Francis Magalona: Writer of Pinoy Songs that Evoked Pinoy Pride

Francis Magalona is a Filipino rapper that brought rap and hip hop to Philippine Shores. He is known as the “Master Rapper”. The multi-awarded singer and actor is considered the King of Pinoy Rap and is considered a legend because of his achievements in the Philippine Music Industry.

What’s truly admirable about Francis Magalona is how he wrote Pinoy songs that evoked Filipino pride. He truly was proud to be a Filipino and showcased his pride in all aspects of his life and not just his music. Francis Magalona’s second album- Mga Kababayan released in 1990 contained Pinoy songs that tackled various socio-political issues in the Philippines. Tayo’y Mga Pinoy is a song that tackles the colonial mentality of Filipinos prevalent in the 70s and 80s. The song Mga Praning is about drug addiction. The album Mga Kababayan also contained the song Halalan which is ‘Election’ in English. Francis showed hot it was cool to be Filipino and proud of it. He not only wrote Pinoy songs that evoked Filipino pride and showcased Filipino values and culture, Magalona also openly expressed his love for country in his interviews and shows.

Magalona released a total of fourteen commercial albums, these are: Francis M (1989), Mga Kababayan (1990), Gotta Letcha Know (1990), Yo! (1990), Rap is Francis M (1992), Meron Akong Ano! (1993), Freeman (1995), Happy Battle (1996), The Oddventures of Mr. Cool (1998), Interscholastic (1999), Freeman 2 (2001), The Best of Francis M (2002), Pambihira Ka (Single, 2004), and the F Word (2008). Francis Magalona also started work on The Sickos project, a collaboration of Magalona and Ely Buendia with other OPM artists. Magalona passed away before the album was completed but the singer’s daughter Maxene Magalona told the press that she will help finish the project with the help of the artists her father was working with.

Francis Magalona Hits
Last March 6, 2009 the singer succumbed to Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, a disease he has been fighting since August 2008. Because of Francis Magalona’s contribution to the music industry and his promotion of patriotism, the Malacanan Palace announced that the President of the Philippines will confer upon Magalona a posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit.

Aside from music, Francis Magalona also actively pursued his other interests. He was an actor that appeared in seventeen movies. His first movie was Bagets 2 released in 1984. Bagets 2 is a movie that was targeted for the teens. Magalona also appeared in action films and comedies. His last film- Anak ni Brocka- was released in 2005.

Aside from movies and music, Magalona was also a talented TV Host. He was a mainstay in Eat Bulaga for many years. He was one of the very first Filipino hosts in MTV Asia where he hosted the shows MTV Talk and Life’s a Beach. Francis Magalona has hosted shows in practically all commercial networks in the country. He also had the opportunity to host a talent show with his daughter Maxene Magalona- Fam Jam on QTV11.