Francis Magalona
Encyclopedia
Francis Michael Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino
rapper, entrepreneur
, songwriter
, producer
, actor
, director
, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream. He was credited for having pioneered the merging of rap with Pinoy rock
, becoming a significant influence to artists in that genre as well. He was also a television host on MTV Asia and Channel V Philippines
and on noontime variety television show Eat Bulaga!
Magalona died seven months after being diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. Magalona was later awarded a posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit. The award's citation noted that it had been given “for his musical and artistic brilliance, his deep faith in the Filipino and his sense of national pride that continue to inspire us.”
and Tita Duran
, popular film stars of the 1940s and 1950s. His grandfather, Enrique B. Magalona
, was a politician and served as a Senator of the Philippines from 1946 to 1949 and from 1949 to 1955. He graduated from High School at the Don Bosco Technical College
in Mandaluyong City
from 1978 to 1981 and studied at the San Beda College
in Manila from 1981-1984.
Magalona started out as a breakdancer in the 1980s. He was cast in several Filipino movies including Bagets 2. He was the resident DJ/rapper in the IBC-13 variety show Loveli'Ness.
Magalona was introduced by co-actor Richard Gomez
to Pia Arroyo at a party in a disco owned by film director Ishmael Bernal
, and the couple got married in 1985. The couple had eight children, two of whom were Magalona's stepchildren: Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr. (Frank), Clara, and television personalities Maxene
, Saab
, Elmo Magalona
and Arkin Magalona, who entered showbiz after their father's death.
, Yo! was a big success and helped catapult Filipino hip hop
from underground to mainstream status. It also marked the birth of Makabayang (nationalistic) rap in Filipino hip hop.
In 1992, Francis Magalona released Rap Is FrancisM (1992). With tracks addressing the various cultural and social problems that plagued his country such as drug addiction in "Mga Praning" (Paranoids), political instability in "Halalan" (Elections) as well as the detrimental effects of a colonial mentality
in "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy" (We Are Filipinos), the record's complexity and conscious message quickly earned it its classic status and became the standard by which future albums of the genre were to be compared. This album helped tag Magalona as one of the most politically conscious voices of his generation.
(I Got Something!) in 1993 marked the beginning of Magalona's experimentation with Pinoy rock
. It also saw the birth of Hardware Syndrome--previously known as Cannabis—the band which would, with Magalona at its helm, introduce the merging of Pinoy Rock and Rap to the Filipino music audience. Members over the years included musicians Carlo Sison,Francis Villanueva, Niño Mesina, Boyet Aquino, Elmer Blancaflor, Noel Mendez, Perf de Castro, Benjie "Bagets" Mendez, Albert Tamayo, DJ Kimozave, DJ Radikal MK, Kenji Marquez, Jack Rufo, and Wendell Garcia.
Magalona was soon cited for excellence in both genres of music. He frequently collaborated with other OPM luminaries such as Joey Ayala
, Heber Bartolome of Banyuhay, Ryan Cayabyab
, Mike Hanopol of Juan Dela Cruz Band, Andrew E.
, Michael V.
, Death Threat, and the band Eraserheads. In the latter part of his career, Magalona worked together with rappers Krazykyle, Gloc 9 and the Pinoy rock band Parokya ni Edgar
. In 1994, Magalona moved from Octo-Arts EMI Philippines, which had released all of his previous albums, to BMG Records Pilipinas, the same label as the seminal Pinoy rock group, The Eraserheads.
Freeman was released the following year, 1995, and firmly established Magalona's legitimacy in the Pinoy rock scene. Tracks like "Three Stars & A Sun", "Kabataan Para Sa Kinabukasan", "Suckin' on Helium/Kaleidoscope World
" would become defining touch-points in Magalona's body of work. A track titled "Intellectual Property Rights" would sample a speech by then-president
Fidel V. Ramos
. Intellectual property rights was an issue that would continue to be an important and very personal advocacy for Magalona. "Kaleidoscope World
" went on to win 1996 Awit Award
for Best Produced Record of the Year, and the 1996 NU 107 Rock Award
for Song of the Year. Its music video was directed by the celebrated director/cinematographer Raymond Red
Magalona's next album,Happy Battle
, was released in 1996. The launch for the video-game themed album at the Hard Rock Cafe
in Makati was noted by the press for its wide range of influences: aside from fans of Magalona's music, he had showbiz fans and coworkers from Eat Bulaga!
, where he had already started hosting; and two sets of Sony PlayStations with giant screens set up so people could play video games while watching the gig. The album was also notable for a number of significant collaborations: "Unstrung Heroes" with Ely Buendia
; "Sapot", with project band Planet Garapata, which included Raimund Marasigan
, Jeng Tan and Mark Lakay, who would later form Sandwich
; and "Make Your Move" with pioneer Filipino punk band Betrayed. In keeping with the nationalistic theme in Magalona's work, 1-800-Ninety-Six was written in celebration of the centennial of the Philippine revolution of 1896
. "Rainy" won Best Folk song, and the album itself would became the first and only album to win Best Rock and Best Rap Album at the Katha Awards. When Magalona was diagnosed with Leukemia, he and his wife Pia would use the album name "Happy Battle" as a reference to his fight against cancer.
