BENCHWARMER

Ramon Dacawi
Mga Kababayan ko

(Johann Dacawi takes over this space with a tribute from his musashiboogie blog) I’m writing this entry in memory of the Filipino Master Rapper.)

Reading a post by Jem at BCO, a Baguio-based internet forum, triggered me to get down with this. I just had a drinking session with my ever loyal drinking sidekick, my wife, and the vodka gave my fingers some idea on what to rant about on the keyboards, or the aphrodisiac to let my mind wonder and function as a “writer.”

Anyway, Jem posted that the government gave Francis Magalona a “Posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit” for promoting patriotism through music.” If I’m not mistaken, Francis M released the album Mga Kababayan nearly twenty years ago. Why did it take us that long to recognize him.

With this, I think we should immediately give an award to Andrew E for being funny and breaking new ground in the Filipino Rap scene. I mean, who would ever think of suggesting in a song that if you want to live a life happy life you better find someone who is ugly! What Francis avoided in his rap music Andrew embraced and shared with us.

I felt so ashamed not knowing that the Masta Rappa was sick with leukemia. And through his blog, he asked his fans to pray for him. That really killed me, it really did. I actually met the man when I was a pony boy at Wright Park. I got the chance of guiding him and his posse - along with Scott Madon, now the newly inducted president of the Wright Park Pony Boys Association - on a horseback ride to Mines View Park.

I rode by his side all the way. He surprisingly struck me with his kindness and humility. He conversed with me as a friend, not just a guide. He told me that he liked the smell of horses. When we galloped, he held on to the saddle horn like hell, not wanting to fall off the horse. But fall he did, and he also brought down the saddle with him.

I’m sure everybody liked him. I’m sure too that many people who met him for the first time had the same story to tell. Like me, they quickly recognized what he truly is - kind and humble. I won’t forget the cane he had that time. And I guess he is now on that big stage in heaven jamming with The Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur. It would always be a “Cold Summer Night” without him.

Para sa aking tunay na Kababayan. . . . Master Rapper Francis M.