6.3.09

Francis Magalona...


The Three Stars and the Sun...





Da Man and his fans...









That night in a club in Manila where our friendship started...



A good man has left this life...a good man and a good friend. So long ago to remember we met in a club in Manila. He was a comics fan, that night I became a fan of his "The Man from Manila". He was a crafter of words and thoughts. His lyrics gave his fans a mirror to watch themselves from.


A true creative giant captures the breath of life around him. He not only told of the societal ills that plagued our country and all other cultures but he also raised pride in being Pinoy, where there was so little. His songs like "Mga Kababayan ko" and "The Three Stars and the Sun" gave rallying cries to a generation. I was raised in the United States and was not aware of my heritage, Francis opened my eyes. He showed all around him that a Pilipino could be gracious, strong, gentle, and kind. He sold us on the fact that you could be all that and that you should be all that.


His long marriage to his beautiful wife Pia and his wonderfully bright children (all eight of them last I counted) are a testimony to his power to give and provide. He was always bright and warm and his family mirrored that. After a long eventful life as a poet, a man, a rapper, an actor, an entertainer, an idol/role model, a producer, a film maker, a businessman , an award winning shutterbug, a collector, a dad, a husband, and a devoted friend...my friend Francis Magalona went to meet his beloved maker...peace, my friend, I will visit you wherever you lay when I come home...Whilce...

http://francismagalona.multiply.com/journal

8 comments:

FOMO said...

RIP Francis M.

Wayne Edwards said...

sorry for your loss.

Bjorn said...

RIP Francis M. You are both my idols!

|[ NINO ROY ]| said...

i will always remember him as "the MAN from manila"

RIP

CHRIS PORTACIO said...

Hey bro. I just found out through my other friend that M just passed on. I know he was very good friend of yours. I still remember listening to the CDs of Francis M that you had when I was a kid. I thought he was dope back then. I want to do a tribute shirt to honor him. The weird thing is that I've been thinking about him all weekend, without even knowing he passed. I was going to call you this week and see if you can ask him if I could send him some of my shirts to see if he likes them. Now I just want to honor him on a shirt. May the Peoples Artist rest in peace.

Unknown said...

Hi Whilce,

Chris forwarded your blog to me. Sorry to hear about your friend and Filipino idol for many. Those were lovely words you wrote about him. RIP to the the OG pioneer of pinoy rap!

Unknown said...

g'day whilce... we share the same sentiments on the passing of FrancisM. oddly enough, i was just reading his and pia's blog a couple of weeks ago from your links and was looking forward to some good news.

anyhoo, hope to see you in melbourne soon.

nino

jonah del r said...

Im so proud to be with you and Francis that nite. I really had a great time... Thanks for inviting me Whilce. The Master rapper is now with his Master