Francis M., We Salute You!

DATED: March 06, 2009

Ngayong tanghali lang, in-announce sa Eat Bulaga ang pagpanaw ng Master Rapper na si Francis Magalona. He was 44 years old. Francis, Kiko to his close friends, was diagnosed with leukemia in August last year. He informed his friends and fans about his condition in the noontime show, but appealed to them, "I don't want a media circus. I want privacy with my family."His wishes were respected, pero sinundan pa rin ng mga tao -- most especially by his fans -- ang what seemed to be, at the time, his road to recovery.Glad to be homeSometime in October, Francis M. was able to return sa Eat Bulaga to perform with Ely Buendia who was then recently discharged from the hospital. Afterwards, he said: "Ang feeling ko, last time I stepped there was August 4, you know it's been a long journey -- sometimes sad, sometimes painful, sometimes happy, and hopeful, and now, to step actually in the studio, grab on the microphone, perform, see all the people -- I'm very happy, I'm glad to be home."Then, Francis says that he's getting by with prayers--"The Lord, I always pray to him, my children and family, and all the people who have been praying for me -- my followers, supporters, of course, Eat Bulaga family. They've been with me throughout this journey, and I'm still undergoing treatment. In December I'll do my third chemotherapy treatment for the year. This is all part of maintenance program."During all this, the Master Rapper was still very vocal about his gratitude for his Eat Bulaga family. "I'd like to thank, of course Mr. Tony Tuviera, the TAPE staff, of course, Eat Bulaga, Tito, Vic and Joey, [those] who have donated their effort and time to do these fundraisers, sina Richard Gomez, Bagets group, sina ate V, my doctors at the Medical City, nurses, all of them thank you very much. And of course, I would also like to thank Senator Richard Gordon, for helping me sa blood ko sa Red Cross, si tita Rosa Rosal, my sisters, the Bosconians, Ms. Malou Fagar, Allan K. If your name escapes me right now, you know who you are, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you much."Francis had a breakthrough sa kanyang sakit, and he even scheduled a live chat with iGMA so he could get to spend some time with his fans online. But he had to cancel his appearance for another hospital trip.Return to the hospitalPia Arroyo-Magalona sent iGMA a text message to say so: Monday, November 17, 2008 -- "Francis is very enthusiastic about gracing your live chat activity which we scheduled with you way in advance of Nov 26. Unfortunately, I think I will have to ask you to maybe postpone the event for now, while it's still a while away. He is in hospital again for tests to find out what is causing his almost-daily intermittent fevers."Sa Showbiz Central, Francis was interviewed about his return to the hospital at ito ang sinabi niya: "Well, since my last chemotherapy session, I did one transfusion of apheresis platelets and then after that I've been having intermittent fever. So I've been having some chills and I decided to go to the doctor lately (last Friday, November 14). My doctor [however] flew to the States, [so] I saw another doctor, upon her recommendation. And then 'yun."All throughout, they had me tested, they wanted to pinpoint where it was coming from. They thought I had this kind of thing and this kind of thing. All results naman were good. I did a CT scan just recently a couple of nights ago, and it's okay. So right now, I'll be doing a bone marrow extraction, probably by Tuesday, and then I might do my third cycle for chemotherapy as part of the maintenance I have," kuwento ni Francis about the treatment he is receiving.Last January, Francis posted his last public blog entry sa kanyang multiply site where he announced that he was preparing for his 4th Chemotherapy cycle.At the time of his death, Francis had been working on a 8-single release that was supposed to come out as a full album later on. He was also working with fellow celebrities who had been diagnosed with life-threatening illness for a special project called "The Sickos".Sa pagpanaw ni Francis M., he left behind his wife, Pia and their eight children.Here at iGMA, nakikiramay kami sa pamilya at mga kaibigan ng Master Rapper. Francis M., we salute you. -- Photo courtesy of Francis M

Source Links: http://www.igma.tv/story/5529/Francis-M-We-Salute-You