Later albums with BMG (now with Sony Music) would include Interscholastic (1999) which featured adaptations of various artists' songs; and Freeman 2 (2001), which would echo many of the themes that had made the first Freeman album so popular. In 2002, his greatest hits album The Best of FrancisM was released by Musiko and Sony BMG Philippines. 2004 in turn saw the release of a single titled "Pambihira Ka".
Magalona founded his own record company called Red Egg Records, and a production company, Filipino Pictures Inc., where he served as the resident Director. Through his production company, Magalona produced and directed music videos for several bands and solo artists such as Ely Buendia. His work on Sponge Cola
's "KLSP" won Best Rock Video at the 2006 MYX
Video Awards.
Shortly before his death, Magalona collaborated with Ely Buendia and other Filipino artists on an album with the working title The Sickos Project, which was later named as "In Love and War", and released posthumously. Both Francis M. and Ely Buendia were having health problems at that time. The album's carrier single is "Higante" (giant) which is about illness and strengths. Its music video was released on September 2009.
In an interview, Ely Buendia described his self as a "ticking timebomb" and Francis Magalona as "on borrowed time." The album will include a documentary about Ely and Francis, shot by Magalona's very own production company Filipino Pictures.
And in addition to co-hosting LoveliNess, Magalona was one of the original members of the youth oriented show That's Entertainment in 1987. He was also a co-host of the Philippine noon-time variety show Eat Bulaga!
as well as being a VJ for MTV Asia and Channel V
. He was MTV Asia's first Filipino
VJ and remained with the network from 1996 to 2000.
He was also chosen by Fremantle Media, owners of American Idol
as one of the judges of in the first Philippine Idol
season that aired on ABC (now TV5)
. Magalona and his fellow judges Ryan Cayabyab
and Pilita Corrales
were not retained when the franchise transferred to GMA Network
in 2008. Aside from television, he also hosted live events and presentations.
Magalona was a photographer and submitted pictures to magazines for publication. News reports note that he was overjoyed when he was accepted as a member of the Camera Club of the Philippines, and eventually received critical acclaim for his photographs.
Magalona also established a clothing line named FMCC, standing for "FrancisM Clothing Co." FMCC also operates it's stores under the "3 Stars & A Sun" brand.
He also started a foundation with Ely Buendia called Heartist Foundation, which aims to help Filipino artists with health and commercial concerns.
at the Medical City Hospital, Pasig City
. Appealing to the media and the public, Magalona said:
After his first treatment and discharge, he made his return on Eat Bulaga together with Ely Buendia
, who had also been recently discharged. His daughter Maxene stated that "He always did what he wanted to do. He never let anyone or anything stop him from doing what he loved to do. He still went to the Camera Club, he still took pictures, every time he was discharged from the hospital, he recorded songs with Ely Buendia. He taught us that life is short but it can be well lived. Don’t waste your time in the world."
His wife, Pia, later described her husband's battle with the disease, saying "Francis was a very passionate person. When he was angry, he was very expressive. He would get angry with his cancer. That was his way of coping with it. But he didn’t give up. I remembered that he told me, 'I'm going down fighting.'
On March 6, 2009, at 12 noon, Magalona succumbed to multi organ failure secondary to septic shock, secondary to pneumonia in the immunocompromised (immediate cause); acute respiratory failure secondary to acute respiratory distress syndrome (antecedent cause); underlying cause: acute myleogenous leukemia blast crisis. He had undergone several chemotherapy sessions since he was diagnosed the previous year, and had been expected to undergo a bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT).
The announcement was first made over Eat Bulaga!
. News of his death sparked a surge of web traffic to several Philippine news sites, causing a momentary slowdown in the operation of those sites. Guests at his wake included the late former president
Corazon Aquino
, along with other politicians and artists who paid tribute to Magalona's contribution to Filipino music, and to national pride - the dominant advocacy theme in FrancisM's music. Fans arrived in droves to pay their last respects, some of them making a point to wear shirts from Magalona's FMCC line. Numerous television programs, ranging from noontime variety shows to primetime newscasts and late night news documentaries, paid tribute to Magalona.
He had been slated to appear as a special surprise guest at the Eraserheads' "the Final Set" reunion concert on March 7, 2009. Since he died the day before, the band instead dedicated the concert to Magalona. Buendia rapped the 22-bar portion in Superproxy which Magalona wrote, and the concert's penultimate song was the reprise of Kaleidoscope World
.
Magalona was cremated before daybreak on March 11, 2009. Hours later, his ashes were laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City
, causing traffic to stall in the Marikina Riverbanks area near the park as fans and numerous people from the entertainment industry joined the convoy. The Philippine Army also rendered military honors to Magalona in recognition of his patriotism and service as a sergeant in the reserves. His widow, Pia, received the flag draped on his coffin.
. Pia and Maxene later came out and denounced the organizers, saying that both concerts did not have the family's blessings and the foundation did not exist. They also particularly admonished the concert organizers for using the Red Cross to attract attendees. Pia also asked the public not to patronize sellers of fake FMCC goods, which started to appear within days of Magalona's death. Their house had been broken into a couple of times, with his personal items, along with his family kids' stuff being the main targets. One of them was a laptop computer where other unpublished FMCC designs were stored.
