•Fil-Am bands to hold benefit show for Franz on May 30 in NYC

•American doctors and hospitals called upon to help Franz with this rare disease

•Donation channels now established in New York

NEW YORK– The human mind cannot comprehend many things. And the story of a young 18-year old Filipino college student named Franz Pantaleon is one of those. The eldest of three, Franz is a regular kid who loves graphic novels, photography, computers and cooking Chinese food. He is the loving son of Rach and F Pantaleon, who always looked at their firstborn with love and happiness. However, in late of 2008, things began to unravel, and Franz, along with his family and relatives are never the same.

Franz initially complained of pains in his left flank side, which alleviated when he took pain pills. Then he urinated blood once, but his doctor just suspected a minor passing of stones.

A December check up with a pediatrician revealed nothing extraordinary. However, in January 2009, Franz began to complain of pain, this time, on the right flank side. Likewise, he urinated blood several times. An ultrasound later, that same week revealed a large tumor in his left kidney. He was scheduled for a nephrectomy, or the removal of the affected kidney. But due to possible complications, the doctors voted against the surgery. Instead, a new drug was introduced to target the renal cells.

A biopsy of Franz tumor also caused several complications. Blood clots formed his urinary bladder and he was catheterized and later on underwent emergency cystoscopy for clot evacuation. After two harrowing weeks in the hospital capped by a blood transfusion, Franz was discharged.

NEW YORK– The first concept-double album of its kind by a Filipino-American band is finally available after a year in production.
School Tales by the Jersey City rock quartet The Happy Analogues can now be ordered on the band’s website at  www.thehappyanalogues.com.

The double album is part of the exclusive School Tales Lunch Box Set, which includes the band’s debut album, Lilacs and Politics released in early 2007, and a special CD called The Happy Analogues: Singles and Bootlegs, a collection of the band's singles and rare unreleased songs as well as School Tales outtakes and demos. All three discs are encased in a blue Happy Analogues lunch box.

Francis Magalona

NEW YORK– Filipino music fans all over the world are mourning the death of one of the most innovative artists ever to grace the Philippine music scene– Francis Magalona.

Francis succumbed to multiple organ failure, severe sepsis, and pneumonia, a year after being diagnosed with Leukemia, he was 44 years old.

Francis is survived by his wife Pia Arroyo Magalona and eight children.
He died a day before a rumored surprise appearance at the Eraserheads final set reunion concert on March 7.