Francis Durano Magalona  known as Francis M. in the Philippines music industry was born October 04, 1964.  One of the nine children of  actors Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran popular film stars in 1940’s and 50’s.

Francis “Kiko” Magalona aka FrancisM, Master Rapper, and The Man From Manila had the most irresistible  faces in the movie industry here in the Philippines.  One of the most talented person, down to earth and nationalist one.


He is credited as being the first rapper in the Philippines to successfully crossover to the mainstream. Riding on his success, Kiko founded his own record company called Red Egg Records, as well as his own production company Filipino Pictures Inc. where he is the resident Director and has made several music videos for bands and solo artists including Ely Buendia, Gloc 9, Join The Club, Shamrock, Pikaso, Death Threat and Denmark

The groundbreaking album Yo! in 1990 garnering the nationalistic hit Mga Kababayan (My Countrymen), making Yo! the first commercially released Pinoy rap album in the Philippines. While rapping politically conscious and thought-provoking rhymes in both English and Tagalog, the album was a total success and helped instantly catapult Filipino hip hop from underground to mainstream status and also marked the birth of Makabayan or Nationalistic rap in Filipino hip hop.

In 1992, Francis Magalona released Rap Is FrancisM (1992), which is highly regarded as one of the greatest Pinoy Rap albums. With tracks addressing the various cultural and social problems that plagued his country such as drug addiction in "Mga Praning" (The Addicts), 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 quickly earned it its classic status and became the standard by which future albums of the genre were to be compared.

The release of his third album, "Meron akong ano!" (I Have What!) in 1993, followed by "FreeMan" in 1995 marked the beginning of Francis' experimentation with Pinoy rock, becoming an exceptional artist in both genres of music. He has frequently collaborated with other Pinoy rock bands such as the Eraserheads and more recently Parokya ni Edgar.


FrancisM had also been chosen by Fremantle Media, the owners of American Idol, and their local counterpart ABC-5 (the station who owns the ‘Idol’ franchise in the Philippines) to be one of the judges of Philippine Idol along with Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and Ms. Pilita Corrales aka “Asia’s Queen of Songs”.

Kiko was married to Pia Arroyo a rap fanatics and considered as the first female to record a rap song with Francis M. titled “Loving You” and released as part of the Yo! Album.  They had been given 8 beautiful children named Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Elmo, Arkin, Clara and Actresses Maxene and Saab. 

In August 2008, Francis “Kiko” Magalona was diagnosed with leukemia or Cancer of the Blood at  Medical City Hospital, Mandaluyong. He appealed for privacy.

I don’t want a media circus. I want privacy with my family. What I’d rather talk about is how we can solicit blood donations to replace the supply that I have consumed in the hospital. It was very gradual, hindi siya biglaang lumabas (it did not come out so suddenly). We don’t want to use the word ‘curable,’ but the doctors say it’s treatable.

—Pia Arroyo-Magalona, Francis’ wife

After his treatment and discharge, he made his return on Eat Bulaga together with Ely Buendia, who was also recently discharged.

He has also decided to write about his experiences fighting the ravenges of cancer on his blog a Free Mind. Small quotes from his blog touches not only mine but everyone’s heart, as human beings feel compelled to reach out to others through this brave new medium that is bringing the world one step closer to understanding each other as family.

“ Today, September 25th, 2008 is the day I learned that Cancer isn’t all about death. It’s about LIFE. And today I celebrate and embrace that life.

Today was a day of reckoning. I went to my doctor at her clinic, and from the smile on her face as she entered the room, I knew The Lord, Jesus Christ gave me a reprieve. I knew that someone, somewhere made a prayer, and continues to pray for me, my family and my recovery.

And Jesus heard it.

 

 

Another quote stated as:

I look forward to the pain as I know my journey is on full speed ahead. I will not be bold to say that without asking a favor from you all. PLEASE PRAY for me as I undergo treatment. Your prayers, as always, have sustained me. And am sure the Lord will listen to all our prayers. To His will I submit myself.

Jan 14, '09 5:50 AM

4th Chemo Cycle

On March 6, 2009, at 12:20 pm, Magalona succumbed to multiple organ failure after having been rushed to the hospital and incubated the night before. He had undergone several chemotherapy sessions since he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in August the previous year, and had been expected to undergo a bone marrow transplant.

A shocking announcement was first made on the television variety show Eat Bulaga!, which he had co-hosted. News of his death sparked a surge of web traffic to several Philippine news sites, causing a momentary slowdown in the operation of those sites. The One and only Master Rapper, Free Man and Nationalistic Man…Our very own Francis Magalona had finally Rest in peace…

He may die young and left us but his spirit will always remain on us.  His composition’s … music and art will always be a part of our lives especially in our hearts.

Long live with God the creator Francis M.