This article was originally published in the Cebu Daily News on September 13, 2009.
A cool mom and a supportive wife. This pretty much summed up what Pia Arroyo-Magalona was to the public. But this was before her husband, rap icon Francis Magalona passed away early this year. All throughout the entire ordeal, from the time Francis was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in August last year until he succumbed to the illness in March 2009, people discovered more about Pia. She was a picture of calm and quiet grief. A pillar of strength for her eight kids and the hundreds of friends and supporters who came to grieve with them.
Six months and in between her motherly duties to Unna, Nicolo, Maxene, Frank, Saab, Elmo, Clara and Arkin, Pia is carrying on Francis’ mission of inspiring Filipinos and making them proud and hopeful about being Pinoy. Her latest blog talks about the release of the single “Higante,” Francis’ collaboration with another great musician Ely Buendia.
At the recent launch of Sun Life Financial’s “It’s Time!” advocacy campaign, which aims to educate people about an improved sense of financial responsibility, Pia shared how getting an insurance plan helped her and her family survive after her husband passed away.
Although holding back tears at every mention of the Master Rapper’s name, Pia was her bubbly and animated self, chatting like a preppy colegiala about how she’s moving on and living life after Francis M.
You were so bubbly a while ago but how are you really doing right now?
You know its really about choices. I choose to live this way kasi I don’t like self-pity. It will not bring anything good to you or to other people. So, parang nakita ko na …kasi madami kasing sumusulat sa akin; “Na-I-inspire kami sa yo,” which I’ve never really realized Syempre pakipot pa ako like: “Ows, talaga? That’s nice.” Pero hindi, sabi ko nga I really have to take the credit. Oo nga sinuman, Maganda naman ‘yung relationship ko with the kids, pero hindi naman perfect and inaaway ko din naman sila, and all the years na magkasama kami ni Francis together I served as his inspiration para maabot nya ýung success nya. So, if people see it that way, why can’t I see it that way and accept it na. Kaya sinasagot ko ýung mga sulat nila sa akin like:
“Thank you for acknowledging” na ganun nga. We should really find ways to do things right, Plus the fact na syempre you’re supposed to be mature kasi dati I’m sira ulo. Syempre tama lang na may pinagtandaan ako di ba? That’s the only thing you can have behind as legacy to your children, to your family.
How about the kids, how are they coping?
Ganun pa rin, okey pa rin naman. I don’t really see any difference except masyado na silang nag-ko-computer. Palagi silang online, Ngayon lang kasi sila na-expose, ngayon lang nakakareach out, Ang daming mga bata na you know, crush-crush nila yung mga boys ko.
So fans connect to your family online?
Yes, There’s this Plurk and they (fans) ask questions there and we answer. We also make replies in Twitter, at even once ka lang mag answer talagang nata-touch talaga sila. So, malaki talaga yung influence namin. Actually, kung gusto naming gamitin sa kasamaaan pwede di ba? (Laughs)
What do fans usually ask or tell you?
‘Yung sa akin naman they’d go like “Oh Ms. Pia you’re so nice, I wish you’re my mom.” I really take that seriously. Parang naawa ako dun sa bata.
Are you ready to become both mom and dad to your kids now?
Actually, to tell you frankly, in the family before, with Francis doing all these things, creating music, ako talaga yung gumagawa sa bahay, like hatid sa school. Ang ano ko kay Francis na syempre sya yung father dapat ano sya yung bahala sa boys, you know. So ’yun yung dilemma ko ngayon. Hindi ko kayang maging sobrang detailed to the boys like kung mag tanong sila sa akin na parang ano di ba. More of a general lang ang mabibigay ko sa kanila di ba? They need talaga a father figure but I have naman two brothers so they have uncles.
Aside from taking care of the kids, what other things are keeping you busy?
I was a guest in QTV’s “Sweet Life” and I met this group that reaches people skills in determining what kind of job you should be doing, discover what you’re good at and bring out the best in you. So they asked to me handle to talk about relationships. Ako anything for the good, to encourage people to think like us na logical and encourage them to be individuals, okey ako. Eh ganun ako sa kids ko eh. I tell them to follow the rules but bring out your individuality. So we will be putting up One Core and hold classes for individuals age 15 to 22 or even earlier age and help them decide what course to take. It’s sort of an evaluation. Tapos sa relationship we’ll tackle like bagay ba kayo and is it right to get married now, yung mga ganun. Take out the fairy tale thinking. Discuss financial truth to them as well as responsibilities, Nung kami ni Francis, ako ýung more on the kids kasi when we got together hindi din clear sa amin like, “O kailangan share tayo sa parenting.” Syempre pag nandiyan ko na syempre sasabihan ko na lang na: “A, hindi ikaw dapat,” Lalo na’t yun yung nakalakihan nya na mother talaga ang in-charge.
Speaking of love life, how did you meet Francis?
Yung sister nya who is two batches ahead of me was my schoolmate sa St. Paul. I met Francis through Richard Gomez. When I met him akala ko sosyal din siya kasi ngat same school kami ng sister nya. Si Francis kasi madaming jologs na friends. Actually,sa kanya lang talaga ako natutong mag tagalong, So ‘yun na kasi nga pag nanliligaw ka, parang you show your best. So, parang na –excite ako nung na meet ko sya kasi he gave me a new dimension. Like, he’s the bad boy and I’m the school-home type of girl.
Is it true that you eloped with him?
No, We just got married in private, in Hong Kong. We can’t invite the whole world naman di ba? Tapos invite yung mga tipo ni FPJ. Ayoko naman nung ganun. We just invited people really close to us.
Are you open to marrying again?
Oh, my God! Actually, marami akong boys pero ayokong mag-marry, I mean, bakit pa? Ayoko magsalita nang patapos pero as of now, hindi.
Do you mean to say that you are you dating now?
Secret! (Laugh). Secret lang kasi ang strict ni Max, (laughs)