Magalona was the recipient of the 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." He was the second person so honored, the first having been singer Gary Valenciano
at the 2005 rites.
On March 18, 2009, the Philippine Government - through the efforts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
-- recognized Magalona with by awarding him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit. The award's citation noted that it had been given “for his musical and artistic brilliance, his deep faith in the Filipino and his sense of national pride that continue to inspire us.”
Several supporters of Magalona launched a online petition to award him, the Order of National Artist
, which is the highest recognition for Philippine artists. However, nominations for the National Artist award will have to be done after three years as nominations for the order are closed.
His daughter Maxene has indicated that she intends to continue Magalona's projects, including his The Sickos Project album with Buendia, and a documentary about his battle with cancer. The young actress stated: "We will coordinate with the people he had been working with, [...] I understand that Papa is a big part of history."
Sony Music Philippines
Independent
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
rapper, entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, director
Music video director
A music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...
, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream. He was credited for having pioneered the merging of rap with Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is the brand of rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. It has become as diverse as the rock music genre itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific genres or combinations of genres like alternative rock,...
, becoming a significant influence to artists in that genre as well. He was also a television host on MTV Asia and Channel V Philippines
Channel V Philippines
Channel [V] Philippines is a 24-hour music-entertainment television network owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, a partnership with TV Xtreme Broadcasting Company as a new network provider starting on March 1, 2009....
and on noontime variety television show Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga! is a noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by Television And Production Exponents Inc. and aired by GMA Network. The show is broadcast from The New TAPE Studios at the GMA Broadway Centrum in New Manila, Quezon City. Eat Bulaga! is aired Weekdays at 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm ...
Magalona died seven months after being diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. Magalona was later awarded a posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit. The award's citation noted that it had been given “for his musical and artistic brilliance, his deep faith in the Filipino and his sense of national pride that continue to inspire us.”
Family and early career
Magalona was the eighth of the nine children of actors Pancho MagalonaPancho Magalona
Enrique "Pancho" Magalona, Jr. — was a Philippine actor from the 1940s to the 1970s.-Early life:Born Enrique Gayoso Magalona, Jr. on 1921 in the southern Philippine province of Negros Occidental and was the son of Philippine Senator Enrique B. Magalona, Sr.-Personal life:Pancho and his real life...
and Tita Duran
Tita Duran
Teresita "Tita Durán" Durango was a Filipina film actress who began as a child actress. She was the first ever successful child star of Philippine cinema.Actor Pancho Magalona was her husband...
, popular film stars of the 1940s and 1950s. His grandfather, Enrique B. Magalona
Enrique B. Magalona
Enrique B. Magalona was a former Senator of the Philippines, and the grandfather of the late Francis Magalona.-Early life:Enrique B. Magalona was born in Saravia, Negros Occidental on November 5, 1891 to Vicente Magalona Y Ledesma and Agustin Barrera y Majarocan.-Personal life:He was married by...
, was a politician and served as a Senator of the Philippines from 1946 to 1949 and from 1949 to 1955. He graduated from High School at the Don Bosco Technical College
Don Bosco Technical College
Don Bosco Technical College is a private Catholic educational institution owned and operated by the Salesians of Don Bosco. DBTC is deemed as the "Motherhouse of all Salesian Works in the Philippines," making it the premier Salesian institution for higher-learning in the country...
in Mandaluyong City
Mandaluyong City
The City of Mandaluyong is one of the cities and municipalities that comprise Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the west by the country's capital, Manila, to the north by San Juan City, to the east by Quezon City and Pasig City, and by Makati City to the south...
from 1978 to 1981 and studied at the San Beda College
San Beda College
San Beda College or Dalubhasaan ng San Beda in Filipino is a Private Benedictine college run by the Benedictine monks in the Philippines. It is located on Mendiola Street in San Miguel, Manila...
in Manila from 1981-1984.
Magalona started out as a breakdancer in the 1980s. He was cast in several Filipino movies including Bagets 2. He was the resident DJ/rapper in the IBC-13 variety show Loveli'Ness.
Magalona was introduced by co-actor Richard Gomez
Richard Gomez
Richard Gomez is a Filipino actor, comedian, model, athlete, television presenter, and director. He is one of the famous actors in Philippine Cinema. He graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.-Biography and Career:Gomez was raised by his grandmother...
to Pia Arroyo at a party in a disco owned by film director Ishmael Bernal
Ishmael Bernal
Ishmael Bernal was an acclaimed Filipino film, stage and television director. He was also an actor and screenwriter...
, and the couple got married in 1985. The couple had eight children, two of whom were Magalona's stepchildren: Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr. (Frank), Clara, and television personalities Maxene
Maxene Magalona
Maxene Sofia Maria Arroyo Magalona is a Filipina actress born to a prominent showbiz family. She is known for her portrayal as Vivian Salvador in the GMA's soap My Lover, My Wife.-Personal life:...
