Honoring Three Stars and THE Man of Banlat…
Despite not having a single tear drop from my eye, a heart streaming with grievous agony is calling and crying out. Within the past two days, March 6 2009 and March 7, 2009 will be both remember for one reason for two distinct individuals that have changed the lives of many. March 6, 2009, at twelve noon, Francis Magalona, the King of Pinoy Rap, Kiko, The Man from Manila, The Master Rapper succumbed to complications from a very life threatening form of leukemia. The Philippines has lost a national icon and a man who has spoken to the youth and the people of the Philippines through his nationalistic and thought provoking lyrics. I honestly could not believe it and it was difficult for me to believe because I really never paid attention with his batle with leukemia. A person, who in more ways than most politician have, tried to spread the message of oneness and better change for the land of the Three Stars and a Sun. It is so ironic that a person who has been so instrumental to change and nationalism be taken away from us while there are so many people who have no morals, with greedy intent that waste their lives away. It really is a sad day not just for the music industry but for the Philippines as the Pearl of the Orient has lost a true son!
I just want to also take time for everyone to view an Eat Bulaga tribute to Francis M. G-Loc 9 , singing the last verse to the song “Lando” brought so much emotion to this song. I couldn’t help but feel really sad. The song itself also had the rough touch of reality about losing someone which made it even more powerful knowing that my grandfather also passed away.
G-Loc 9
March 7, 2009, at around 7:40AM, my grandfather, Juan Martinez passed away with battles arising from complication of prostate and bone cancer. My Gramps fought this out for more than a year, we thought that he got well after his prostate cancer subdued but then it had spread particularly the bone area. It was really difficult for me to see my Gramps in pain. He was always having pain in his leg area and having his care taker stroke his leg, a feeling of helplessness sets in. I also learned that my Gramps was also taking morphine to subdue the pain and it was just difficult communicating with him because the medication was just playing with his senses. He kept mistaking me for my father.
During all this time, my aunts came home to the Philippines because there were indications that my Gramps was giving in. At the end, everybody knew what to expect. Somehow, despite our loss we were relieved because we know that my grandfather is no longer in pain, no more medication, no more injections and trips back and forth of the hospital. I won’t remember how he died, my Gramps tried valiantly to stay till his 90th birthday on May, he kept talking to my dad and my dad said he would come and visit but he told him that he could make it on his birthday. My Gramps tried so hard, unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Despite this, all I can say is that Daddy Pogi has done so much, not just for 11 kids he left behind but for the generations after that. My cousins and their kids, one way or the other have been brought up and instilled with Martinez family values. Raising 11 children is no easy task, I cannot help but take pride at the things he has done. I may not know all of it or may even know my grandfather so well but I see him in the way that my father brought me up. Living with the Martinez family is living in a very big community, we’ve stretched to most parts of the modern world, the seeds of the Martinez virtues have grown and blossomed and although it isn’t perfect, the world did become a better place. To Daddy Pogi; Thanks for everything. I miss you and I love you. I know that you live within me and through my brothers and sister, my parents, my family, through the entire Martinez clan! From your roots we’ve spread like branches with fruits. You’ve done a great job Gramps, now it’s time to rest… =(