Most people these days are entering the blogging community for all the wrong reasons. They see John Chow or Shoemoney as examples of getting rich by operating a successful “make money online” blog and try to copy everything they do in hopes of putting some coin in their pockets. Others follow the Zac Johnson and Jonathan Volk path to becoming a “super affiliate” in hopes of cashing in on affiliate marketing riches, getting freebies or convention speaking engagements by promoting Market Leverage or NeverBlueAds affiliate signups on their blogs.
Still others are blogging to drive up their Feedburner counter stats and Alexa rankings? hmmm. Web counters are sooo 1995 in my opinion anyway. They went out with the blink tag and dial-up internet access using AOL and 14.4K modems. The only difference is “back then”, we thought the internet was about change but as each successive wave of capitailization smears the community ethics, specifically the blogosphere, it seems the “community” has become snafu’ed in the same imbroglio that has held humankind in a perpetual state of non-change for eons.
Today, I want you to ask yourself why you are bothering to blog at all. If you’re doing it for any of the reasons I’ve mentioned above I’d like you to ask yourself what you think you’re going to accomplish by following the herd like a timid little sheeple?
Then I’d like to introduce you to Francis “Kiko” Magalona aka FrancisM, Master Rapper, and The Man From Manila. FrancisM is credited as being the first rapper in the Philippines to successfully crossover to the mainstream. Riding on his success, Kiko founded his own record company called Red Egg Records, as well as his own production company Filipino Pictures Inc. where he is the resident Director and has made several music videos for bands and solo artists including Ely Buendia, Gloc 9, Join The Club, Shamrock, Pikaso, Death Threat and Denmark.
FrancisM had also been chosen by Fremantle Media, the owners of American Idol, and their local counterpart ABC-5 (the station who owns the ‘Idol’ franchise in the Philippines) to be one of the judges of Philippine Idol along with Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and Ms. Pilita Corrales aka “Asia’s Queen of Songs”.
In August 2008, Francis “Kiko” Magalona was also diagnosed with leukemia at the Medical City Hospital, Mandaluyong. He has decided to write about his experiences fighting the ravenges of cancer on his blog a Free Mind. Here is a small quote from his blog that touched me and made me question the reasons why we, as human beings feel compelled to reach out to others through this brave new medium that is bringing the world one step closer to understanding each other as family.
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Today, September 25th, 2008 is the day I learned that Cancer isn’t all about death. It’s about LIFE. And today I celebrate and embrace that life.
Today was a day of reckoning. I went to my doctor at her clinic, and from the smile on her face as she entered the room, I knew The Lord, Jesus Christ gave me a reprieve. I knew that someone, somewhere made a prayer, and continues to pray for me, my family and my recovery. And Jesus heard it. |
If you want a lesson in life, a lesson in blogging or just something to make you realize there is more to life than cramming dollars into your bank account, Francis Magalona is making it real. Plus, Francis digs Marvel Comics which everyone knows, Marvel Comics always trumped DC and all those crappy Rob Liefeld Image comics (ask The Comicologist about that).
I found Francis’ blog while browsing EntreCard sites on my daily drop routine. I came across Lex’s post Francis “Kiko” Magalona aka FrancisM diagnosed with Leukemia which caught me by the heartstrings. As former professional musician and lifelong guitar player, I had to see for myself exactly what makes Francis Magalona so dear to his fans. What I discovered was one of his songs, Kaleidoscope World, which embodies everything I feel is important in life (not to mention the song has guitar lines reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing with lyrics similar to Hendrix’s Castles Made of Sand).
Here’s a video from YouTube called Kaleidoscope World Tribute to Francis Magalona you might enjoy…
As a surfer/skater/musician/artist and now blogger, I’ve always believed in the “One Human Family” ethic. A philosophy which Francis Magalon certainly embodies through the shared intrinsic principle that all people are created equal in God’s eyes. It’s strange to think somebody trapped up in a hospital room, getting stuck with needles and taking all kinds of blood work tests could find the pure inner harmony to bring out all that is good in the human spirit and have it reach half a world away. That’s the true power of the human soul and something I never thought I would find through blogging which, for me, seems to be a field dominated by megalomaniacs who give little or nothing to the community but expect to take from it whatever material riches they feel they are entitled to for their super-stardom.
Professional blogging is not unlike making the team in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL or FIFA (or b5Media). There are only so many positions for starters on the teams and even fewer for superstars. How you enter the team or league can make or break your career forever. Chances are, if you’ve entered the league without a name (undrafted), you’ve already been left behind and you’ll always be relegated to the role of a fanboy or fangirl. That is, unless you can carve out your niche by making your own waves and getting the world to notice you. It seems Kiko just can’t help being himself, carving his own waves and letting the rest flow into place.
Now, as far as you’re concerned…. Instead of playing the fanboy or fangirl role by commenting on John Chow or Shoemoney’s sheep herder blogs, hoping to get a backlink so you can get your PR up a few notches in the Google little green toolbar….
…I humbly suggest heading over to Francis Magalona’s blog and leaving him a comment, a prayer and heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery before one more good soul departs this earth and we are left with only the memories.
Peace out,
Dave
Brilliant. Nothing else I can say. I pray for Francis Magalona to overcome this challenge from my heart. He’s only 43 years old, 10 years younger than me.
Francis has eight children. Let us pray he can beat this cancer.
So this is what come from the shooting star of Pinoy bracket??? FrancisM is all that is good in the world. In the Philippines there is only political corruption. Much worse then the US. FrancisM gives hope.
Excellent post. It is so motivational and straightforward. People loose precious time in their life on things that have no human value. We should focus on real life and read blogs like FrancisM’s is. Prayers for him!
I started to blog when I stumbled on all this bloggers claiming how much they were making for so little work. A few months down the line with my blogging and a little bit or research the reality hit me.
But along the way what I discovered changed my life. Thank you very much for this post because it reinforces my goal. We can blog to add value and help others, not just for the money
well i will pray for him everyday from now……… thanks for such a good post
I WIIIL PRAY 4 U UR MY IDOL ILOVE YOU
Francis M.
Our group would like to use a portion (less than 10 seconds) of your “Mga Kababayan” piece as part of our video’s musical scoring. The video which we plan to upload is part of a cause-oriented initiative. In this regard, we would like to know the proper procedure we have to undertake (if necessary) to avoid legal-related matters (copyright issues, for example). Is it Red Egg Records or Sony BMG which we have to contact for proper direction? We looked up Red Egg Records for contact details but found none. Please if you have it at hand, we would appreciate receiving it.
Thank you and more power!
Rheez Sabalza
An advocate for transparency in the use of public funds
Could I also request that my name be erased from the post? I did not know my name would be published. Please please please. Thank you very much.