Celebrity siblings Maxene, Saab, Arkin, Clara, Elmo, and Frank, along with their mother Pia Magalona, paid tribute to the late Filipino rapper and actor Francis Magalona on his 16th death anniversary.
On Thursday, March 6, the family visited Francis’s grave and shared heartfelt messages on social media.
Pia Magalona posted on Instagram: “03.06.2025 In memory of our dearly departed Francis,” where she also shared a quote from Pamela Anderson, reflecting on the beauty of life’s quiet moments.
“Rest in Peace, Francis. I thank you for watching over me from the great beyond and I choose to honor you in ways as only we two know. 🍃,” she added.
The couple’s eldest, Maxene, expressed how she still feels her father’s presence despite his passing.
“Forever daddy’s girl 😍🌻💕 I miss your energy so much, Pop! I feel your spirit guiding me everyday 🥰 Thank you 🙏🏼,” Maxene said in a post.
In another post, the actress shared her longing for more photos of her father, lamenting the difficulty of honoring him with the same pictures each year.
“Today marks the 16th death anniversary of my father FrancisM. During my morning meditation yesterday, I was contemplating about how triggering and depressing it can be to keep posting the same photos to honor the death of a loved one because those are all that you have 😭 I was secretly hoping that I would get to see new photos of him in time for his death anniversary just because I miss him so much 🥹,” she wrote.
Fortunately, a friend unexpectedly sent her a never-before-seen photo of Francis from 2008.
“It was one of the most beautiful synchronicities I’d ever experienced,” Maxene said. “Even after 16 years, it’s still amazing to me how Papa always finds a way to make his spirit felt. I love you, Pop! I will keep honoring you until the day I leave this earth 🙏🏼.”
Maxene’s sister, Saab also posted photos from their visit, sharing how her son, Vito, paid a special tribute to his grandfather.
“Had a beautiful morning as we said a little prayer and blessing to remember pop’s 16th death anniversary today. Vito and Pancho were so excited to visit 'lolo pop and luna' 🫶🏻 Love you, papa!” Saab shared.
She added, “Swipe to the last slide to see Vito playing air guitar to 1-800-Ninety-Six by FrancisM on the ride home🥹 #FrancisMForever”
Arkin and Frank shared their own tributes via Instagram stories, while Elmo and Clara joined the family at the gravesite.
Fans and netizens also honored the country’s master rapper, expressing their love and admiration in the comments.
“❤️❤️❤️ miss this man from manila.. u are forever in our hearts,” a netizen wrote.
Another one shared, “Happy to see you all as a happy and blessed family. Your Papa am sure is soooo happy and proud of you all❤️❤️❤️a fan of him.”
Spotted at the family gathering were Saab’s husband, Jim Bacarro, and Maxene’s rumored boyfriend, Geoff Gonzalez.
Francis Magalona, also known as Kiko, is widely regarded as the King of Pinoy Rap. He made significant contributions to the Philippine music scene, producing hits such as “Mga Kababayan,” “Man from Manila,” “Ito Ang Gusto Ko,” and “Kaleidoscope World.”
He passed away in March 2009 at the age of 44 after battling cancer. Since then, his family has continued to honor his legacy.
IIn a previous post, Saab recalled a touching moment on her 10th wedding anniversary with Jim Bacarro. While dining out, a server recognized her and surprised them with a dessert featuring the title of Francis’s hit song, “3 Stars and the Sun.”
READ: Saab Magalona receives ‘special’ message from late father Francis M
“I’ve noticed that Pop always somehow finds a way to make me feel his presence especially during big moments in my life,” she said, “Thanks for the 10th wedding anniversary greeting, pop!!”