Article posted August 29, 2008
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When the news of Francis M’s battle with leukemia first hit the news—the industry was rocked. But Maxene Magalona reports that her father is doing well, and is already on the road to recovery. Text by Jason John S. Lim. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio.
During the press conference for Una Kang Naging Akin, Maxene Magalona updates the press on how her father, Master Rapper Francis Magalona, is currently doing: “Okay naman siya.”
“He’s undergoing treatment,” she continues, saying that their family is only awaiting the word from the doctor so he could continue his recovery at home, which could come at anytime. She explains that the doctors were really surprised at how well Francis M has been responding to treatment. “Very strong siya talaga. Kahit nawawalan siya ng appetite to eat, he still forces himself to eat—kasi he knows that his body needs it.”
Currently, the doctors are monitoring the rapper’s platelets—though blood transfusion is still ongoing. On this, Maxene clarifies that the doctors are saying they have enough blood for now, and that they are actually having to turn away some blood donors, “kasi nga sobra na talaga.”
She adds, “Ang mas [nangangailangan] ngayon is ‘yung Red Cross; doon na lang. If ever na may gustong mag-donate, punta po kayo sa Red Cross.”
Maxene says that she’s very happy at how her father is currently doing—at how strong and jolly he is, as if he wasn’t even sick. And she’s just as thankful for how her father is facing this latest challenge.
“Yung pagiging strong niya, he’s doing that for himself and also for us;” which, according to Maxene, is because her father doesn’t want to see his family sad. “He’s the strongest out of all of us. He always tells us na we can do this—lagi niyang sinasabi ‘yun.”
“We’re very thankful na hindi siya 'yung depressed na kailangan pa namin i-cheer up. It comes straight from him na na he knows that he has to be strong. Kasi ang first step talaga sa pagtreat ng cancer is 'yung positive attitude.”
The young woman admits that she was devastated when she first found out, “I won’t deny that.” She says that she couldn’t believe the news at first, and she cried for hours before realizing she could do more than just cry and sulk. “Kaagad nagpunta ako sa internet, nag-research ako, ano ba ‘to, how I can help, paano ba, ano magagawa. I chose to not think of my feelings and focus more on my papa.”
A positive thing
Maxene says that right now, she’s focusing on the positive sides of what’s happening.
“Instead of looking at it in a negative way, I see this as a positive thing—kasi mas naging close ‘yung family namin," she says. Maxene adds that because of what happened, their bond as a family became closer and stronger. “So feeling ko this is a sign na we need to be more in touch—and it definitely brought us closer to one another. Lagi ko [na] siyang kinakamusta.”
Maxene explains that since they started studying, the family has been drifting apart, And Francis’s busy schedule didn’t help either. Now, she’s sending her father text messages everyday.
“Dati hindi kami ganun eh, nagte-text rin pero not ganito kadalas. Everyday, tine-text ko si papa ng 'Good morning, how are you,'" she relates. She says that she also visits her dad whenever she can—but they’ve been advised by the doctors not to be as frequent as they would like. Maxene explains that the treatment her dad is going through is lowering his immune system, and because of this the doctors don’t want to take chances.
“Kahit anong sakit, hindi pwedeng lumapit. Pinipili kung sino ang pwedeng pumunta. Ang dami talagang gustong bumisita, but then siyempre, ‘wag na muna,” says Maxene.
So loved
Maxene wants to extend a heartfelt gratitude to everyone who’s sending prayers, everyone who wants to visit—and especially those who are offering help.
“The family is actually very thankful na my dad is so loved," she says. "Ang daming tumutulong, ang daming sumusuporta. I just want to encourage everyone to keep praying pa rin for my dad. Yun 'yung mas nakakapagpagaling sa kanya, yung prayers. Kaya sana, wag nilang i-stop 'yung pag-pray nila.”
She also reveals that some people have approached them about doing benefit concerts, something they appreciate very much: “Actually, kami rin. We’re thinking of doing something like that, para mag-raise din ng funds. Hindi biro ‘yung gastos—even if we’re a celebrity family, it’s not a joke talaga ‘yung ganito kalaking mga hospital bills.” And Maxene wishes that the benefit concerts do push through. “Any kind of help is welcome talaga.”
Send your well-wishes and messages for Francis M through Fanatxt. On your mobile phones, just key in FRANCIS (space) your message and send to 4627 for all telcos. (Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, and TALK 'N TEXT, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. This service is exclusively for the Philippines.)
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1. Posted by niceywun
on March 8, 2009
kiko!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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2. Posted by magandapa1
on November 21, 2008
i wish your dad to feel fine and god bless him.