, Saab
Saab Magalona
Maria Isabella Simone Arroyo Magalona or known as Saab Magalona is a Filipina actress who started in the TV5 youth-oriented drama series Lipgloss...
, Elmo Magalona
Elmo Magalona
Elmo Moses Arroyo Magalona, better known as simply Elmo Magalona is a Filipino actor and singer. He is the sixth child of Francis Magalona.-Personal life:...
and Arkin Magalona, who entered showbiz after their father's death.
Filipino hip hop and nationalistic rap
In 1990, he released the album Yo!, the first commercially released Filipino rap album. Yo! included several popular singles such as "Mga Kababayan" (Fellow Countrymen), "Gotta Let 'Cha Know", "Cold Summer Nights" and "Man From Manila". With tracks that featured politically conscious and thought-provoking rhymes in both English and TagalogTagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
, Yo! was a big success and helped catapult Filipino hip hop
Filipino hip hop
Filipino hip-hop or Pinoy hip hop is hip-hop music performed by musicians of Filipino descent, both in the Philippines, and overseas, especially by Filipino-Americans...
from underground to mainstream status. It also marked the birth of Makabayang (nationalistic) rap in Filipino hip hop.
In 1992, Francis Magalona released Rap Is FrancisM (1992). With tracks addressing the various cultural and social problems that plagued his country such as drug addiction in "Mga Praning" (Paranoids), political instability in "Halalan" (Elections) as well as the detrimental effects of a colonial mentality
Colonial mentality
Colonial mentality is an area of study and a conceptual theory in Cultural anthropology that refers to institutionalized or systemic feelings of inferiority within some societies or people who have been subjected to colonialism, relative to the values of the foreign powers which had previously...
in "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy" (We Are Filipinos), the record's complexity and conscious message quickly earned it its classic status and became the standard by which future albums of the genre were to be compared. This album helped tag Magalona as one of the most politically conscious voices of his generation.
Hardware Syndrome and the merging of rap with Pinoy rock
The release of his third album, Meron akong ano!Meron akong ano!
Meron akong ano! is Francis Magalona's third album, released in 1993 by Octo Arts Records . "Ito Ang Gusto Ko" the second hit single created Francis Magalona's first music video directed by Raymond Red.-Track listing:...
(I Got Something!) in 1993 marked the beginning of Magalona's experimentation with Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is the brand of rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. It has become as diverse as the rock music genre itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific genres or combinations of genres like alternative rock,...
. It also saw the birth of Hardware Syndrome--previously known as Cannabis—the band which would, with Magalona at its helm, introduce the merging of Pinoy Rock and Rap to the Filipino music audience. Members over the years included musicians Carlo Sison,Francis Villanueva, Niño Mesina, Boyet Aquino, Elmer Blancaflor, Noel Mendez, Perf de Castro, Benjie "Bagets" Mendez, Albert Tamayo, DJ Kimozave, DJ Radikal MK, Kenji Marquez, Jack Rufo, and Wendell Garcia.
Magalona was soon cited for excellence in both genres of music. He frequently collaborated with other OPM luminaries such as Joey Ayala
Joey Ayala
Joey Ayala is a contemporary pop music artist in the Philippines. He is well known for his style of music that combines the sounds of Filipino ethnic instruments with modern pop music. His professional music career started when he released an album recorded in a makeshift-studio in 1982...
, Heber Bartolome of Banyuhay, Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab is a Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts...
, Mike Hanopol of Juan Dela Cruz Band, Andrew E.
Andrew E.
Andrew Espiritu , better known as Andrew E., is a popular Filipino Rap Artist, Record Producer, Dongalo Wreckords CEO, Fedex WSC Director, Dongalo Clothing President, and Movie actor. He is best known throughout the Philippines for 1990 debut hit single Humanap Ka Ng Panget...
, Michael V.
Michael V.
Michael V. , also known as "Bitoy" or "Toybits", is a Filipino comedian, actor, director, composer, singer, rapper, voice artist and parodist, who appears in the GMA Network show Bubble Gang, and in his own TV show Bitoy's Funniest Videos...
, Death Threat, and the band Eraserheads. In the latter part of his career, Magalona worked together with rappers Krazykyle, Gloc 9 and the Pinoy rock band Parokya ni Edgar
Parokya ni Edgar
Parokya ni Edgar is a Filipino band that was formed in 1993 by a group of college students. The band is famous and most lauded for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of popular songs...
. In 1994, Magalona moved from Octo-Arts EMI Philippines, which had released all of his previous albums, to BMG Records Pilipinas, the same label as the seminal Pinoy rock group, The Eraserheads.
Freeman was released the following year, 1995, and firmly established Magalona's legitimacy in the Pinoy rock scene. Tracks like "Three Stars & A Sun", "Kabataan Para Sa Kinabukasan", "Suckin' on Helium/Kaleidoscope World
Kaleidoscope World (song)
Kaleidoscope World is a 1995 song performed by the late Filipino rap artist Francis Magalona. It was first included in his 1995 studio album Freeman. The song is also included in a later album, Best of FrancisM....
