The Francis I know

MANILA, Philippines - In my book, the late Francis Magalona remains the only true Filipino rapper. I should know. Long before rap became as popular as it is now, I broke the scene loose with the first ever original Filipino rap piece Na-Onseng Delight, which became such a monster hit I couldn’t sit down for a meal at Shakey’s Greenhills without mob requests for a song, autographs or a photo-op. The mid-‘80s would never be the same ever.

A few years later I worked with Francis in the Channel 7 sitcom UFO, as scriptwriter for the young blood of royal rap heritage. Bosconians at heart, Francis M and I were nurtured in the classic technical expanse of the Mandaluyong Salesian genre along with the Master Rapper’s elder brother Victor Magalona, my grade school classmate.

The feeling of admiration is mutual. “Francis would always call me ‘the original rapper,’ audaciously claiming before crowds — a tribute I was always slow to rekon with. But always the little brother reminding me to bring it on whenever, Francis’ words always beckon duty to calling, keeping the beat alive in both our quiet diverse rapper moments — his at the ‘next level’ always uniquely his to own everytime.”

Yet when Francis M contemplates the original, the Master Rapper would then be only referring to my Na-Onseng Delight, a song about Facundo, a guy who ends up with a broken heart after his lady love Au-Au junks him.

I would always wonder how Francis would do this gag his way. His fascinating energy and creativity remain unparalleled along with his range of talents in comedy, stressed-out love for country through his music and untapped boob-tube greatness — still is a tough but gentle act to follow. If we were to work on a piece together. This would be it.

And indeed it would be the simple tribute. But alas, the Master Rapper would now masterfully rap only happily in the Mister Rapper’s happy memories.

I prefer to emulate the great friend that he is — to everyone he has touched — with the truthfulness that he always will be. 

Does Francis M’s best friend Michael V have a place in this rap talk? 

Oh yes. Michael V is the only other Filipino comedic entertainer I know who does true blue Filipino rap — and with real funnies on top of it.

Eh kasi naman, when rap is da talk, I embrace Francis M as Da One — das ol and das it, dawg!.

Still, no one replaces Francis M — when it comes to dig real original Filipino rap. Nuh-uh. None-O. And yes, this time, I am dead, dead serious.