on and on to the break of dawn...

some are great and some are few
others lie while some tell the truth
some say poems and some do sing
others sing through their guitar strings

Francis Magalona died today, succumbing to leukemia after 44 youthful years. His death won't trigger world-wide tremors and while I have not shed a tear, I do feel the loss. It feels a little awkward to write this for some reason. Maybe because pop culture and entertainment seems far removed from the realm of ideas and other lofty notions. But I do think Francis M had a significant role in modern Philippine culture and arts.

Despite all his "yes-yes-yo-ing" to the break of dawn in his early career, Francis M was a proud Filipino musician who expressed his nationalism through his music, making it "hip" to be proud to be Pinoy. His album Yo! was actually the first album I ever bought and I remember memorising Mga Kabababayan Ko and playing it as a soundtrack to my daydreams of one day playing for the women's national basketball team.

While that was the only Francis M album I purchased, I heard how he matured through his future songs that were played on the radio, becoming more mellow and reflective but still loving Filipinos so intently and wanting Filipinos to love themselves as well, embracing differences in Kaleidescope World.

It's truly a loss to the entertainment industry. The loss of an artist who used his popularity to promote pride in one's self and culture particularly among the youth.

And Cold Summer Nights was a damn good song too. I don't care what anybody says.

Peace, Francis M. Thank you for the music.