Goodbye FRANCIS M (1964-2009)

It was past noon yesterday when the sad news was announced by Vic Sotto on the no.1 noon-time show Eat Bulaga. The Philippine’s “Master Rapper” and “The Man from Manila” – FRANCIS “kiko” MAGALONA have passed away. It was such a heartbreaking news for all of us in the family and for his millions of followings.

Kiko as he is fondly called, have imprinted his own kind of image and legacy in the heart of Filipinos. Having been a co-host in Eat Bulaga, he was known as the goodlooking teener in the movie Bagets and reached stardom in the early 90s with his excellent pinoy rapping style in his popular songs Mga Kababayan ko and Kaleidescope World. He is a gifted artist who has found the love for photography just recently.

At a relatively young age of 44, Kiko succumbed to death yesterday at the Medical City after having been diagnosed with Leukemia just 7 months earlier. He was set to undergo a bone marrow transplant when he took his last breath just before his planned surgery in the US.

Though stricken with a very life threatening illness, Kiko have shown strength and impeccable will power to fight his battle with Leukemia. He remained to be an inspiration not only to his throng of fans but to the people afflicted with the same illness. His patriotic idealism was imbedded in his very own T-Shirt designs (3 stars and a sun) and in many songs he wrote like the infamous “Mga kababayan ko”.

Francis M’s demise is truly a big loss to the music industry and the entertainment world. Pinoys will surely miss him but one thing is definite, Francis M’s memories and music will stay forever in every Filipino’s hearts.