" would become defining touch-points in Magalona's body of work. A track titled "Intellectual Property Rights" would sample a speech by then-president
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
. Intellectual property rights was an issue that would continue to be an important and very personal advocacy for Magalona. "Kaleidoscope World
Kaleidoscope World (song)
Kaleidoscope World is a 1995 song performed by the late Filipino rap artist Francis Magalona. It was first included in his 1995 studio album Freeman. The song is also included in a later album, Best of FrancisM....
" went on to win 1996 Awit Award
Awit Awards
The Awit Awards is the longest-running award-giving body of the Philippines that gives recognition to Filipino musical talents, performing artists and producers it was Philippines equivalent to Grammy Awards, organized by the Philippine Association Of The Record Industry .-Objectives and Winner...
for Best Produced Record of the Year, and the 1996 NU 107 Rock Award
NU Rock Awards
The NU Rock Awards was an annual recognition program sponsored from 1994 to 2010 by the defunct Metro Manila based radio station NU 107.1. 1994 saw the birth of what is to become the biggest annual gathering of the finest rock musicians in the country—the NU 107 Rock Awards! The very first NU 107...
for Song of the Year. Its music video was directed by the celebrated director/cinematographer Raymond Red
Magalona's next album,Happy Battle
Happy Battle
Happy Battle is Francis Magalona's sixth album, released in 1996 by BMG Records Inc and Musiko Records.-Track listing:# "Round 1# "1-800-Ninety-Six # "Girl Be Mine# "Soul Placenta# "Tingga Sa Wan-Kata# "Make Your Move...
, was released in 1996. The launch for the video-game themed album at the Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
in Makati was noted by the press for its wide range of influences: aside from fans of Magalona's music, he had showbiz fans and coworkers from Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga! is a noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by Television And Production Exponents Inc. and aired by GMA Network. The show is broadcast from The New TAPE Studios at the GMA Broadway Centrum in New Manila, Quezon City. Eat Bulaga! is aired Weekdays at 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm ...
, where he had already started hosting; and two sets of Sony PlayStations with giant screens set up so people could play video games while watching the gig. The album was also notable for a number of significant collaborations: "Unstrung Heroes" with Ely Buendia
Ely Buendía
Eleandre Basiño Buendia, popularly known as Ely Buendia, and also once adopting the stage name, Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura, is a Filipino writer and musician who gained fame as guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist in the popular Pinoy rock band The Eraserheads...
; "Sapot", with project band Planet Garapata, which included Raimund Marasigan
Raimund Marasigan
Raimund Emmanuel Parcon Marasigan, or simply known as Raimund Marasigan, is a ballad musician and record producer in the Philippines. Oftentimes, his first name is misspelled as Raymond, Raymund, Raimond and other variants. The breadth of his projects has made him one of the most well-respected...
, Jeng Tan and Mark Lakay, who would later form Sandwich
Sandwich (band)
Sandwich is a Filipino rock band that was formed in 1995 by Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. Castillo recruited former band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience Mike Dizon to play drums and Myrene Academia to handle bass...
; and "Make Your Move" with pioneer Filipino punk band Betrayed. In keeping with the nationalistic theme in Magalona's work, 1-800-Ninety-Six was written in celebration of the centennial of the Philippine revolution of 1896
Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
. "Rainy" won Best Folk song, and the album itself would became the first and only album to win Best Rock and Best Rap Album at the Katha Awards. When Magalona was diagnosed with Leukemia, he and his wife Pia would use the album name "Happy Battle" as a reference to his fight against cancer.
Later albums with Sony Music
The 1998 album The Oddventures of Mr. Cool saw a move from the last two albums' heavy guitar sound and explored mellow, urban-style rapping. It featured the song "Whole Lotta Lovin'", whose music is a sample of the Eraserheads song "Alapaap".Later albums with BMG (now with Sony Music) would include Interscholastic (1999) which featured adaptations of various artists' songs; and Freeman 2 (2001), which would echo many of the themes that had made the first Freeman album so popular. In 2002, his greatest hits album The Best of FrancisM was released by Musiko and Sony BMG Philippines. 2004 in turn saw the release of a single titled "Pambihira Ka".
Independent projects
In 2002, with the assistance of then FUBU Philippines' management employees Carlo Maniquiz and Nick Tuason, Magalona launched a compilation album of the same name.Magalona founded his own record company called Red Egg Records, and a production company, Filipino Pictures Inc., where he served as the resident Director. Through his production company, Magalona produced and directed music videos for several bands and solo artists such as Ely Buendia. His work on Sponge Cola
Sponge Cola
Sponge Cola is a Filipino rock band formed in 2002 which produced many hit songs including "Lunes" , "KLSP", "Jeepney", "Makapiling Ka" and many others....
's "KLSP" won Best Rock Video at the 2006 MYX
Myx
myx or MYX is the music channel of ABS-CBN brand and the #1 music channel in the Philippines. It is also a part of Studio 23's program line-up. In 2007, MYX North America was launched in the United States....
Video Awards.
Shortly before his death, Magalona collaborated with Ely Buendia and other Filipino artists on an album with the working title The Sickos Project, which was later named as "In Love and War", and released posthumously. Both Francis M. and Ely Buendia were having health problems at that time. The album's carrier single is "Higante" (giant) which is about illness and strengths. Its music video was released on September 2009.
