Check out these black celebrity news images:
goodbye francis 
Image by Kris Kros View On Black Francis Magalona at the 1st Annual Inaugural Filipino American Visionary Awards - Arrivals held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA. The event took place on Friday, March 7, 2008. Photo by: Sthanlee B. Mirador Processed by: Kris Kros ___________________ Celebrities mourn over Francis M’s death 03/07/2009 | 03:03 PM MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine entertainment and music industry has definitely taken a hit with the loss of master rapper Francis Magalona, leaving many celebrities distraught and mourning over his death. Q’s Balitanghali on Saturday reported that celebrities like Gary Valenciano and wife Angeli, Michael V., Ogie Alcasid, Tirso Cruz III, William Martinez, Ramon Christopher, Joey De Leon, and the Eat Bulaga family were all present during the first night of the rapper’s wake at the Christ the King Memorial Chapel in Green Meadows, Quezon City. Magalona, 44, succumbed to multiple organ failure Friday noon. His body was taken out of the Medical City on Friday afternoon and brought to the Funeraria Paz at around 5 p.m. Members of the music industry also flocked the Philippine rap icon’s wake to pay their respects. Both Rapper Gloc 9 and Eraserheads drummer and Sandwich vocalist Raymond Marasigan came on Friday night but refused to give any comment as a sign of respect to Magalona’s family. But the band Alamid, which collaborated with the rapper on the album “1896," just chose to relive what they remember most about him. “Bilib na bilib kami kay Francis kasi on the spot ginawa niya agad yung lyrics nung rap niya sa 1896 na song, so talagang may talent talaga," said lead vocalist Gary Ignacio. [We really were impressed by Francis when he came up with lyrics for his rap portion in “1896" on the spot, he really has talent] The band Parokya ni Edgar said that they will not forget Magalona’s teachings. “Para ko talaga siyang kuya kung magbigay ng payo from religion to how to live a rock and roll lifestyle with discipline," said lead vocalist Chito Miranda. [He’s like an older brother to us when giving advice, whether it be about religion or how to live a rock and roll lifestyle with discipline] On the other hand, the Master Rapper’s band, Hardware Syndrome, chose to remember him as a person who would always liven up things. “Madedesrcibe ko si Francis M. as very inspirational, every time we play, never a dull moment pag tumutugtog kami," said guitarist Carlo Sison. [I can describe Francis M. as very inspirational, every time we play there is never a dull moment] Hardware Syndrome basist Francis Villanueva even said that Magalona still had so many plans. “Gusto niyang magkaroon ng comeback concert pagkagaling niya, pinaplano na namin yan for him, marami pa eh, alam mo si francis marami yang idea eh," he said [He wanted to have a comeback concert when he got better, we were planning it for him, Francis still had so many ideas] Meanwhile, fans are welcome to visit the rapper’s wake during the public viewing from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, www.gmanews.tv/story/151786/Celebrities-mourn-over-Franci... _________________________ Francis M, Pinoy rap king, passes away By Kaye Villagomez March 07, 2009 “I want to be a crooner when I reach the age of 50,†Francis Magalona told the Manila Bulletin in a previous interview. He clearly saw himself around the business for a very long time. But after a long and hard battle against leukemia, the warrior in Magalona succumbed to cancer at noon yesterday at Medical City Hospital in Pasig City. The Master Rapper was 44. The news of Magalona’s death was first announced on the noontime show “Eat Bulaga,†which the ‘Man from Manila’ (title of one of Magalona’s popular rap hits) co-hosted before he was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in August 2008. “I don’t want a media circus. I want privacy with my family. What I’d rather talk about is how we can solicit blood donations to replace the supply that I have consumed in the hospital,†Magalona said when he found out of his illness. Vic Sotto, “Eat Bulaga†host and close friend of Magalona, yesterday led the show’s cast in offering a moment of silence after having to cut regular programming to disclose the sad news that left co-hosts crying while footages of the King of Rap alternated on screen. Sotto announced, “Francis Magalona passed away just this noon. Nakikiramay po kami kay Pia Magalona (Magalona’s wife). Join us in a moment of silence for the eternal repose of his soul.†Aside from his wife, Magalona was survived by his eight children: Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Elmo, Arkin, Clara, and actresses Maxene and Saab. As of press time, Magalona’s wife and children asked for the media’s understanding because they could not grant interviews and disclose details leading to the Master Rapper’s death. Among those who were present moments after Magalona died are TV personality and comedian Michael V and former actor and Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista who said he will be of support to Magalona’s family during these difficult times. Magalona started Philippine rap music revolution in the 1990s. Definitely, one of the most idolized figures in the music industry, Francism (as Magalona is nicknamed) crossed-over from being a teen actor into iconic status via his breakout hit “Mga Kababayan†in 1990. Magalona spawned the nationalistic rap genre and went on to score chart-toppers with songs like “Cold Summer Nights,†“Mga Praning,†“Meron Akong Ano,†and “Man From Manila.†He further strengthened his niche with hits in “Kaleidoscope World,†“Ito Ang Gusto Ko†and “Mahiwagang Kamote.†The son of the late Philippine movie screen legends Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran, Magalona started his entertainment career as a breakdancer in the ‘80s before he went into movies and became part of the youth-oriented variety show “That’s Entertainment.†Magalona’s achievements in the rap and hip-hop genres led to his international prominence having been featured in several international hip hop publications including the “All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop†published in 2003 and the May 2004 issue of the U.S. based publication “The Source.†In 2005, Magalona was honored the Pioneer Hall of Fame Award by Empire Entertainment at the 1st Annual Philippine Hip-Hop Music Awards. In 2006, Magalona was chosen by Fremantle Media to sit as one of the judges in “Philippine Idol†where Francism co-judged with the Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and ‘Asia’s Queen of Songs’ Pilita Corrales. Prior to his death, Magalona was working on a collaboration album with another music icon Ely Buendia and various OPM artists in 2009, dubbed as “The Sickos Project.†In Magalona’s recent blog, he had been updating his supporters about the progress of this project. Magalona’s passing came as a shock to his peers in the entertainment industry and his supporters as he had been actively documenting the progress of his chemotherapy via francismagalona.multiply.com and happybattle.multiply.com. Francism has written in his entries that one of his doctors have called him a mutant for miraculously bouncing back from crucial points of his illness. To Francism’s supporters, he was just that and more. www.mb.com.ph/node/198062
