
Pag asensyo mararating
Kung handa kang tiisin
Ang hirap at pagod sa problema
Wag kang malunod
Umaahon ka wag lumubog
Pagka’t ginhawa naman ang susunod
Iwasan mo ang ingit
Ang sa ibay ibig mong makamit
Dapat nga ikaw matuwa sa napala ng iyong kapatid
Ibig kung ipabatid
Na lahat tayo’y kabig bisig
Respetohin natin ang ating ina
Ilaw siya ng tahanan
Bigyang galang ang ama
At ang payo ang susudan
At sa magkakapatid
Kailang ay magmahalan
Dapat lng ay pag usapan ang hindi nauuwaan
Wag takasan ang pag kukulang
Kasalan ay panagutan
Mag malinis ay iwasan
Nakakainis marumi naman
Ang mag kaaway ipag bati
Gumitna ka ang wag kumampi
Lahat tayoy magkakapatid
Anong mang mali ay ituwid
Magdasal sa diyos maykapal
Maging banal at wag hangal
Itong tula ay alay ko
Sa inyo at sa buong mundo
Whenever a love one dies, a part of us die too!
My beloved Sister died of similar sickness 10 years ago. She wasn’t only a sis to me but also my best friend! I remembered she was diagnosed in April and in January the following year she left us! My sister refused to come to Germany and have her chemo here much less the possible bone-marrow transplant. She was a very religious woman and accepted her death as God’s final plan for her! Since her death, and with my parents no longer around, visiting our country was no longer that exciting to me.
May Francis rest in peace! My prayers for him and the loved ones he left behind!
He is home… in heaven. May the Lord give strength and courage to his loved ones who were left behind, that his life serve as an inspiration to us all!
Laban!
Francis is no ordinary artist. From the first time I saw him perform on TV, way back in the 80’s Dance 10 when he as a balikbayan teenager who brought home the West Coast Strut, to the time of his death, he was a positive energy, a free spirit working for change, for unity and peace, for national identity. Francis showed everyone that hard work, perseverance and pure patriotism has its rewards.
I’ve been to two of his concerts early in his career, one in Amoranto the other in Folk Arts. Francis pioneered the fusion of raprock and nu metal long before Linkin Park hit the US charts with “One Step Closer”. Or Limp Bizkit and others. Several times, Francis would be pelted with coins, mineral water bottles, lighters or what-have-you on stage but that didn’t stop him from delivering his message of, ironically, PEACE, through his music. Not long afterwards, he has successfully, I’d surmise by his lonesome, joined together the warring factions of the rap dudes and the metal heads through his untiring but inspiring message of peace and unity through love of country in his songs.
Lord, bakit yung mga katulad ni Kiko na nagpakahirap para sa pagkakaisa ang dapat mamatay ng maaga?
Bakit hindi yung mga ganid na magnanakaw sa Malakanyang na gustong wasakin ang bansa?
TT: Bakit hindi yung mga ganid na magnanakaw sa Malakanyang na gustong wasakin ang bansa?
*****
You’re right, but as the old adage goes, “Only the good die young!!!”
I don’t know Frank M. but I surely know his parents, who were the matinee idols when I was a kid growing up in the Philippines before the Macapagals buried it in debt!!!
May he rest in peace!
grizzy,
this is an anecdote I still have fond memories of, I was just two years old then. This is about Pancho Magalona. After hearing mass in Baclaran with my Mom, she took me to the ABC studio (which later became KBS/RPN 9) a few blocks away along Roxas Blvd. We were to meet my mom’s kumpadre, comedian Tommy Angeles because she failed to make it in the latter’s Christening of his son, we brought him the gifts. As we were about to leave, we saw Pancho Magalona enter the building in time for the noon program “Magandang Tanghali”, she said I started crying “Tito Pancho, Tito Pancho” and wouldn’t let go of the steel rails even as the guard told us that kids below 6 were not allowed inside the studio. Tommy called Pancho who came over and told the guard to let us in.
Later during the show, as Pancho prepared for his usual closing song, he told the audience, “Meron isang batang umiiyak kanina na nakayapos sa gate dahil ayaw papasukin ng guard. Kinausap ko ang guard para papasukin siya”. He then went to our seat and carried me in his arms while he sang the closing song. I was part of the finale number! Pancho even took me in his dressing room where he took down a framed picture of his and signed it for me.
When we were home feeling celebrity ako, nagkagulo ang mga kapitbahay who watched the show. Pancho er, Tito Pancho is best remembered for his clean, wholesome image and his booming deep bass voice. Kiko will now join him and his mom, Tita Tita, in joyous bliss. They will never be forgotten, at least, by me. God bless them.
I’m clipping the poem by Francis M. above. Ganda!
I will distribute it during our rallies in Japan. It should be good reminder to those wanting to uplift the image of their country and people by kicking out the criminals responsible for the sad state the Philippines is in.
