3 Stars & A Sun: Filipinizing the world!

If given a choice, would you want to wear a shirt that bears our country’s colors? Well, a lot of people would, which is probably why there are now quite a number of apparel that features our flag and even our heroes.

A popular clothing line with such theme is the clothing line of master rapper Francis Magalona, The FrancisM Clothing Co. or FMCC.

The FREEMAN Lifestyle got in touch with FrancisM and here is what we found out about his clothing line.

1. What/Who inspired you to come up with FMCC?

My music was the driving force for me to put up my clothing line The FrancisM Clothing Co. (FMCC). Patriotism is an advocacy of mine so it goes hand in hand with my music. A couple of years back, I was the main endorser of a foreign brand, and when the time came for us to build our own brand, we didn’t hesitate to go and do our thing. At that time it was just me and my partner, creative director/designer Carlo Maniquiz (from Iligan, Mindanao) who also worked with me before with the foreign brand. Then I got my old friends, former dancers of mine from the Spindicate Posse to join our group. Willie Velasquez and Margo Villajin joined me and Carlo in our quest to continue instilling pride in our race and our people, and love for our land. We have this goal of “Filipinizing the World” with our fashion, knowing fully the number of Filipinos abroad is so great, and if we tap them to use our brand, we make sure the foreigners will know who and what the Filipino is all about.

2. Why 3 stars & a sun?

That is the title of a song that I wrote in 1994, and was released in 1995, in the album Freeman. I chose that as my logo which is tattooed on my back. That tattoo was done in 1999 and eventually I used THREE STARS & a SUN as the name of my store. That logo and name is patented by the way, and are original ideas of mine.

3. Who makes the designs?

The designs are done by Carlo Maniquiz, and I also collaborate with him, feed his creative mind with what to do. As a UP Fine Arts graduate, he has this gift for graphics, and it just jives with the artist in me. For example, I told him to scan and re-draw the tattoo on my back, which ultimately became our icon, our logo. I also told him to use my silhouette (the guy on microphone with the peace sign) which was taken from an actual performance. Then the phrase “Filipino since Birth” was an idea of mine, and it was translated beautifully into graphics by Carlo. Then he came up with the monster hit –Pride, which to this day is our best seller, together with FSB, Super Proxy and the Mikropono series.

4. Your stores are all over Metro Manila. Any plans to open in Cebu and in Mindanao?

Cebu and Davao are definitely part of the equation. Even Baguio, Dagupan, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, and the list goes on. For now we will do sales thru the internet for provincial orders using bank to bank and G-cash, and that will be tackled by 2009. Distributorship is also up in the air for these destinations.

5. Why do you think more and more nationalism-inspired clothes are now in the market?

I don’t know why there’s a sudden fervor of nationalism, but one thing I know is this - I did Mga Kababayan in 1989. I also did other “nationalistic/patriotic” tracks like 3 Stars & a Sun, Ito ang Gusto Ko, 1-800-Ninety-Six, Watawat even my own rendition of Heber Bartolome’s classic Tayo’y mga Pinoy. I’m in it for the love of my country. From the release of Mga Kababayan in 1990, up to this day, the people know my music and they know my identity. When people see The 3 Stars & a Sun, they know it’s me. And the people love our product because they believe in our advocacy, they know it’s real. From 1989 to 2009 next year, I’d be 20 years, 2 decades in the nationalism movement, and I hope it spreads. 

“Bless the man if his heart and his land are one, the three stars and a sun.”

 For more information about FMCC products or for orders, please get in touch with Ali Villajin at 09178888050 or email at [email protected]