Francis Magalona

Francis Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known as Francis M, was a Filipino rapper, songwriter, and actor. He is regarded as an influential figure in Pinoy hip hop.

Magalona was a son of actors Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. He started as a breakdancer and appeared in the teen comedy film Bagets 2 (1984) and the variety show That's Entertainment (1987) while building his rap career.

His songs "Mga Kababayan", "Man from Manila", "Ito Ang Gusto Ko", "Kabataan Para sa Kinabukasan", "Watawat", "Luv 4 Lyf", and "Lando" (with Gloc-9) have each won the Awit Award for Best Rap Recording, while "Kaleidoscope World" is another notable single. His notable albums include Rap Is FrancisM (1992), FreeMan (1995), Happy Battle (1996), The Oddventures of Mr. Cool (1998), and FreeMan 2 (2000). Magalona also ventured into rock, fronting the band Hardware Syndrome. His music addressed social issues including politics, drug addiction, colonial mentality, and intellectual property rights. In television, Magalona was a presenter for MTV Asia, Channel V Philippines, and the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga! (1997–2009). He was also a judge on Philippine Idol (2006).

Magalona died of leukemia in 2009, aged 44.

Early life and career Francis Durango Magalona was born on October 4, 1964. He was named after Saint Francis of Assisi, whose feast day falls on his birthday. He was the eighth of the nine children of actors Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran, popular film stars of the 1940s and 1950s. His grandfather, Enrique B. Magalona, served as a senator from 1946 to 1955. Magalona was also a second cousin of Cacai and Regine Velasquez through his mother whose first cousin was Gerardo Velasquez.

For his high school education, he attended the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong then proceeded to San Beda College in Manila, attending from 1981 to 1984.

Magalona started out as a breakdancer in the 1980s. Yo! included several popular singles such as "Mga Kababayan" (Fellow Countrymen), "Gotta Let 'Cha Know", "Cold Summer Nights", and a duet with Pia Arroyo "Loving You" which made her the first Filipina woman to rap on a record. His tracks feature politically conscious and thought-provoking rhymes in both English and Tagalog, in the style known as 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 earned it its classic status. 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! (I Got Something!) in 1993 marked the beginning of Magalona's experimentation with Pinoy rock.

Magalona was soon cited for excellence in both genres of music. He collaborated with other notable OPM artists including Andrew E., Joey Ayala, Heber Bartolome of Banyuhay, Ryan Cayabyab, Mike Hanopol of Juan Dela Cruz Band, Michael V., Death Threat, and the band Eraserheads. In the latter part of his career, Magalona worked together with rappers Pikaso, 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) Inc. with Musiko Records (is a wholly owned of sub-labels of a BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc.), the same label as the seminal Pinoy rock group, The Eraserheads. "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" (Web) 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 become the only album to win Best Rock and Best Rap Album at the Katha Awards.

Later albums with BMG (now with Sony Music) would include Interscholastic (1999), which featured adaptations of various artists' songs; and Freeman 2 (2000), 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 Records and BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc. 2004 in turn saw the release of a single titled "Pambihira Ka" (You're Remarkable).

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's "KLSP" won Best Rock Video at the 2006 MYX Video Awards.

Shortly before his death, Magalona collaborated with Buendia and other Filipino artists on a project titled The Sickos Project. The sessions were later released as In Love and War in 2010 after his death.

Television career 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 noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. Magalona coined the word Dabarkads as a nickname for the Eat Bulaga! family i.e. the presenters, production team, and fans. Dabarkads is a of the Tagalog word barkada, which means "group of friends".

He was also a VJ for MTV Asia and Channel V Philippines.

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 with a different title: Pinoy Idol. Aside from television, he also hosted live events and presentations.

Personal life Magalona was introduced by actor Richard Gomez to Pia Arroyo at a party in a disco owned by film director Ishmael Bernal, and the couple married in 1985. The couple had eight children, two of whom were Magalona's stepchildren: Unna (born 1983), Nicolo (born 1984), and television personalities Maxene (born 1986), Frank (born 1987), Saab (born 1988), Elmo (born 1994), Arkin (born 1999), and Clara (born 2000) who entered showbiz to follow their father's footsteps.

On an episode of the YouTube series Pinoy Pawnstars uploaded on October 17, 2023, Abegail Rait, a former flight attendant, claimed to have had a relationship with Magalona and that they have a 15-year-old daughter together.

Illness and death

Magalona was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on August 8, 2008, at The Medical City Ortigas in Pasig. 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 multiple 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: Chronic myelogenous leukemia blast crisis.

The announcement was first made over Eat Bulaga! through Vic Sotto. News of his death sparked a surge of web traffic to several Philippine news sites, causing a momentary slowdown in their operation. Guests at his wake held at a mortuary chapel in Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows, Quezon City included former president Corazon Aquino (who also died five months after Magalona's passing), 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 band performed the reprise of "Kaleidoscope World." Hours later, his ashes were laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina, 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 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 Cross. Pia and Maxene later came out and denounced the organizers, saying that neither concert had the family's blessings and the foundation did not exist. They 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 number of times, the apparent main targets being Magalona's personal items, along with his children's belongings. One of the stolen items was a laptop computer on which unpublished FMCC designs were stored.

Legacy and influence Magalona would ultimately be cited not just the "King of Philippine Rap" but also "The Father of Pinoy Hip Hop".

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 an 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." In 2016, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) featured Magalona's songs in the dystopian sci-fi jukebox musical 3 Stars and a Sun.

Magalona was given a tribute during a segment at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony at the Philippine Arena, where three of his songs being rendered by his son Elmo Magalona, who sang "Man From Manila", Iñigo Pascual, who gave a rendition of "Mga Kababayan", and KZ Tandingan, who sang "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy". The said segment in the ceremony showcased the energy of the Filipino people.

