Makita (alin?), Makita (alin?) Makita ang liwanag sa gitna ng dilim..

Couple of days since a friend texted me with “Wala na yung isang tropa natin. Francis M.”, a feeling of nostalgia suddenly enwrapped me from then on. I wasn’t exactly sure why it suddenly gripped me. It just did. I tried to continue what I was doing, (watching The Visitor on DVD) until I could no longer ignore it. I rushed to the internet world, hoping to find solace in the presence of 2D people who shares what I feel. Alas, facebook was flooded with shoutouts of genuine lament for the loss of an artist who, not only was a pillar of Pinoy music and a pioneer for all the Pinoy rappers of today but also a man, a citizen who consistently brought serious efforts in elevating our national pride. And with no intentions of any disrespect to all the artists who brought and still brings Filipino pride to the international world, Francis M addressed his message more importantly amongst us, his fellow kayumanggi instead of bringing it superficially to the whole world. He probably knew and understood that national pride goes deeper than a nodding cognizance from the international community through few people. That it is attained first by a rooted understanding of its citizen on what being a Filipino truly meant.

Tayo’y mga Pinoy, tayo’y hindi Kano..

..Ako ay may sariling kulay-kayumanggi

Ngunit di ko maipakita, tunay na sarili

Kung ating hahanapin ay matatagpuan

Tayo ay may kakanyahang dapat na hangaan

Subalit nasaan ang sikat ng araw

Ba’t tayo ang humahanga doon sa Kanluran?

My early memories of Francis M was when as a kid, I used to memorize “Ito ang Gusto Ko” and “Meron Akong Ano!”, my reasons being as frivolous as I wanted to be the ‘coolest’ in our group. My playmates would then ask me, “ano nga yung sunod dun sa kanta?” and I would proudly sing/rap them the part. We would also use the lines “Ah wala,wala,wala,wala..” (from Meron Akong Ano!) to diss someone when we find his/her upcoming ‘kwento’ disinteresting. It was stupid and rude. But hell, we’re kids. And then his songs “Mga Kababayan” and Tayo’y Mga Pinoy” that threw consciousness on being a Filipino–a concept that’s just forming in our still young minds.

Come adulthood, my attachment to his music re-surfaced again mainly because of his consistent advocacy. I began to love Man From Manila, 3 Stars and A Sun, Nilamon ng Sistema and Kaleidoscope World even more, alongside with Girl Be Mine and Cold Summer Nights. Music re-discovery the way it oughtta be. And he’s always been a topnotcher in my list of local showbiz crushes. “Napaka-cool n’ya kasi.” as my friend would aptly put it. But on top of all that, what I admired from him the most was his downright love for this country he grew up in. He never grew tired of it. True to his words, he continued to fight and criticize the political and social ills amidst dreams that turned into nightmares.

Three stars and a sun, in one sky, so high,

I live and die and die will I for my

Motherland this is the land of my birth,

No purse is worth the price of this earth

Can we rise, can we all, hell no!,

Or should we all just take the fall?

Bless the man if his heart and his land are one

…3 stars & a sun!

And for the man who spoke not just rhymes but the truth, isang kampay para sa isang haligi ng musikang Pinoy. Mabuhay ka Francis M! Tuloy ang laban.

With that I leave you with one of his most powerful early songs.

Click on the link.

Ito Ang Gusto Ko — Francis M

ITO ANG GUSTO KO!

Mabuhay ng maayosat lubos magbigay sa kapwa magmahal ng taos

Gusto kong tikman ang sarap ng buhay hawakan ang bukas sa king mga kamay

Makita (alin?) Makita (alin?) Makita ang liwanag sa gitna ng dilim

Ayoko sa dilim nagdidilim ang paningin ang kalayaang inaasam ay ibigay mo na sa akin

Mabuhay (ng tunay!) makulay (ang buhay!) ang luha’y ialay sa mga buhay na hinalay

Ang buhay nati’y di kayang hamakin

Ipagtanggol ang karapatan natin

Katarugan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kalayaan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kapayapaan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Karapatang Pantao (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kalikasan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kabataan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kaibigan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Sa buhay kong ito (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Gusto kong lasapin ang tamis ng panahon

Maniwalang mahihigitan ko pa ang kahapon;

Ayokong mawalan ng pag-asa,

Gusto ko ng masayang alaala

Sama-sama, sari-sari, sabay-sabay sabay sumasakay sa gulong ng buhay

Mapa-itaas o mapailalim ang tao’y natitisod pag tumakbo ng matulin

Relax ka lang, kapag kumilos ng madalos

Kumilos ng maayos at umiwas ka sa galos

Iisa lamang ang aking katauhan, bigyang kahulugan ang kasalukuyan

Karangalan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kalusugan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kabutihan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kagitingan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kasipagan (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Kapatiran (Ito ang gusto ko!)

Sa buhay kong ito, (Ito ang Gusto Ko!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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