Music icon Gary Valenciano joined the Eat Bulaga! group in giving a tribute to the late King of Pinoy Rap Francis Magalona last Saturday, March 7. Gary V even shared his most memorable time with Francis during his 1990 concert called Major Impact at the Philsports Arena (formerly Ultra) in Pasig City.
"That has to be the one of, if not, the most memorable in my concert career—standing on stage with Francis Magalona. It was great! Nakita n'yo naman ang mga tao, di ba, talagang grabe?" said Gary after the video of him and Francis performing together was shown in the noontime show.
Mr. Pure Energy looked back again on that moment this afternoon, March 11, as the press asked him about Francis during a pocket interview with him at the Red Box, TriNoma in Quezon City.
Recalling his shared moment on stage with the rap music icon, Gary related, "I remember when we were rehearsing, he was saying, 'Pare, ang hirap pala nito.' Kasi, at that time, medyo pa-[lie-low] na siya sa dancing, e. Before that, with all the Bagets and all that."
As fellow music artist, Gary admitted, "I'm really hats off to Francis Magalona. When it comes to, not just an artist, but being who he is and not trying to be somebody he's not."
He also said that Francis's memory will always remain in every Pinoy's heart.
"When Francis Magalona died, he actually died fully alive," said the singer-composer. "In people's hearts, buhay na buhay siya talaga, e. Even if we knew he was sick, even if we knew he had leukemia, nobody was prepared pa rin. So, that means he was totally alive, totally alive. And he deserves that."
NOT JUST A GREAT ARTIST. Aside from being a very influential music artist, Gary also commended Francis for being a good father to his eight children.
He related this to the media by citing another unforgettable experience with Francis M.
"I had a wonderful time once, I think we were at the AFP Theater. I was at the AFP Theater and I spent time with his son Arkin. I was waiting backstage, maliit pa si Arkin noon, e, but I saw a reflection of Francis in him. Then, I said, 'My God, Arkin is like him.' I can just imagine all the children. Kumbaga, it's so consoling to see, it's because of the dad."
Gary added, "He's not just a great artist but also a good dad, which for me is the number one—he's a good dad, a good husband, and then, he's a good artist."
GIVING HELP TO THE SICKOS PROJECT. During the pocket interview, Gary's wife, Angeli Pangilinan, told the media about a request she got from Ely Buendia after the Final Set concert of Eraserheads last Saturday, March 7.
She narrated, "Right after the concert, I went backstage. When I congratulated him [Ely], he held my hand and said, 'Is it possible for Gary to finish the album [The Sickos Project] that Francis and I started?'"
When PEP asked the singer-composer about this, he said that he's very open to lending a hand for the project.
Gary said, "Hindi pa kami nagmi-meet ni Ely. But I'm hoping I could find out kung ano 'yong ibig sabihin niya kay Angeli—kung gusto niya ako maging bahagi ng album, puwede. Does he want me to finish it? What does that mean? But I'm excited. If it's for Francis Magalona and for Ely Buendia, why not?
"I don't know if I'm the one who's gonna write it, or I'm gonna be part of a project that gives tribute to Francis Magalona. I think every artist has something to say [to Francis]."
How about creating a song for Francis M?
"I haven't started yet," Gary V replied. "I really have to gather my thoughts. Maybe it's not even meant for me to do, maybe it's meant for a whole bunch of us to do. You know, something that's gonna express all our feelings—not so much the feeling of loss, but the feeling of what has been gained but was taken for granted."
Tonight, March 10, is the last night of Francis M's wake at the Christ the King Chapel in Greenmeadows, Quezon City. Gary said that he will pay his last respects to his fellow music icon by dedicating a song during the Eulogy for the Master Rapper.
Click HERE to view PEP's tribute to the the Master Rapper Francis Magalona.