Today Tabloid

It started as blind items in the tabs, referring to "a singer-actor TV host confined at the ICU" of an unnamed hospital.

Yes, the "singer-actor TV host" being referred to is Francis Magalona who has been conspicuously absent from Eat, Bulaga! for several days now.

Yesterday on 24 Oras in a phone-patch with Chika Minute host Pia Guanio, Francis' wife Pia Arroyo confirmed that Francis has been diagnosed to have leukemia and is confined at the ICU of a hospital in Pasig City.

But he's not unconscious, contrary to rumors.

"He's in high spirits," said Malou Choa-Fagar, vice president of TAPE, Inc., producer of Eat, Bulaga!, "and he's raring to go back to Eat, Bulaga!"

Francis is suffering from a treatable type of leukemia, the same one Hollywood actor Ryan O'Neal is a survivor of.

A few months ago when the Eat, Bulaga! guys mounted a show in Las Vegas, Francis reportedly suffered from fever in the afternoons (a bad symptom, according to doctors) coupled with "dizzy spells," turning pale in the process.

"Rudy (Fernandez) experienced the same afternoon-fever symptoms, so you better see a doctor," somebody advised Francis.

So Francis did. His and wife Pia's worst fears were confirmed. (The couple has eight children.) Francis is the son of '50s showbiz royal couple Pancho Magalona (who died from complications of emphysema) and Tita Duran (who died from complications of a kidney ailment).

Yes, what's in the blog is true: Francis needs Type O blood (paging Tita Rosa Rosal, head of the Philippine National Red Cross!). Donors are welcome.

Funfare is requesting its readers to pray for Francis' speedy recovery. Remember, as the poet said, more things are wrought by prayers than this world dreams of. Prayer can move mountains.

Meanwhile, stay tuned to Eat, Bulaga! today. Host Vic Sotto will make an "important announcement."