The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Master Rapper shall sing no more.

Francis Magalona, cherished as the King of Pinoy Rap, passed away at age 44 in the morning of March 6, succumbing to a long battle with leukemia. His death was announced on national television by his former Eat Bulaga! co-host Vic Sotto at noon today. Sotto asked for a moment of silence to honor the deceased actor, singer and composer.

Magalona publicly announced his fight with cancer in August of last year and was immediately met with overwhelming public support in the form of blood drives and prayers. At the time, Magalona conveyed the following message to his fans, also through Sotto:

“Meron akong isang pagsubok na dapat daanan at hiling ko lang ay pangunawa at suporta (There is a trial that I have to go through and I only ask for your understanding and support),” he was quoted as saying by inquirer.net. “Sa tulong ng Panginoon, kakayanin ko po ito. Abangan niyo ang aking pagbabalik (With the help of the Lord, I shall overcome it. Wait for my return).”

Magalona, son of Filipino screen legends Pancho Magalona and Tata Duran, is celebrated for a career that broke ground for Filipino rap, starting with his 1990 album Yo!. According to WikiPilipinas.org, his pioneering creations, which feature “politically-conscious and thought-provoking rhymes in both English and Tagalog” catapulted Filipino hip hop “from underground to mainstream status and also marked the birth of nationalistic rap.”

In recent years, Magalona participated as a judge on Philippine Idol and was honored with the 2006 MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards' Generation Award.

In his last public blog entry dated January 14, 2009 on www.magalona.com, Magalona announced that he was to undergo a fourth chemotherapy cycle as he prepared to be admitted to The Medical City. Posting photographs of himself, bald from treatment and flashing peace signs at a webcam, Magalona asked for prayers and thanked all who had supported him.

“I look forward to the pain as I know my journey is on full speed ahead,” he wrote. “I will not be bold to say that without asking a favor from you all. PLEASE PRAY for me as I undergo treatment. Your prayers, as always, have sustained me. And am sure the Lord will listen to all our prayers. To His will I submit myself.”

Magalona had earlier said that his cancer had gone into remission after his third chemotherapy cycle and that he was set to undergo a bone marrow transplant, reported gmanews.tv. This news came along with Magalona's admission that he had a “very, very close brush with death” on December 4.

In another blog entry dated December 29, Magalona reflected on the national hero José Rizal, about whom he composed a song entitled “Idol Ko si Rizal.” Magalona said he would have loved to talk and learn from the man he greatly looked up to, if only Rizal were alive.

“I guess if we just loved our country so much we would be willing to die for it,” Magalona wrote. “I would. But a dead me is a useless me. I am more useful alive. As long as I live, I will continue to espouse his dedication to uplift our country and our people.”

More details on Magalona's death and wake are yet to be released.

Photo: “Francis Magalona” by mela sogono taken from Flickr.com. Licensed under Creative Commons BY-ND 2.0.