It was sad to hear about the passing of Francis Magalona, possibly the pioneer of rap in the Philippines. He died last 06 March 2009 of acute myelogenous leukemia. A great loss indeed to the entertainment industry in the Philippines.

While everyone who knows FrancisM (or know of him) agrees that he is extremely talented, I find it bizarre and superficial that there are people who are suddenly nominating him to be granted the status of National Artist. There is even a Facebook group created for it. And since the announcement of his death, 8 of my FB friends have become ‘fans’ of FrancisM (the page probably never existed before either).

If these people truly believe that his contribution to the arts and entertainment is of such significance, then why wasn’t a nomination presented when he was still alive? I am not saying that FrancisM is not befitting nor deserving of this honour. I am simply saying that such adulation would have been more appreciated — by himself, nonetheless — if it was done long before he was even diagnosed with the cancer.

Shouldn’t the appreciation and recognition be given when he was still alive and not when he’s already gone?