Pia Magalona — the wife of the late OPM rap icon Francis M. — left a rather timely message for Filipinos to ponder upon as she accepted an award recognizing the Pinoy legend’s invaluable contribution to local music.
Pia — whose message comes after she accepted the MYX Magna Award posthumously given to her late husband — reminded Pinoys of the core messages of Francis M.’s songs: patriotism or love for the motherland.
According to Pia, Filipinos should learn to speak up and fight for their rights as these are some of the things her late husband wanted to impart to Filipinos through his music.
"Si Francis M, ay nagsulat ng mga awitin na talagang dapat niyong pakinggan dahil maraming nilalaman yun na nagtuturo sa atin na ipaglaban ang ating mga karapatan at itinuturo rin sa atin na sa atin ang ating bansa at wala nang iba," Pia stated.
She added: “Kailangan nating lumaban especially ngayong time ng pandemya. Ipaglaban natin ang ating mga karapatan... Let's speak up and fight for our rights."
"Let's speak up and fight for our rights."@piamagalona reminds Filipinos to learn from Francis M.’s music as she accepts the MYX Magna Award for the late Master Rapper (and congratulates @bts_bighit for winning at the #MYXAwards2020!). pic.twitter.com/UPougYt1u1
— MYX Philippines (@MYXphilippines) July 26, 2020
Meanwhile, siblings Saab, Elmo, and Barq Magalona were joined by Gary Valenciano, Chito Miranda, Raymund Marasigan, and Yael Yuzon for a tribute performance to the MYX Magna Awardee.
ICYMI: Watch this beautiful tribute for our MYX Magna Awardee, Francis Magalona.
— MYX Philippines (@MYXphilippines) July 25, 2020
Here's "Kaleidoscope World" performed by by @GaryValenciano1, @chitomirandajr, @raymsmercygun, @yaelyraz, @saabmagalona, @SuperElmo, and Barq. pic.twitter.com/R9xmuT4inW
The hits of Francis M. that invoke a sense of pride and nationalism include “Mga Kababayan,” “Man From Manila,” and "3 Stars And A Sun.”
Dubbed as the “King of Philippine Rap,” Francis M. released several albums in his nearly two-decade career.
Francis Magalona died in 2009 after succumbing to acute myeloid leukemia.