Rapper-songwriter-TV host Francis Magalona has been diagnosed with leukemia and is currently in need of blood donors, according to GMANews.TV.
Pupil band manager and his good friend, Day Cabuhat, has been designated as the contact person for any donated blood.
“Donations may be made at the lower ground level of The Medical City in the name of Francis Magalona. Your support for this will be highly valued and appreciated,” Cabuhat was quoted as telling PEP.ph.
The son of 1950’s popular loveteam Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran, Francis carved his own name in the entertainment industry as a rapper-performer when he released his debut album, “Yo!” back in 1990. The said record produced the nationalistic hit rap single “Mga Kababayan,” which has been said to have in effect introduced Pinoy-style rap music in the mainstream music biz.
When a band explosion figured in the ‘90s, he collaborated with other rock artists and experimented with various genres, further coming up with the hits, “Cold Summer Nights,” “Ito ang Gusto Ko,” “Kaleidoscope World,” among others.
Francis M then ventured into hosting, doing VJ duties for Channel V and MTV Philippines before joining the noontime show “Eat Bulaga” as a regular.
Today, it is in “Eat Bulaga” that he will be issuing a formal statement.
Francis is married to Pia Arroyo and their union is blessed with eight kids: Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Isabella, Elmo, Arkin, Clara and young actress Maxene Magalona.