“NMS Dietitian… 14-A please…”

Nagmamagandang-loob, so I called Trina and told her, “pina-page ka.” It was later that afternoon, that I was able to ask her what it was all about…

FM’s family and physicians had a conference. He’s gonna be in ICU, and he’s referred to our service.

I was a li’l giggly inside. FM is referred to NMS and he’s on oral feeding; that means i get to interview him when i do the nutrition monitoring.

Uhm, no, i’m not a fan of Francis M. But of course he’s an icon in the Philippine music industry. And i’ve always been amazed with his nationalism.

Okay, time for monitoring.

The Cardio fellow & I were doing our rounds at the same time, so I let her enter the patient’s room first while I was waiting outside. I can see through the glass doors that weak-looking man in bed. He’s FM. Sigh. He’s the rap icon.

Just a few minutes and the doctor came out; but what she said made the people outside kind of panicked..? The patient was asking if there’s anything to help him breathe. SIGH. Okay, i’ll just do my visit the following morning perhaps. Maybe he’s better then and it would not be difficult to talk about food.

March 6. 8:55 am.

The NMS doctor welcomed me in the ICU, “Mr. Magalona’s already in tube feeds and TPN. But I think he’s not doing well.. He’s already in vent.”

And I was like “OH!” I knew it’s bad.

It was our department meeting that morning so I wasn’t able to visit him again. I just finished a couple of patient assessments, then left ICU.

Coming back that afternoon, the sobs of the visitors of MS2 made me sad. I knew something was happening… something terribly bad. I can’t look at them in the eye. I can’t ask the nurses. The ICU was strangely quiet.

Well, MS2 had expired. Hearing the silent cries was really painful.. His children sobbing, his wife, red in crying, and his doctor with tears in his face! Even the nurses were affected, the NMS staff too, as well as the fans outside the ICU and those at the lobby. Everyone was sad.

I too got sad. He’s too young to die. He’s a positive influencer in the music industry. He’s a national pride. He’s one rare Filipino breed. Yet his life is only that short.

Then I was reminded of the “One Life To Live” series. What legacy can we leave behind when we die?

I believe his legacy is great.
For the hip-hop generation.
For the people who love music.
For the young and old who’ve followed him.
For every Filipino.
For the world he wants to Filipinized.