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Yahoo! (Philippines)Friday, March 6, 2009 - I was at work on my computer when an email came in from my friend, Ares. He sent me a screenshot of a news article online stating that Francis M died at The Medical City. He lost his battle with leukemia after bravely fighting it for so long. He was 44.
I relayed the news of his death to my officemate right beside me, and everyone within earshot gathered around my PC to see the news. The news of his passing literally sent chills down my spine as I thought of how young he was and how he was like someone I know personally, although I don’t, because I grew up knowing him as an artist and entertainer.
His song, Mga Kababayan, was one of the first few songs that I was proud to have known when I was a kid. My friends and I would sing the chorus.
Aside from Mga Kababayan, I also like Kaleidoscope World. The mellow melody and the wonderful lyrics never fail to warm my heart. It represents the different people in the world and that together, we make it beautiful - just like the colors in a kaleidoscope.
The show in ABS-CBN Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN) presented a short tribute to the life of Francis M, in lieu of its usual programming. He was shown to be a very cool dad to his eight kids, a very loving husband to wife Pia, a great artist, producer, director, photographer, and Filipino. He was always proud to be a Filipino. Why else do you think he wrote his big hit Mga Kababayan?
I personally usually do not watch shows on GMA 7, but I decided to watch Eat Bulaga, as they paid tribute to the Master Rapper Francis M. Everyone was moved to tears as each performer (like Gary V and Raymond Lauchenco) sang for their good friend. Clips of his previous concerts, TV appearances, performances, movies (remember Bagets?) and music videos were shown. It’s nice to see the people smile as they remember Francis, or Kiko as he was known.
His Multiply account was flooded with messages of condolences to the family. They also expressed how they will always remember him as the Master Rapper he was.
Francis M may be gone, but he will forever live in our hearts, and will live through his beautiful music he left us with.
Wherever you are, I hope you know how many are saddened by your sudden passing. You will definitely be missed. Farewell.
So many faces, so many races
Different voices, different choices
Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse
Some are pure and some half-bred
Some are sober and some are wasted
Some are rich because of fate and
Some are poor with no food on their plate
Some stand out while others blend
Some are fat and stout while some are thin
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most
[chorus]
Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin’ round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world
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
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bassline strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can’t talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don’t ask me how don’t ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most
[repeat chorus]
Kaleidoscope world
In this kaleidoscope world
Source: tintinnabulation of YouTube for the video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRhbxB7UTNk>
Lyrics! for the song lyrics<http://lyrics.rebelpixel.com/2006/03/kaleidoscope-world/>
TGIF! In my previous post, I was looking forward to today because we were supposed to watch the Sarah-John Lloyd film You Changed My Life. We did our research by checking on the schedules online this afternoon.
We found out that in the Makati area, where our office is, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 1 and 3, and Power Plant Mall cinemas show the said movie. Since we get off at 7PM, we figured that we wouldn't be able to make the 7:20PM showing in Greenbelt, while Glorietta's 7:40PM was viable. If we won't be able to make it, the next showing was at 8:30PM. So we thought, no biggie. Right?
WRONG! When we got to Glorietta 4 (since there were more cinemas here showing the movie), we could barely move because of the people lining up to purchase tickets to YCML. OMG! That was all we could say.
We waited in line, hoping to be able to catch at least the 8:30 showing. Unfortunately, by the time we got to the counter, the earliest we could get seats in would be at 10:10PM! OMG again! My officemates each have a child, so they could not do the 10PM show. We had to admit defeat and retreat.
I was so disappointed. I never thought there would be this much people now as it was already the third day of showing. Well, there's always tomorrow. I hope.
For those wanting to check the show times in your area, visit ClicktheCity.com.
I did wake up when my two alarm clocks went off at 6:30, but was too sleepy that I just hit the snooze button and went back to sleep. I saw that my Mom had called twice while I was sleeping. I checked the time and the call came in at 2:30 AM.
Since I was almost running late, I decided to call her back after I ate breakfast. It wasn’t like my Mom to call unless she heard something in the news that wasn’t good. One example is the fatal explosion in Glorietta 2, which also happened to be very near the shuttle terminal where I get a ride home from work.
When she picked up, her first words were, “Okay ra ka?” (Are you okay?) I asked her why she asked that and she just said that she had a very bad dream. It’s no ordinary bad dream. What made it alarming was that even if she woke up several times, when she went back to sleep, the dream picked up where it left off.
The dream: According to my Mom, she was walking and took the overpass/foot bridge. I was a baby, she said, and she was carrying me. All of a sudden, she felt that I had become lighter. When she looked at the baby (me), she knew I was dead. This was when she first woke up.
