The life of Francis M as an artist, actor, photographer, father, husband, and friend are all over the internet, television, office and sidewalk chats. He has insipired a lot of Filipinos and started a movement drawing people towards appreciation of our very own heritage thru his songs, music, photos, and art.
Kiko as many call him may not be a picture of a perfect icon with an early life tainted by intrigues but his struggle and triumph to make himself a better man is what makes him real. He is a real.
I remember when we used to sing his “Mga Kababayan Ko” and “Meron Akong Ano” with my playmates. During the times when not so much rappers can deliver a good Original Pilipino Music (OPM) of this genre. During those times when rap and novelty songs had a thin line where the tempo is the only difference, Francis M has created a name for himself as the Master Rapper and number one Pinoy Rapper.
I have had the privilege of meeting the whole Magalona family last 2007 in a friend’s house in Makati. I doubt if they can remember me and I’m not sure Francis M would have remembered me. There was a time when he was showing my friend a photo of an Ati-atihan Frestival, which he eventually gave as a gift. He was signing the photo when my friendasked about his signature.
I commented, “It means Magalona… just written backwards.”
“Have you seen it before?” my friend asked.
I said with a smile, “No, I just thought it is… an artist’s quirk maybe, something usual for unusuals, like art junkies.”
Francis M said, “It takes an artist’s eyes to get it at one glance, are you an artist too?”
“I used to be…” I said.
“Once an artist, always an artist.” He said.
The only reply I had, which is kinda dumb was, ” You know I have seen you in Shang a couple of times.”
Then he just smiled. I continued looking at the photo albums I was looking at before joining their conversation.
My brothers were enjoying pizza with his kids in the dining room.
With this brief encounter, the feeling of loss is evident in me as I go thru my life since his death was announced. What more the people he had known for too long? His fans…His friends… his family?
To all of you, my deepest condolences.
There is a prayer that Sr. Gerogina (Christian Living teacher from3rd grade to HS) has taught us,
“May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace… may you rest in pease, Francis M.”
Below is one of my favorite songs by Francis M. For me, he is the national artist of our time.
KALEIDOSCOPE
BY: FRANCIS M
So many faces, so many races
Different voices, different choices
Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse
Some are pure and some half-bred
Some are sober and some are wasted
Some are rich because of fate and
Some are poor with no food on their plate
Some stand out while others blend
Some are fat and stout while some are thin
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most
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
Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bassline strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can’t talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don’t ask me how don’t ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most
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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