Publicist defends Francis and Pia Magalona’s imperfect but ‘happy, loving’ marriage

Francis Magalona and Pia Arroyo-Magalona. Image: Instagram/@piamagalona

Francis Magalona’s former publicist Pilar Mateo said the music icon and his wife Pia certainly did not have a “perfect” union, but they were a “very happy and loving couple.”

Mateo appeared to be addressing allegations made by former commercial model and concert producer Robby Tarroza, who claimed to be a close confidant of the Master Rapper, that the Magalona couple had a “dysfunctional” marriage.

Their home situation, according to Tarroza, had resulted in Francis falling into the arms of another woman, that of former flight stewardess, Abegail Rait, who recently came out in public to disclose his affair with the OPM hitmaker.

In an interview with Inquirer Bandera, Mateo discussed several photos that she shared on Facebook recently in the wake of Rait and Tarroza’s revelations, debunking the latter’s claim that Francis and Pia were not married to begin with. Mateo’s photos showed Francis and Pia — him, in a tie and suit; her in a simple white sleeveless dress — smiling happily before the camera after their supposed civil wedding in Hong Kong sometime in the 1980s.

“‘Yung tungkol sa kasal nila, simple lang naganap na wedding in [Hong Kong]. Parang nagbakasyon lang kami. In one of the courts there [naganap ang kasal],” she said. “Sa dalas ko sa bahay nila that time, I saw a very happy and loving couple. Pia as the one managing FM’s (Francis) career was very hands on talaga pagdating sa trabaho ni Francis,” she said in the interview.

Image: Facebook/Pilar Mateo

(When it comes to the topic of their wedding, the ceremony in Hong Kong was simple. We were on vacation then they got married in one of the courts there. In my numerous visits at the time, I saw a very happy and loving couple. Pia as the one managing FM’s career was very hands on when it comes to Francis’ work.)

The former publicist also said Francis and Pia are “doting and very loving” parents to their children outside of their careers, and stated that while all relationships are “not perfect,” they remained as a “happy family.”

“Masaya sila. Sweet couple. Not perfect. May away-away din. Wala pa sa ‘Eat Bulaga’ that time si FM. But I could say happy family, happy couple. ‘Di naman nawawala ang away at tampuhan,” she said.

“Basta during my time with them, nakita ko how loving they were to each other. May mga problema man, petty ones na ‘di nila naso-solve. Iba rin ang ka-sweetan nila,” she further added.

(They’re happy together. They’re a sweet couple. Not perfect, they go through fights. Francis Magalona was not in “Eat Bulaga” at the time, but I could say they’re a happy family, happy couple. Fights and arguments will always be a part of relationships. During my time with them, I saw how loving they were to each other. They’ve been through problems, petty ones even, but their sweetness to each other is different.)

Image: Instagram/@piamagalona

Code of silence

Without addressing Rait or anyone in particular, Mateo pointed out that Pia is not one to address controversies surrounding her late husband, although she noted that the “other family” should “live and let live.”

“Sa pagkakilala ko kay Pia, she will not talk anymore. Nor stoop down sa ganitong sitwasyon. Actually, alam ko lumabas na ‘yan dati pa. She kept mum at ‘di na nag-react,” she said. “Kung meron pala iba pang family after several years na nagsama sila, then live and let live.”

(As far as Pia is concerned, she will not talk anymore nor stoop down to those types of situations. Actually, I remembered that reports about the same topic emerged before. But she kept mum and didn’t react. If there’s another family after several years they’ve been together, then live and let live.)

The former publicist stressed that Pia may be “feisty” but she would rather choose to protect her children, while asserting that the rapper should be allowed to “rest in peace.”

“Wala sa personalinad ni Pi ang makipagbangayan pa sa mga ganyang bagay. Unang-unang poprotektahan niyan ang mga anak nila. But she’s a feisty woman,” she said, referring to Pia using her nickname. “I have not seen nor talked to Pia for the longest time. Like I said, hindi na ‘yan magsasalita.”

(It’s not in Pia’s personality to respond to those types of topics. She puts her children first, but she’s a feisty woman. I have not seen nor talked to Pia for the longest time. Like I said, she will not speak about it anymore)

Francis Magalona, Abegail Rait with their alleged love child Gaile Francesca. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Boss Toyo Production

“Kung may pumasok na iba, after so many years na nanahimik naman daw, that’s her side of the story. Wala na si FM. Let his soul rest in peace (If ever there was someone who was around in Francis’ life and kept quiet for years, that’s her side of the story. FM is not here anymore. Let his soul rest in peace,” she further added.

Since Rait made waves in showbiz with her controversial revelation, Pia has yet to make a statement, as of this writing. EDV