In an interview, Ely Buendia described his self as a "ticking timebomb" and Francis Magalona as "on borrowed time." The album will include a documentary about Ely and Francis, shot by Magalona's very own production company Filipino Pictures.
Television career
In 1997, Magalona played the lead role in the made-for-TV movie Kamada by Raymond Red. The film, a full length feature shot on 16 mm, received awards from The Philippines Broadcasting Television and Asian TV Awards duyring the same year.And in addition to co-hosting LoveliNess, Magalona was one of the original members of the youth oriented show That's Entertainment in 1987. He was also a co-host of the Philippine noon-time variety show Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga! is a noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by Television And Production Exponents Inc. and aired by GMA Network. The show is broadcast from The New TAPE Studios at the GMA Broadway Centrum in New Manila, Quezon City. Eat Bulaga! is aired Weekdays at 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm ...
as well as being a VJ for MTV Asia and Channel V
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
. He was MTV Asia's first Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
VJ and remained with the network from 1996 to 2000.
He was also chosen by Fremantle Media, owners of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
as one of the judges of in the first Philippine Idol
Philippine Idol
Philippine Idol was the first franchise of Idol series in the Philippines, the 35th country in the world to air a national Idol franchise and the sixth in Asia. The franchise was first awarded by FremantleMedia, 19 Entertainment and CKX, Inc. to Associated Broadcasting Company in 2006 and then to...
season that aired on ABC (now TV5)
Associated Broadcasting Company
The Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...
. Magalona and his fellow judges Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab is a Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts...
and Pilita Corrales
Pilita Corrales
Pilita Garrido Corrales is a Popular Filipina singer. She is tagged "Asia's Queen of Songs."-Biography:Pilita Garrido Corrales was born in Lahug, Cebu to a Spanish mother Maria Garrido and a half Filipino half Spanish father Jose Corrales...
were not retained when the franchise transferred to GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
in 2008. Aside from television, he also hosted live events and presentations.
Other endeavors
Magalona also established a clothing line named FMCC, standing for "FrancisM Clothing Co." FMCC also operates it's stores under the "3 Stars & A Sun" brand.
He also started a foundation with Ely Buendia called Heartist Foundation, which aims to help Filipino artists with health and commercial concerns.
Illness and death
Magalona was diagnosed on August 8, 2008, with acute myeloid leukemiaAcute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia , also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. AML is the most common acute...
at the Medical City Hospital, Pasig City
Pasig City
The City of Pasig is one of the city municipalities of Metro Manila in the Philippines and was the former capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of cities designated as the National Capital Region...
. Appealing to the media and the public, Magalona said:
After his first treatment and discharge, he made his return on Eat Bulaga together with Ely Buendia
Ely Buendía
Eleandre Basiño Buendia, popularly known as Ely Buendia, and also once adopting the stage name, Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura, is a Filipino writer and musician who gained fame as guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist in the popular Pinoy rock band The Eraserheads...
, who had also been recently discharged. His daughter Maxene stated that "He always did what he wanted to do. He never let anyone or anything stop him from doing what he loved to do. He still went to the Camera Club, he still took pictures, every time he was discharged from the hospital, he recorded songs with Ely Buendia. He taught us that life is short but it can be well lived. Don’t waste your time in the world."
His wife, Pia, later described her husband's battle with the disease, saying "Francis was a very passionate person. When he was angry, he was very expressive. He would get angry with his cancer. That was his way of coping with it. But he didn’t give up. I remembered that he told me, 'I'm going down fighting.'
On March 6, 2009, at 12 noon, Magalona succumbed to multi organ failure secondary to septic shock, secondary to pneumonia in the immunocompromised (immediate cause); acute respiratory failure secondary to acute respiratory distress syndrome (antecedent cause); underlying cause: acute myleogenous leukemia blast crisis. He had undergone several chemotherapy sessions since he was diagnosed the previous year, and had been expected to undergo a bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT).
The announcement was first made over Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga!
Eat Bulaga! is a noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by Television And Production Exponents Inc. and aired by GMA Network. The show is broadcast from The New TAPE Studios at the GMA Broadway Centrum in New Manila, Quezon City. Eat Bulaga! is aired Weekdays at 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm ...
. News of his death sparked a surge of web traffic to several Philippine news sites, causing a momentary slowdown in the operation of those sites. Guests at his wake included the late former president
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
, along with other politicians and artists who paid tribute to Magalona's contribution to Filipino music, and to national pride - the dominant advocacy theme in FrancisM's music. Fans arrived in droves to pay their last respects, some of them making a point to wear shirts from Magalona's FMCC line. Numerous television programs, ranging from noontime variety shows to primetime newscasts and late night news documentaries, paid tribute to Magalona.
He had been slated to appear as a special surprise guest at the Eraserheads' "the Final Set" reunion concert on March 7, 2009. Since he died the day before, the band instead dedicated the concert to Magalona. Buendia rapped the 22-bar portion in Superproxy which Magalona wrote, and the concert's penultimate song was the reprise of Kaleidoscope World
Kaleidoscope World (song)
Kaleidoscope World is a 1995 song performed by the late Filipino rap artist Francis Magalona. It was first included in his 1995 studio album Freeman. The song is also included in a later album, Best of FrancisM....