Kahawig ni Francis ang nanay niya. Iyon ang mga typical Filipina beauty na hindi nireretoke ni Bello at pinapuputi ng Papaya soap. Those were the days.
Tongue, you sure have a lovely and unforgettable memory of ‘your’ Tito Pancho. Keep it very close to your heart, it is yours forever. 🙂
Francis M is alive thru his writings. i feel proud i am pinoy.
Natatandaan ko pa nuon sa Eat Bulaga, a-otso ng Enero(bisperas ng Fiesta ng Quiapo, J.Nazareno).
Yung isang personalidad sa Eat-Bulaga, sa isang pa-kontest na portion ng nasabing noon time show, nambabastos ng bayani(Gat JPR at Andres Bonifacio) –kaya hayun na-bokya!
Sana wala ng bastusan ng mga Founding Fathers.
Wala ng Butataan ha!
—from the gesture of Kiko of Mandaluyong,
flashing victory sign
Tongue, swerte mo naman to have such lovely memories of lovely people.
Francis Magalona is one of the icons of this generation, my generation.
Thanks for the memories, Master Rapper…you’ve fought the good fight, and now you’ll be with the Master…
Rest assured that many are “ready to defend the Three Stars and the Sun”, just like you…
chi, Gabriela,
Sayang nga, kahit man lang sana Betamax meron na noon. Kaya lang balewala nga rin pala, pati yung picture ni Tito Pancho, nasunog kasama ng buong bahay namin.
Uy, nabuhay si mami_noodles!
Pati si nelbar!
Mami_noodles, I still have our picture at the rally. I should email it to you.
Tongue, cute yung recollection mo of Pancho Magalona. sayang nga , no cellphone cameras then.
Rose,
I can understand your sentiment, but an award from the Dorobo is something that the family of Francis M can and should refuse to receive. Mas marami pang mas legitimate organizations to honor this nationalistic rapper.
Mana sa nanay niya, no doubt. I have videos of interviews with guerrillas who told about the role of Tita Duran and her family during the rescue of POWs in UST as they lived right across the said university.
Sanay naman silang tumanggap ng mga awards sa totoo lang. I understand he was a recipient of MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards Generations Award in 2006 “in recognition of his career that has spanned decades and broken boundaries, and for his music which continues to inspire generations of artists and music fans both here and abroad.”
Marami pa siyang naging award sa totoo lang at mas legitimate pa, di baboy gaya ng ibibigay ni Gloria Dorobo who is undoubtedly doing it not for Francis but for her own credit and glory!
Noong 80’s na hindi pa uso ang open source community, pero dyan sa Mandaluyong sa kahabaan ng F.Blumentrit Street lumabas na dyan ang sharing.
Iyong sharing na tinutukoy ko ay iyong sharing ng mga dance steps.
Bago pa mag NK(Ninja Kids) ito si Kiko, ay MK na ako(sapatos na Mighty Kids, at hindi Makabayang Kabataan).
Nuong naglabasan sa Eat Bulaga ang KB o Kalas Buto – heto ang unang nakahiligan ni Francis M., bago pa ang break dance dyan sa Busko’.
Na-witness ko ang sharing ng mga dance steps dyan(o timbogan o sapaw ng lumaon ang panahon) noong first year HS ako dyan sa kaharap na eskwelahan ng Don Bosco. Sa Plaridel nga pala ako nag-aral.
Tama ang kwento ni TT, nuong 80’s tropahan at hindi war freak ang mga youth.O party naman kapag weekend ang nasa isip ng mga kabataan. Karamihan pa dito ay takot ang mga kabataan sa teenage pregnacies. Ngayon ay iba na.
Balik tayo dun sa Blumentrit, A.Luna at Mabini Steets.
Nagkaroon nga rin pala noon dyan ng mga HK o Hagibis Kids. Nakikita ko pa noon dyan ang mga member ng Hagibis at minsan ay nagba-bike lang.
Sa tuwing Mayo o panahon ng mga fiesta ay celebrity o artista ang mga kasali sa mga stage show.
Noong nasa “That’s” si Kiko, nasa pang-Miyerkules na edition yan. Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit mapungay ang mata nyan kapag napapanood ko sa TV.
Yun pala ay puyat yan sa showdown nang nagdaan gabi.
…just sharing
Tita Ellen,
Thanks. I would appreciate that…
TT,
Well, I was just busy the past few months or so, until recently…kaya medyo wala ako sa sirkulasyon. But I’m still observing and ranting…
nelbar,
Inabot mo rin pala yung mga tropang orthopedic ng Kalentong. Bago dumating si Francis, si Rey-Ann Fuentes ang bida sa sayawan sa TV dahil sa kanyang quickspin na simbilis ni Michael Jackson at funk na plakadong Soul Train.
Nung dumating si Kiko nagbago ang laman ng dancefloor. Yung mga hindi makasabay sa swing dahil sa tigas ng katawan, nagkabuhay sa Strutt.
Yung mga pinsan ko dati mga plastic, naging robot!
Ha!Ha!Ha!