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.
