Dannyka Manangan

Singer Arkin Magalona on being compared to his father Francis Magalona: ‘Grabe yung pressure’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>Last October, OPM artist BARQ (real name Arkin Magalona) officially signed under  Sony Music Entertainment and released his debut single &quot;Shake Dat Thang.” The 26-year-old singer, who is also the youngest son of the late Master Rapper Francis Magalona and brother to Maxine and Saab Magalona, shared that he actually appreciates the advantage of being part of the Magalona clan in showbiz. </p><p>“Actually hindi siya mahirap kasi since may pangalan ako na Magalona, nakikilala na ako ng mga tao. It’s very easy. Penetrable ang social media for me. Pero mas mahirap siya for other people, definitely. Lalo na sa landscape, ang daming talented people,” he shared with the press during the 1st ZEENfluential Awards Night held last November 20 in Pasay City. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRSD1SWEnDq/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A1345036.0999999996%2C%22ls%22%3A149668.69999999925%2C%22le%22%3A149672.90000000037%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="753" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/11/15/arkin-magalona-opens-up-about-living-independently-1002"><strong>READ: Arkin Magalona opens up about living independently: ‘I’m happy naman kasi everyone has to go through living alone’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Arkin also explained why he chose to use his late dad’s pet name for him as his stage name. “Yung ginagawa ko ngayon na I’m using the stage name BARQ, ‘yun ‘yung nickname sa akin ng family ko. I want to be known as BARQ and not just as anak ni ganito or kapatid ni ganyan. Usually ‘yun ‘yung tawag sa akin eh.  It’s not that ashamed ako, pero gusto ko rin malaman ng tao na I’m a human being. Kung ikaw ang pangalan mo Jeff, hindi ka anak ni ganito. Gusto mo na kilala ka as your name. So ayun, that’s what I’m trying to do,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRV1uoEkhYB/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A1160390.7999999989%2C%22ls%22%3A149668.69999999925%2C%22le%22%3A149672.90000000037%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Following in the footsteps of his father, who passed away in 2009 after battling leukemia, Arkin hopes to create music that is not just from one specific genre. “Grabe ‘yung pressure. Grabe ‘yung pressure pero wala akong magagawa about it so I try not to think about it. I just try to make music, ‘yun lang. And enjoy. Ang choice of genre ko is any genre kasi kahit anong genre ginagawa ko. As long as ini-enjoy ko ‘yung genre na ‘yun. Marami akong genre na nagawa na — hyper pop, pop music, hiphop, rap, ayun,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRVo7aXEtIA/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A1161352.5%2C%22ls%22%3A149668.69999999925%2C%22le%22%3A149672.90000000037%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>During the interview, Arkin also reflected on what part of his dad’s music influenced him the most, even though he was still a kid when his father had passed. Known as the country’s undisputed Master Rapper, Francis M. was known for his signature nationalistic and unforgettable hiphop songs like &quot;Mga Kababayan&quot;, &quot;Man from Manila&quot;, &quot;Ito Ang Gusto Ko&quot;, &quot;Kabataan Para sa Kinabukasan&quot;, “Meron Akong Ano“, and “Kaleidoscope World,” just to name a few. </p><p>“I think ‘yung writing style ko, parang very similar kami. Hindi ko na-witness kung paano niya ginagawa kasi baby pa lang ako nung time na he was still around. Pero when I listen to his music, parang feeling ko I would have written the same (way) as him din. Like parang gets ko kung paano niya ginagawa, even though hindi kami nagtagpo in that aspect,” Arkin shared. </p><p>In his statement on ABS-CBN NEWS last month, Arkin talked about his music and new single&quot;Shake Dat Thang.” </p><p>“It represents that playful yet fresh sound&quot; that he wants to be known for, with the track &quot;reminding people that having fun is one of the most important parts of making anything in life.”</p><p>He added: “I chose this as my debut single because I wanted to make a statement that I&#x27;m here and ready to shake things up in the scene. I want listeners to have fun, let loose, and enjoy this different side of me. I’m just getting started, and I can&#x27;t wait to share more songs, more collaborations, and a more confident version of myself with everyone.” </p>

<p>Francis Magalona’s youngest son Arkin Magalona shares how his late father’s legacy in OPM influenced his own musical style as he becomes known as the artist BARQ.</p>

Francis Magalona’s youngest son Arkin Magalona shares how his late father’s legacy in OPM influenced his own musical style as he becomes known as the artist BARQ.