The Man From Manila’s Happy Battle ended.

When I was a kid, I can still remember, I used to do the running dance whenever my mom would play the cassette tape that Francis M. gave my dad. It was his very first album Yo!. I would also rap in sync whenever “Mga Kababayan” is playing.

Come highschool, every time we would  be having a roadtrip, my cousin and I would play his cassette tape that has “Mga Praning” and Kaleidoscope world in it. We would also argue back then, I would always insist that Francis M is not a total hip hop,  since he does have a band called The Hardware Syndrome.

When we would always visit T.A.P.E. or Bulaga, I would bump into Francis, and would tap me on my shoulders with a smile on his face, as a nervous shy person as I am, I would just smiled back.

When I found out that he had leukemia, I was praying along with the people who’s hoping for his recovery. I was pretty happy since I am seeing progress with his therapy.

Come March 6, I wasn’t able to report to work due to acute gastritis attack. My dad and I came from the hospital, went home to eat lunch, while watching tv, a flash news came in GMA-7, Vic announced that Francis Magalona died. Organ failure due to leukemia. He was 44.

It took me just now to have the courage to write something about him. Maybe I was still  in shock or denial that my childhood music Hero is dead now.

I was also thinking that this is better than knowing that he suffered more being alive.

He would never be forgotten. The songs will always leave a mark in our hearts.

Mabuhay ka Kuya Francis! You’re worth remembering. You made Pinoy’s proud.

Safe trip. I know you’re happy and smiling while walking thru God’s path.