FrancisM
I know I need to let it out & I have to move on, like everybody else. I suppose writing my feelings can make me a "free man" like him. The news was a shock, from Aparri to Jolo, sweeping every Filipino household like a plague. The overwhelming support of every Filipino as shown in the internet is very inspiring. There is no denying it, Francis M's music is a legacy.
It all started when my cousin Rico brought his first cassette tape to me, & asked me to listen to "Mga Kababayan". He started rapping like he was possesed. I asked him to leave me the tape, & I remember playing & rewinding the song until I finished writing down the lyrics, on my grandmother's yellow pad paper. Day in & day out, I practiced until I knew the words like the back of my hand. I made sure I watch his performances on television; bought every single recording he made. I was intimate with the guy, except he never knew it. I slept & woke up with his music on, in my walkman. I listened to his songs while in the shower, on my way to work, breathing it like air.His music kept us company when the 4 of us --Pia, Estelle, Jeng & myself drove around the Sampaloc streets or when we would drive from Manila to Pangasinan for the provincial tour of bands we were fond of. His voice kept us awake all night when we had to bake food for the gods & fruit cakes during the Holiday season for our first business venture.
Now that I am so far away from home & I feel that rush of longing for my Frisco roots, all I had to do is play his songs, & suddenly I am back in time-- in the "balconahe" with my walkman on, Lola across me reading the newspaper, our dogs Peanuts & Boggart lounging around, waiting for my mom to come home, my Tito Eric & My Tita Lorette dancing a funny kind of waltz, Tito Gene cooking caldereta, Tiyong Henio lighting his Hope cigarette.Francis M is more than just a talented artist to me-- Francis M is my youth-- the sweet memories of my past..
In a perfect world, I would be in Manila right now, probably with Pia, Jeng, Estelle, Maila, Lisa & Pochay to pay our last respects to the man who gave us fond memories of our youth, & inspired in us the pride of being Filipinos.
It all started when my cousin Rico brought his first cassette tape to me, & asked me to listen to "Mga Kababayan". He started rapping like he was possesed. I asked him to leave me the tape, & I remember playing & rewinding the song until I finished writing down the lyrics, on my grandmother's yellow pad paper. Day in & day out, I practiced until I knew the words like the back of my hand. I made sure I watch his performances on television; bought every single recording he made. I was intimate with the guy, except he never knew it. I slept & woke up with his music on, in my walkman. I listened to his songs while in the shower, on my way to work, breathing it like air.His music kept us company when the 4 of us --Pia, Estelle, Jeng & myself drove around the Sampaloc streets or when we would drive from Manila to Pangasinan for the provincial tour of bands we were fond of. His voice kept us awake all night when we had to bake food for the gods & fruit cakes during the Holiday season for our first business venture.
Now that I am so far away from home & I feel that rush of longing for my Frisco roots, all I had to do is play his songs, & suddenly I am back in time-- in the "balconahe" with my walkman on, Lola across me reading the newspaper, our dogs Peanuts & Boggart lounging around, waiting for my mom to come home, my Tito Eric & My Tita Lorette dancing a funny kind of waltz, Tito Gene cooking caldereta, Tiyong Henio lighting his Hope cigarette.Francis M is more than just a talented artist to me-- Francis M is my youth-- the sweet memories of my past..
In a perfect world, I would be in Manila right now, probably with Pia, Jeng, Estelle, Maila, Lisa & Pochay to pay our last respects to the man who gave us fond memories of our youth, & inspired in us the pride of being Filipinos.