Filipino “Master Rapper,” former breaker and acclaimed photographer Francis Magalona passed away a few days ago after a year-long battle with leukemia. Along with being at the forefront of the country’s rap scene, Magalona is also a national emblem as his music dealt with Filipino life and culture. He is survived by his wife and eight children, two of whom are also in entertainment.

I’ve never been a big fan of rap and hip hop, but I’ve always liked Magalona as a public figure. To me, he always seemed like a very positive role model, not just to a few people, but to a whole country. Throughout his battle with the illness, both Magalona and his wife blogged about it. Even if you take a quick gander at it, you can tell that they stayed positive till the end. Rest in peace, Francis.

I leave you with his song “Reach for the Stars”