Kababayan's kaleidoscope world

MANILA, Philippines - My first official TV job was that of an extra in the Mga Kababayan Ko commercial of Royal Tru-Orange. I was that speck of dust dancing at the background of the FrancisM.

Our call time was 5 a.m. at the Luneta grounds where a graffiti-d bus was set up. It was one of those jobs where the extras were made to work the whole day under the scorching sun and go home the next day for a sum of P1,000. Francis “FrancisM/Kiko” Magalona was the star of the TVC, rap was deepening its roots in the country, and his song Mga Kababayan Ko was the anthem. He was at the forefront of youth culture, and made nationalism hip to the youth at that time. I looked up to him, I still do. He inspired me not just for what he stood for but for how he treated the little people, the extras, the crew members and the staff, all of whom he would hang out with during break time during the entire shoot.

I always remind Kiko about my first brush with him. From that time, we would hang out more, him as a rap superstar, me as a fledgling promoter for post disco club Planet Mars, where I would give out fliers to prospective party guests for the next event. Still he treated me the same way as he did the first time we met — we would share a couple of drinks with his wife Pia and talk about the scene and what can be done to make it better. Every now and then, he would drop by for a little hi and hello to make us all feel that he was still part of the scene he helped shape.

Time flew too fast and the next time I hung out with Kiko was onstage during my ODM watch launch. Inspired by his efforts at instilling nationalism among the youth, I found it fitting that he reprise his Mga Kababayan Ko, and this time I mustered enough courage to make it a duet. That was in 2007.

After I learned about his sickness, I would send text messages to him (as a lot of us probably did) and watch as Joey de Leon encouraged him via his inimitable wit and laughter-is-the-best-medicine-remedy to fight the fight. I saw how Maxene Magalona matured from shy, young girl to muster strength for her siblings and sent text messages for support for her dad’s life. I know Pia to be a strong woman but I totally feel for her — I know how hard they worked to keep their family and their lives intact — filled with love and life.

I woke up the other day with text messages from people, friends from the industry and beyond. There was this genuine sense of sadness, of loss. People in blog forums quoted Kababayan and Kaleidoscope World and started bringing out their FrancisM cassette tapes and CDs. At a time where change is about to be brought forth in the world, this was not the change we wanted. But I guess for Kiko, it was time to move on.  

I respect FrancisM as an artist because no matter what era we evolve into, he was always relevant and timeless. He had a profound effect in people. No matter what spectrum you belong to in the youth circle, you still had respect for him. He possessed this trait that other artists didn’t have — he had street cred. That was because he spoke the language of the streets, using his own beats — and that beat transcended race, religion and status.

Every color and every hue

Is represented by me and you

Take a slide in the slope

Take a look in the kaleidoscope

Spinning around, make it twirl

In this kaleidoscope world.

Thank you for your wisdom and for your generosity. Through your songs and through your ways you have inspired us to become better Filipinos, to become better people. Kiko, you will be missed.