On October 10, 2022, Maxene Magalona posted her version of "Kaleidoscope World" to celebrate World Mental Health Day. She had recorded her version several days earlier on October 4, her father's 58th birthday anniversary. In December of that year, during the UAAP Season 85 cheerdance competition, the FEU Cheerdancers performed their routine to a medley of Magalona's songs. They went on to finish second in the competition. Weeks later, during the Eraserheads Huling El Bimbo reunion concert, a hologram of Magalona was brought out.

A number of Filipino rappers have acknowledged Magalona as an influence and inspiration including Abra, Bassilyo, Gloc-9, and Ruby Ibarra.

Discography

Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsYo!Released: 1990 Label: OctoArts International, Inc. Format: CD, LP, cassetteRap Is FrancisMReleased: 1992 Label: OctoArts International, Inc. Format: CD, cassetteMeron Akong Ano!Released: 1993 Label: OctoArts International, Inc. Format: CD, cassetteFreeManReleased: April 1995 Label: BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc. Format: CD, cassetteHappy BattleReleased: 1996 Label: BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc. Format: CD, cassetteThe Oddventures of Mr. CoolReleased: 1998 Label: BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc. Format: CD, cassetteFreeMan 2Released: September 23, 2000 Label: BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc., Greater East Asia Music Format: CD, cassette

Collaborative albums In Love and War (with Ely Buendia)Released: May 25, 2010 Label: Sony Music Format: CD

Extended plays Title Album details Francis M. Released: 1989 Formats: cassette Label: OctoArts Mga Kababayan - E.P. Dance Remix Released: 1990 Formats: cassette Label: OctoArts Man From Manila - E.P. Dance Remix Released: 1991 Formats: cassette Label: OctoArts Yeah Boy! Rap Remixes Released: 1991 Formats: CD Label: OctoArts EMI Interscholastic Released: 1999 Formats: CD Label: BMG, Red Egg Records

Compilation albums OPM Timeless Collection Gold Series 2 (OctoArts EMI, 1997) The Story of Francis M. (The Ultimate OPM Collection) (EMI, 2001) Best of Francis M. (BMG, 2002) The Story of Francis M. (PolyEast Records, 2009)

Singles As lead artist

As featured artist +List of singles, showing year released and album name Title Year Album"Bagsakan" 2005 Halina Sa Parokya"Lando" 2007 Diploma"May Sayad Nga" 2021 Non-album single

Other appearances Title Year Album "Dance with Me" 1993 On Air "Superproxy" 1995 Cutterpillow "1-800-Ninety-Six"1996 1896: Ang Pagsilang "Nais Ko" The Silver Album "The Yes Yes Show" 2004 Inuman Sessions, Vol. 1 "Liwanag" 2005 Ako Si... "Superproxy" 2024 Huling El Bimbo (Live at 2022 the Eraserheads Reunion Concert)

Filmography Film Bagets 2 (1984) – Ponce Doctor, Doctor, We Are Sick (1985) Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (1985) Okleng Tokleng (1986) Bukas ng Sabado agi Buka sa Sabitan (1986) Ninja Kids (1986) as Tone Family Tree (1987) as Edwin Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin (1987) Action Is Not Missing (1987) Hati Tayo sa Magdamag (1988) – Arthur Ang Pumatay ng Dahil sa Iyo (1989) Gumapang Ka sa Lusak (aka Dirty Affair) (1990) Iputok Mo... Dadapa Ako! (Hard to Die) (1990) Pangako ng Puso (1991) Joey Boy Munti, 15 Anyos Ka sa Muntinlupa (1991) Ano Ba 'Yan (1992) – Kiko Boboy Salonga: Batang Tondo (1992) Estribo Gang: The Jinggoy Sese Story (1992) – Elmer Totoy Buang: Mad Killer ng Maynila (1992) – DJ Engkanto (1992) – Uban Mama's Boys (1993) Ano Ba 'Yan 2 (1993) – Kiko Tong-its (1996) Saranggola ni Pepe at Juan (1999) – Juan San Miguel/Juan Tamad Kwentong Kayumanggi (2002) – Narrator – Hundreds Island and the Bravery of Datu Mabiskeg Astigmatism (2004) – Victim 1 Anak ni Brocka (2005, his last movie)

Television Vilma in Person (co-host) Loveli Ness (1987–1990) (co-host) U. F. O. (Urbana, Felisa & Others) Plaza 1899 Young Love, Sweet Love Mother Studio Presents The Maricel Drama Special (1993) The Sharon Cuneta Show ((1987–1992) Regal Romance Lovingly Yours, Helen (1986–1996) That's Entertainment Channel V: Sigaw Manila (1995) Maalaala Mo Kaya (1995) Kamada (1997) Music Bureau (ABC) GMA Supershow Mikee Dear Mikee Chibugan Na! Spotlight Drama Specials Rap 13 (IBC) SOP GMA Telecine Specials MTV's Life's a Beach MTV Talk GMA Love Stories GMA Mini Series The Manager: Eat Bulaga Special (2003) Show Ko 'To (2004) Myx Live (2005) Bubble Gang (1999-2005) Fam Jam (2005–2006) True Love: Eat Bulaga Special (2005) A Telefantastic Christmas: The GMA All-Star Special (2005) Maynila (2008) Eat Bulaga! (GMA, 1997–2009; his death, final TV show) Balikbayan (QTV, 2009) Student Canteen (1984–1986) Philippine Idol (2006) "Judge" MTV Pilipinas Music Video Award 2006

Awards and nominations