35 Facts About Francis Magalona

Francis Michael Durango Magalona, known as Francis M, was a Filipino rapper, songwriter, and actor.

Francis Magalona was regarded as an influential figure in Pinoy hip hop.

Francis Magalona started as a breakdancer and appeared in the teen comedy film Bagets 2 and the variety show That's Entertainment while building his rap career.

Francis Magalona's music addressed social issues including politics, drug addiction, colonial mentality, and intellectual property rights.

Francis Michael Durango Magalona was born on October 4,1964.

Francis Magalona was named after Saint Francis of Assisi, whose feast day falls on his birthday.

Francis Magalona was the eighth of the nine children of actors Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran, popular film stars of the 1940s and 1950s.

Francis Magalona was a second cousin of Cacai and Regine Velasquez through his mother whose first cousin was Gerardo Velasquez.

Francis Magalona was cast in several Filipino movies including Bagets 2.

Francis Magalona was cited for excellence in both genres of music.

When Francis Magalona was diagnosed with leukemia, he and his wife Pia would use the album name "Happy Battle" as a reference to his fight against cancer.

In 2002, with the assistance of then FUBU Philippines' management employees Carlo Maniquiz and Nick Tuason, Francis Magalona launched a compilation album of the same name.

Francis Magalona founded his own record company called Red Egg Records, and a production company, Filipino Pictures Inc.

Shortly before his death, Francis Magalona collaborated with Buendia and other Filipino artists on a project titled The Sickos Project.

Francis Magalona was a VJ for MTV Asia and Channel V Philippines.

Francis Magalona was MTV Asia's first Filipino VJ and remained with the network from 1996 to 2000.

Francis Magalona was known for starring in the second installment of Bagets.

In 1997, Francis Magalona played the lead role in the made-for-TV movie Kamada by Raymond Red.

Francis Magalona was chosen by Fremantle Media, owners of American Idol as one of the judges of in the first Philippine Idol season that aired on ABC.

Francis Magalona was a photographer and submitted pictures to magazines for publication.

Francis Magalona started a foundation with Ely Buendia called Heartist Foundation, which aims to help Filipino artists with health and commercial concerns.

In 2001, Francis Magalona was arrested for alleged possession and use of cannabis whilst inside his vehicle in Quezon City; he was later acquitted of all charges in 2004 when no sufficient evidence was found.

Francis Magalona was introduced by actor Richard Gomez to Pia Arroyo at a party in a disco owned by film director Ishmael Bernal, and the couple married in 1985.

Francis Magalona was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on August 8,2008, at The Medical City Ortigas in Pasig.

Francis Magalona never let anyone or anything stop him from doing what he loved to do.

Francis Magalona still went to the Camera Club, he still took pictures, every time he was discharged from the hospital, he recorded songs with Ely Buendia.

Francis Magalona taught us that life is short but it can be well lived.

Francis Magalona had undergone several chemotherapy sessions since he was diagnosed the previous year and had been expected to undergo a bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Francis Magalona had been slated to appear as a special surprise guest at the Eraserheads' "the Final Set" reunion concert on March 7,2009.

Francis Magalona was cremated before daybreak at La Funeraria Paz, Quezon City on March 11,2009.

The Magalona family was firm against any attempts to capitalize on FrancisM's death and persona.

Francis Magalona was given the Pioneer Hall of Fame Award by Empire Entertainment at the 1st Annual Philippine Hip-Hop Music Awards in 2005.

Several supporters of Francis Magalona launched an online petition to award him, the Order of National Artist, which is the highest recognition for Philippine artists.

On October 10,2022, Maxene Francis Magalona posted her version of "Kaleidoscope World" to celebrate World Mental Health Day.

Weeks later, during the Eraserheads Huling El Bimbo reunion concert, a hologram of Francis Magalona was brought out.