MANILA, Philippines — It has been years since rapper, actor and TV host Francis Magalona passed away. Still, his son, Elmo, misses him a lot, especially this coming Father’s Day.
In a recent interview with Philstar.com during the launch of Billboard PH’s “Play Sound,” Elmo recalled how his family would celebrate Father’s Day.
“Lalabas lang kami ng kumpleto and we’ll just eat out. Simple lang kasi si papa,” he said.
Elmo always looked forward to Sundays with his dad, and thus, that has become his fondest memory of Francis.
“I miss him a lot talaga. Si papa, kasi Sunday would be his only free day. So first, we would all hear mass, kaming buong family, and then we would just eat out. Tapos dadalhin n’ya kami sa malls and he would buy us toys. Sobrang na-mimiss ko ‘yun kay papa kasi sobrang kahit one day lang s’yang free, hindi n’ya kami nakakalimutan.”
Though feeling a missing piece in his heart, Elmo is able to find joy in the company of actress Janella Salvador.
Recently, the two toured Legoland with Janella’s mom, singer-actress Jenine Desiderio. Janella even wore an Elmo onesie.
“I’m really happy to have spent some break with them in Singapore and Malaysia,” Elmo shared.
“It was funny. We just had a fun with it,” he said about the onesie.
“Janella’s an old soul, so she’s more into classics talaga…Ako naman, I’m not an old soul, but I listen to old songs like those by The Beatles, so we get to enjoy The Beatles together.”
In his upcoming soap opera, rumored to be still with Janella, he will be playing a “different” character that he will do for the first time.
“I’m excited because it’s a different side of me that I’m going to show to the audience and to the fans,” he said.
He is still promoting his self-titled first album, which he released late last year.
For Elmo, Francis’ biggest legacy was to uphold Filipino pride through music, something he has been keen to preserve and continue.
“’Yung pagbibigay n’ya ng bilib sa sarili ang Pinoy. ‘Yung pagiging Pinoy mo is something to be proud of that no one is able to embrace. Si papa, inembrace n’ya ‘yun with all of his heart. And talagang he wanted everyone to feel the same way that if you’re a Filipino, you should be proud!”