When she went back to sleep, she was frantically shouting for help and administering CPR/mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the baby. This went on until she couldn’t go back to sleep. Thus, the early morning wakeup call.
She advised me to be careful, even instructing me to pray as I leave the house, make the sign of the cross.
I really don’t believe in such things, but I know how my Mom must have felt when I didn’t answer my phone. I also had the same dream of my brother. When I didn’t get a reply from my SMS, I called him up to make sure he was alright.
The day is over, but does that mean I’m really safe? Is there an expiry date on bad dreams? One thing I’m sure of, I don’t want to die yet.
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School’s out. Finally!
Before we actually part ways, allow me to give credit to the people who have made my stay in Peyups unique, enjoyable, fun and memorable.
BS Management ‘06 Block A –> Guys, thank you soooooo much for welcoming me into your block. As a shiftee, it’s difficult for me to actually find a place I can say that I belong. THANK YOU ALL! MISS YOU!
Honey Fe –> Thanks for the friendship, the times we hang out together either in school or in Ayala. Remember the trips to the fitting room? Imagining which top goes with which skirt/pants? Hahaha… Those were fun moments. Thank you also for the stories, the singing sessions we had, and the laughter we shared. You are a strong person, Hon, and for that I salute you!
Jackie Capin –> Mommy Jackie, a.k.a. Kumare! Thank you for the direct criticisms and the compliments I got from you. I enjoyed every moment I shared with you… Those were our "bonding" moments, aight? :D Thank you for the laughter, stories, and the fun times. Thank you also for the friendship and the trust you gave me by having me as the godmother of baby Adie (correct ba spelling?). You are the strongest person I’ve known, Jack, and I hope you won’t hesitate to call on me for just about anything (lisod kung financial. tee-hee) when you feel like the problem is just way too big for you to handle alone.
Joan Balbin –> Thank you for welcoming me into your circle of friends. Thank you for the invitations for a night out (POD5!) or just hanging out at your house. I really appreciate that you don’t hesitate to say what you don’t want. It makes me get to know you better faster and easier… heheh… Sorry if I have caused you inconvenience in the past. I love our chika-sessions together with Choi and Tiny coz I find out lots of new things from you… Remember Wong Fu Productions, Backdorm Boys, and YouTube? (Philip Wang, the best! hehehe) Thanks also for making me sane during the 19th Philippine Ad Congress. haha.. Your presence there was very reassuring.
Choi –> Jessica Soho? Hehe… Thanks for the memories I had with you and Gemma starting from our OJT sa Cebu Chamber of Commerce. I had a blast! I didn’t know you personally then, but thanks to the summer practicum I gained not only two friends (you and Gemma P.) but more pa. I’d like to thank you for the friendship, the stories and the fun times we had.
Tiny –> Can’t wait to thank you, actually. Thank you for saying, "Gi-adopt na jud ka namo sa Block A, Ceej." Whew! You don’t know how great that felt when I heard you say it. Just writing about it now got me misty-eyed. *Char! but true. I guess Maslow was right when he said that everyone has the need to belong. You just fulfilled that need for me. Thank you for bearing with me when I was in my ka-dramahan mood, or in my talkative mood coz I don’t think anyone would have been as patient with me as you have been, Tin. Thank you, thank you and thank YOU.
Blanca –> Thanks for having me as a group member sa HRM. Thanks for the moral support we gave to each other during our S-Video times. *wink-wink! Thanks for the dedication you put into making sure we get our yearbook pics. Thanks for the stories, the fun times, the cooking sessions, the eating sessions, and the chika sessions we had when we’re not cramming to go get the interview for our HRM paper. Thanks a whole bunch for your patience and for understanding that sometimes mo-gawas jud ang fact that we are people, we commit mistakes. Thank you!
Lucy –> Thanks for the encouragement and the compliment(s) you have given me. I know that coming from you it means a lot. Rare ra jud ka kahatag ug compliment because you say what you feel. If you feel na I looked like a matrona, you say it. But don’t worry, I’m not taking that against you. It just made me realize it was not for me. Thanks for making me/us laugh with your jokes or stories. Thanks for texting me those quotes on friendship when you are on Globe Unlimitxt and I’m using Sun! (Plugging! Attn: Globe and Sun) It’s those little gestures that you might think have gone unnoticed but I notice everything. Thank you for the friendship and for the fun we had sa Sinulog ‘06.
Loi –> Thanks for sharing a portion of your life story with me. I know it’s not easy. Thanks for the friendship and the company especially during the Chinabank interview. Bisan cguro la nimo g.tuyo na mo-wait thank you ghapon.
