Philippine Entertainment Portal

For the first time, the usually calm Jomari Yllana issued a strong statement about his breakup with Pops Fernandez. But instead of shedding light on the main reason why his almost four-year-old relationship with the Concert Queen fell apart, he confronted Pops' ex-husband, Martin Nievera.

Last February, Martin was all-praises about Joms, who directed his reunion concert, "Missing You", with Pops. But last March 11, a few days after Joms confirmed the split, Martin began singing a different tune. In a two-part article, he said, "But he [Jomari] is not okay with me now for hurting Pops and being so mysterious." MORE

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Sharon Cuneta expressed her excitement as she makes another movie this year after her blockbuster movie Caregiver. She said she’s happy that she’ll be working with Director Wenn Deramas and comedienne Ai Ai de las Alas.

Although her co-star, de las Alas was not present during their first shooting day, Cuneta was looking forward to working with her knowing that the comedienne is now in good shape. MORE

Reuters

LOS ANGELES – Beverly Hills police said an arrest warrant has been issued for actress Lindsay Lohan that stems from her 2007 conviction for drunken driving.

The $50,000 warrant was issued by the Beverly Hills Superior Court, police said in a statement late on Friday.

Officials declined to state the reason for the warrant. But celebrity website TMZ.com said an alcohol education program in which Lohan is enrolled told the court that she was not in compliance with the terms of her probation. MORE

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Heartthrob Piolo Pascual had set the record straight regarding the alleged rivalry with another Kapamilya actor John Lloyd Cruz.

“Kung ano ‘yong na-achieve ko, pinaghirapan din natin iyon. I’m sure malalagpasan pa ni Lloydy ‘yon. Masaya ako sa achievements ni Lloydy,” Pascual said in a report by Entertainment Live Saturday. read more

Marjorie Gorospe | INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines -- Francis Magalona was more than a husband and father to his wife Pia Arroyo and their eight children. To them, he was a patriot who expressed his love of country through his music.Fans and friends -- people from all walks of life -- went to his wake at the Christ The King Church in Green Meadows in Quezon City and paid their last respects to the Man From Manila. As they started quietly pouring into the chapel about 3 p.m., some even volunteered to help secure the place.

His son and namesake Francis Jr. said that as a father, the King of Pinoy Rap only wanted his children to pursue their dreams, whatever they may be.

“Both my father and mother taught us to pursue whatever we want and love of country,” he said.

His wife, Pia Arroyo, agreed with their son. She said that apart from photography, the Master Rapper’s other love was the Philippines.

To Francis Jr., his father’s best legacy to him was his work ethic. “He taught us that you should have drive in whatever you do,” he said.

Describing his father as hard-working, Francis Jr. also said, “What people may not know about him is he’s a good comedian.”

Celebrities like Richard Gutierrez, Michael V., Andrew E., The Dawn’s Jett Pangan, and Luis Manzano also came to remember the man whose music and love of country touched them.

By Marinel Cruz, Izah Morales | Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—At Francis Magalona’s wake Saturday at the Christ the King memorial chapels on Greenmeadows Avenue, Quezon City, the mood was upbeat with songs the Pinoy rap icon had written and recorded in a remarkable career cut terribly short by leukemia.

The 44-year-old multimedia artist and performer lay elegantly dressed in a black suit, which his daughter Maxene said he first wore at a photography competition he attended in Vietnam last year. In his hands was a gold rosary. read more

By Erika Tapalla | INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines -- Two days after the death of the Philippines' "master rapper" Francis Magalona, his eight children are coping with the grief by finding strength in each other.

"Just by being together okay na kami [we’re okay]," Maxene Magalona, the eldest of Magalona’s six children by wife Pia Arroyo-Magalona, told INQUIRER.net.

"When papa was alive he'd want for the whole family to be all together all the time sayang kasi wala na siya pero [it’s sad he’s no longer with us]. We can still continue doing that -- to spend as much time together as we can," she said. read more

Philippine Entertainment Poral

Sa unang pagkakataon, nagpaunlak ng interview sa "Eat Bulaga!" through phone patch noong Sabado (March 7) si Pia Arroyo-Magalona, ang asawa ng yumaong Master Rapper na si Francis "Kiko" Magalona.

Noong Sabado rin anf first on-cam interview ni Pia at ng kanyang mga anak ay nangyari sa "Startalk," isang araw pagkatapos ng pagkamatay ng King of Rap.

Sa one-on-one interview kay Pia ng "Startalk," ang co-host na si Ricky Lo ang unang nagtanong: Paano nakaka-cope si Pia sa pagkamatay ni Francis? read more

Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines – Nananatiling matatag Pia Arroyo-Magallona, ang maybahay ni Francis Magalona, sa kabila ng pagpanaw ng Master Rapper. Sa panayam sa "Showbiz Central," ang showbiz na programa ng GMA sa Linggo, tinanong ng host na si Pia Guaniano kung papaano ito nakaya ni Pia.