.
Magalona was cremated before daybreak on March 11, 2009. Hours later, his ashes were laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City
Marikina City
Marikina, officially the City of Marikina, known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence and one of the sixteen cities within the Manila Metropolitan Area. Marikina is part of Eastern Manila District of...
, causing traffic to stall in the Marikina Riverbanks area near the park as fans and numerous people from the entertainment industry joined the convoy. The Philippine Army also rendered military honors to Magalona in recognition of his patriotism and service as a sergeant in the reserves. His widow, Pia, received the flag draped on his coffin.
Post-death crisis
The Magalona family was also firm against any attempts to capitalize on FrancisM's death and persona. On March 17, 2009, a group of Filipino expatriates in Dubai, UAE and Saudi Arabia, announced plans to hold tribute concerts where performers will sing his songs, with the proceeds supposedly going to a foundation set up in his honor and to the Philippine Red CrossPhilippine National Red Cross
Born officially in 1947, Philippine Red Cross , a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has roots that trace back to the revolutionary days...
. Pia and Maxene later came out and denounced the organizers, saying that both concerts did not have the family's blessings and the foundation did not exist. They also particularly admonished the concert organizers for using the Red Cross to attract attendees. Pia also asked the public not to patronize sellers of fake FMCC goods, which started to appear within days of Magalona's death. Their house had been broken into a couple of times, with his personal items, along with his family kids' stuff being the main targets. One of them was a laptop computer where other unpublished FMCC designs were stored.
Honors and legacy
Magalona would ultimately be cited not just the "King of Philippine rap" but also "The Father of Pinoy Hip Hop". Magalona's contributions to the genre have been featured in several international hip hop publications including the All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop (2003) published by Backbeat Books; as well as the May 2004 issue of the U.S.-based publication The Source. He was also given the Pioneer Hall of Fame Award by Empire Entertainment at the 1st Annual Philippine Hip-Hop Music Awards in 2005.Magalona was the recipient of the 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." He was the second person so honored, the first having been singer Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano
Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
at the 2005 rites.
On March 18, 2009, the Philippine Government - through the efforts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (Philippines)
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines is the official arts council for the Philippines.-History:In 1987, then President Corazon C. Aquino penned Executive Order No. 118 creating the Presidential Commission on Culture and Arts...
-- recognized Magalona with by awarding him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit. The award's citation noted that it had been given “for his musical and artistic brilliance, his deep faith in the Filipino and his sense of national pride that continue to inspire us.”
Several supporters of Magalona launched a online petition to award him, the Order of National Artist
National Artist of the Philippines
A National Artist of the Philippines is a title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts...
, which is the highest recognition for Philippine artists. However, nominations for the National Artist award will have to be done after three years as nominations for the order are closed.
His daughter Maxene has indicated that she intends to continue Magalona's projects, including his The Sickos Project album with Buendia, and a documentary about his battle with cancer. The young actress stated: "We will coordinate with the people he had been working with, [...] I understand that Papa is a big part of history."
Discography
PolyEast Records- 1989 Francis M. (Extended of Loving You)
- 1990 Yo!
- 1990 Mga Kababayan (E.P. Dance Remix)
- 1990 Gotta Let 'Cha Know (E.P.)
- 1991 Man From Manila (E.P. Dance Remix)
- 1992 Rap is FrancisMRap is FrancisMRap is FrancisM is Francis Magalona's second album, released in 1992 by Octo Arts Records .It features a remake of "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy," an original by Heber Bartolome of Banyuhay, as well as the hits "Man From Manila," "Mga Praning" , and "Halalan," a song specifically written for the 1992 national...
- 1993 Meron akong ano!Meron akong ano!Meron akong ano! is Francis Magalona's third album, released in 1993 by Octo Arts Records . "Ito Ang Gusto Ko" the second hit single created Francis Magalona's first music video directed by Raymond Red.-Track listing:...
("I have something!")
Sony Music Philippines
- 1995 FreemanFreeman (Francis Magalona album)Freeman was Francis Magalona's fifth album, released in 1995 by BMG Records Inc, Musiko Records. It was Magalona's first outing with the BMG label, having left his previous label, Octo Arts, in 1994. Its release firmly established Magalona's legitimacy in the Pinoy rock scene...
- 1996 Happy BattleHappy BattleHappy Battle is Francis Magalona's sixth album, released in 1996 by BMG Records Inc and Musiko Records.-Track listing:# "Round 1# "1-800-Ninety-Six # "Girl Be Mine# "Soul Placenta# "Tingga Sa Wan-Kata# "Make Your Move...
- 1998 The Oddventures of Mr. CoolThe Oddventures of Mr. CoolThe Oddventures of Mr. Cool is the 7th studio album of the Philippines' Late premier rap artist Francis Magalona released in 1998. It forgoes the gritty guitar and explores mellow, urban-style rapping, often reinforced by soulful choruses...