Joy Loar –> Thank you for the help you extended not only to me but to my family as well. you know what I mean, right? Thanks to both you and Ralph for taking me home safely. Thanks for the fun times we had at McDonald’s or at the Maze, Metro Ayala, or just strolling around the mall. Thanks for the stories and for being there with me during the prom bisan nabya-an ta! Thanks for being such a good sport.
Helene V. –> My ka-buddy during Tuesdays and Fridays sa IT 152. Thanks for sharing some stories bout you. Thanks for sharing your fries with me sad diay! Thanks for eating with me either sa Siomayan or sa Quibs. Thanks sad sa nice testi you gave. Thanks for the shopping trips we had when we had nothing to do kay walay lab sa IT! Thanks for being there when I had my ears pierced. You didn’t know but I really needed that moral support. haha… Thank you!
Lira –> I don’t know if you’ll get to read this, but I would like to thank you for a lot of things. One of which is for the fact that you made me your friend. Thanks sad to you and Rodel for the pasalubongs. Remember The Dog, the chocolates, the chocolates, and the chocolates? Hahaha… I enjoyed NSTP because naa mo nila Ritchel and Aben. You’re a great person, wife, mom and friend. Remember that always.
Aben –> Thanks sa Sbarro Aben! Hahaha… By the way, I’m so sorry bout your mom. I really don’t know how it feels, but I’m sure you are pretty down about it. Anyway, I’d like to thank you for the Sbarro, first of all, then for the food trips we had during NSTP Sundays, for the information about NSTP and for just being there.
Ritchel –> Mam, thanks for the texts every Sunday reminding me na mag NSTP… hahaha… Thanks sad for calling me to hurry up already kay naa na si Portia… Thank you for sharing with me the journal entries para maka pass tawn ko. Thank you…
Devanne –> One of the first friends I had from the Management program. Thank you for the group studies, the term paper-making sessions sa McDo, the friendship and for allowing me to be a part of your group once upon a time. Thanks, Devs, our friendship means so much to me.
Glaiza Pintor –> Bossing, thank you for the fun we had sa atong SOTA, and for the friendship. Along with Devs and Vance, you were my first friends sa Management. Thanks also for telling Kirby off when he wanted to be the leader of the group. Hahaha… I can only imagine that whole thing… Thanks
Vance –> Thanks for the times we spent when I was still having classes with Block B. I’ll never forget our manita-manita every Christmas. Thanks for having me around.
Special Mention:
Sir Cinco –> Thank you for motivating us to learn more and not to accept anything less because we are UPians. Thank you for the words of encouragement and the words of wisdom you gave us. I really hope I am deserving of that diploma as you say we should be when we get it. Thank you for the lessons, not only the ones in the syllabus, but also the lessons on life. Your subjects weren’t easy, but I wouldn’t want it any other way because I learned a whole lot from it.
*Disclaimer: For the people who don’t see their names up there, it doesn’t mean that you haven’t been an important part of my UP-Management life. You all are! Believe me. Each one of you has left a footprint in my heart. I would like to thank you all for the friendship and for letting me be a part of your life. Again, THANK YOU!
I went to the State University. I was an Iskolar ng Bayan - an Iska, if you may. Embarassing as it may seem, I spent six years in college as I changed majors in between.
There were friends I met along the way, but there are only a few I hold dear. My friends and I have our similarities and differences. The similarities hold us close together, and our differences keep us unique.
In no particular order, I will name my closest friends:
1. Joan
When I think of Joan, I think of the color green. That is her favorite. These days, Shanghai comes to mind.
Joan left for Shanghai, China late last year to pursue Mandarin studies.
In our final year in college, we had this Business Plan, which was sort of our thesis. We spent most of our time making this at Joan's house. Her whole family was so accommodating of us and we felt right at home.
2. Tiny
Tiny, a.k.a. everything.com. She has a lot of stored knowledge, trivia and tidbits about anything, and yes, everything.
She is my co-addict in Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese drama, movies, songs and artists.
3. Choi
Choi always makes me laugh. In college, somebody called her Jessica Soho, a Filipino journalist. It may be because they have some similarities, and also because Choi has a future in journalism.
4. Blanca
She's one of my friends I feel I have the most similarities with. She shares her problems with me, and I with her. She's a very strong lady, a very good daughter, and a good friend. She wouldn't think twice in helping her family out.
5. Lucy
It's sad, but I haven't seen Lucy in a while. She must be busy with work.
She was our division's dancesport champion. She's a very graceful dancer and a natural comic. I remember we (with Blanca) made our Chicken Cordon Bleu for class. We were so proud of it!
I miss them all as we live in different parts of the world. They were one of the reasons I loved going to school. They keep me sane and grounded.
And I had to post my pic, according to Joan... So here it is.