"For starters, siguro I’m just really this kind of a person, lalo na ever since na nagkaroon ako ng mga anak. It's like always I put my children or even other people first before me, kasi parang it's become natural for me na, if I am a good example to others, parang it makes everything easier to get through diba?" sagot ni Pia. read the story

GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines – Master Rapper Francis Magalona would get a posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit for promoting patriotism through music, Malacañang announced on Sunday.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde also relayed the condolences of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the family of the late musician and television host.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts executive director, Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, said Mrs. Arroyo would bestow the medal on Magalona for his "makabayan" contributions.

Alvarez said she would have to confirm date of awarding rites.

Magalona, 44, passed away Friday noon due to complications brought about by leutemia. His remains now lie at the Christ the King Memorial Chapel at Green Meadows in Quezon City.

By Bong Godinez

The tragedy of Francis Magalona's passing is that he was too young to leave the world. Like great artists who died before their time, Kiko, at age 44, still had a lot to give to the public. The loss will linger for a long time.

We are now left to look back and celebrate Francis's life, his achievements and legacy. From his music to all his other passions— photography, designing, directing—Francis embodies the boundless possibilities one can achieve. read more

by Bernie Franco

Isang tribute ang naging episode ng The Buzz kahapon (Marso 8) para sa yumaong OPM icon na si Francis Magalona. Habang nasa studio ang dalawang host na sina Boy Abunda at Ruffa Gutierrez, nag-ulat naman mula sa Christ The King, Green Meadows, Quezon City si Kris Aquino kung saan nakaburol ang mga labi ni Francis.

Highlight sa The Buzz kahapon ang interviews sa mga showbiz friends ni Francis upang balikan ang kanilang masasayang alaala nang nabubuhay pa ang singer-host. Kabilang na roon ang kanyang Eat Bulaga family kung saan almost anim na taon ding naging host si Francis. Nawala si Francis sa nasabing show nang ma-diagnose siya ng leukemia. Naging emosyunal din ang mga host ng nasabing show na sina Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Pia Guanio at Allan K sa pagkwe-kwento. “Ang tawag namin d’yan, si Wild Boy. Sa akin little boy ko din ‘yang si Kiko hanggang sa mawala siya. Playful ‘yan, masaya,” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Joey. “Ang sense of humor niyan ibang klase. Medyo may pagka-wild nga lang. He’ll always be si Baby Face.” Dagdag pa ni Michael V. isang tunay na kaibigan at genuine ang pagiging makabayan ni Kiko. “Iilan lang naman ‘yung totoong kaibigan ko, eh and Francis was the first and the best friend that I’ve had.” read more

By Bong Godinez

It was an outpouring of love and support to a life unfortunately cut short by leukemia.

Fans, Friends and supporters of the late Francis Magalona continue to arrive in batches at the Christ the King Memorial Chapel in Greenmeadows, Quezon City. Some of those who paid their last respects at the wake's first day were Kiko's (Francis's nickname) Eat Bulaga! family led by Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Michael V, Pia Guanio, Keempee, among others.

Annabelle Rama, Eddie Gutierrez, Mark Gil, Cherie Gil, Gina Alajar, Tonton Gutierrez, William Martinez, Gary Valenciano with wife Angeli Pangilinan, Tirso Cruz III and wife Lyn Ynchausti, Ramon Christopher, and director Quark Henares were also part of the early mourners. read the story

Former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino—who herself is currently battling cancer—also arrived to extend her condolences to the family left behind by the 44-year-old musician-TV host.

By Bong Godinez

The image of ex-Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia setting his worn out sticker-battered piano on fire perhaps best translated what the Final Set meant to the entire Eraserheads circle: closure.

Last night, March 7, at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Pasay City, the Eraserheads delivered their promise to finally conclude their abrupt reunion concert held late last year.

Playing as one unit once again, but perhaps for the last time, the band composed of Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, and Raimund Marasigan relived the Eraserheads phenomenon, which swept the country and revolutionized the OPM landscape in the early '90s. read the story

AFTER “You Changed My Life” which, as of press time is doing well at the box-office, John Lloyd Cruz will get busy with his next grand project for Star Cinema titled “A Mother’s Story.” Here, he shares the frame with Batangas Governor Vilma Santos and Luis Manzano.

“I’m really excited with this project,” states John Lloyd. “For one, I’ll be with Tita Vi who is one of the industry’s finest actresses plus Luis. It’s my first time to work with them in a film. I’ll just tape my remaining scenes for “I Love Betty La Fea” then off I go to New York for the shoot.” read more

dpinoyweb.com

Rapper-TV host Francis Magalona died of leukemia Friday at the Medical City in Mandaluyong, Vic Sotto, his co-hosts at the GMA Network’s noontime show “Eat Bulaga” said. Francis was 44.

Magalona is the son of popular 1950s movie tandem Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran.

“I don’t want a media circus. I want privacy with my family,” Francis said in a phone interview with the Philippine Media, after reports of his illness broke out.

“What I’d rather talk about is how to we can solicit blood donations to replace the supply that I have consumed in the hospital,” said Magalona, the father of eight children.


Francis’ wife, Pia Arroyo-Magalona, said her husband started exhibiting symptoms in March this year. “It was very gradual, hindi siya biglaang lumabas [it didn't manifest right away].”