- 1999 InterscholasticInterscholasticInterscholastic is the EP of Filipino rapper Francis Magalona, released by BMG Records Inc and Musiko Records in 1999. This EP featured mostly humorous adaptations of various American chart topping songs of 1997-1998...
- 2001 Freeman 2
- 2002 The Best of FrancisM
- 2004 "Pambihira Ka" (single)
- 2010 In Love and WarIn Love and War (album)In Love and War, is a studio album collaborated by Rapper Francis Magalona, and Eraserheads and Pupil vocalist Ely Buendia. It has 10 tracks and released under Sony Music Philippines in 2010...
(aka ILAW, originally The Sickos Project) (with Ely BuendiaEly BuendíaEleandre Basiño Buendia, popularly known as Ely Buendia, and also once adopting the stage name, Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura, is a Filipino writer and musician who gained fame as guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist in the popular Pinoy rock band The Eraserheads...
, Hilera, Hardware Syndrome and other artists)
Independent
- 2008 F Word
Television appearances
- MTV Pilipinas Music Video Award 2006
- Philippine IdolPhilippine IdolPhilippine Idol was the first franchise of Idol series in the Philippines, the 35th country in the world to air a national Idol franchise and the sixth in Asia. The franchise was first awarded by FremantleMedia, 19 Entertainment and CKX, Inc. to Associated Broadcasting Company in 2006 and then to...
(ABC "now TV5", 2006) "Judge" - His last TV appearance - Student CanteenStudent CanteenStudent Canteen is the first and original noontime show on Philippine television which ran for 30 years in different decades. The show ran in different networks from 1958 to 1972, 1975 to 1986 and 1989-1990.-The ABS-CBN years:...
- Balikbayan (QTV, 2009)
- Eat Bulaga!Eat Bulaga!Eat Bulaga! is a noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by Television And Production Exponents Inc. and aired by GMA Network. The show is broadcast from The New TAPE Studios at the GMA Broadway Centrum in New Manila, Quezon City. Eat Bulaga! is aired Weekdays at 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm ...
- Maynila (2008)
- A Telefantastic Christmas: The GMA All-Star Spcecial (2005)
- True Love: Eat Bulaga Special (2005)
- Fam Jam (QTV, 2005–2006)
- Bubble Gang (2005)
- Myx Live (2005)
- Show Ko 'to (2004)
- Astigmatism (2004) as Victim 1
- The Manager: Eat Bulaga Special (2003)
- GMA Mini Series
- GMA Love Stories
- MTV Talk
- MTV's Life’s A Beach
- GMA Telecine Specials
- Spotlight Drama Specials
- Chibugan Na! (RPN)
- Dear Mikee
- Mikee
- Music Bureau (ABC)
- Kamada (1997)
- Maalaala Mo Kaya (1995)
- Channel V: Sigaw Manila (1995)
- That's EntertainmentThat's Entertainment (TV series)That's Entertainment is a defunct Filipino youth-oriented talent and variety show aired by GMA Network.-History:The show was launched on January 6, 1986 by GMA Network and gained popularity almost overnight among young audiences who were on the lookout for idols of their own. Hosted by German...
- Lovingly Yours (1986–1996)
- Regal Romance (GMA Network)
- The Sharon Cuneta Show (IBC & ABS-CBN)
- Mother Studio Presents
- Young Love, Sweet Love (RPN)
- Plaza 1899
- U. F. O. (Urbana, Felisa & Others)
- Loveli Ness (co host)
- Vilma In Person (co host)
Filmography
- Anak ni Brocka (2005, his last movie)
- Kwentong kayumanggi (2002) as Narrator - Hundreds Island and the Bravery of Datu Mabiskeg
- Saranggola ni Pepe at Juan (1999) as Juan San Miguel/Juan Tamad
- Tong-its (1997)
- Ano ba 'yan 2 (1993)
- Mama's Boys (1993)
- Engkanto (1992) as Uban
- Estribo Gang: The Jinggoy Sese Story (1992)
- Boboy Salonga: Batang Tondo (1992)
- Ano ba 'yan (1992)
- Joey Boy Munti, 15 anyos ka sa Muntilupa (1991)
- Pangako ng Puso (1991)
- Iputok mo... dadapa ako!!! (1990)
- Gumapang ka sa lusak (aka Dirty Affair) (1990)
- Ang Pumatay ng Dahil Sa Iyo (1989)
- Hati tayo sa magdamag (1988)
- Action Is Not Missing (1987)
- Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Lahat Sa AkinKung Aagawin Mo Ang Lahat Sa AkinKung Aagawin Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin is an Philippine drama on GMA Network. The original movie was released back in 1987 and was directed by the legendary actor-director Eddie Garcia who also directed Sinasamba Kita...
(1987) - Family Tree (1987) as Edwin
- Ninja Kids (1986) as Tone
- Bukas ng Sabado agi Buka sa Sabitan (1986)
- Okleng Tokleng (1986)
- Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (1985)
- Doctor, Doctor, We Are Sick (1985)
- Bagets 2 (1984) as Ponce
External links
- a Free Mind, Francis Magalona's official website
- FrancisM's Happy Battle, blog by Magalona and wife Pia focusing on his battle with leukemia
- Francis Magalona at PinoyRap.com