Experience the World’s Hottest Dance Game like you’ve never seen it before as The Black Eyed Peas Experience take over an entire building. Get your copy on November 8 (November 10 in Europe) and throw your own BEP dance party! More info on www.bepexperience.com
[News] Apl.de.ap is newest Smart ambassador.
adriph on 25-10-2011, 16:01 (UTC)
Oct 25th: Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has found its newest and biggest brand ambassador to date in Filipino-American hip-hop artist apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas. Apl.de.ap is expected to enhance Smart’s presence in the domestic and global arena as he brings to the Smart brand his unique mix of pure talent and generous heart. The Philippines-born artist has been in the country several times to help the tourism department promote the Philippines, and very recently, to push for advocacy programs that aim to help the Filipino youth.
“Smart is proud to have apl.de.ap on board – a Filipino with international reach and influence who is making a difference for the youth everywhere,” said Orlando B. Vea, Smart’s Chief Wireless Advisor. “His works as an artist cut across various markets around the world. He has gained recognition in the global popular culture scene, but he never forgets to give back to his home country and acknowledge his Philippine roots.”
In time for the Manila leg of The Black Eyed Peas’ concert tour, apl.de.ap returns to the Philippines this month to lead the “We Can Do Anything” campaign to promote education and build 10,000 classrooms for poor Filipino children in 10 months. Smart, through the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), is among the companies supporting apl.de.ap’s campaign. This includes the production of his advocacy single and music video “We Can Be Anything” that aim to inspire the Filipino youth and gather support from people and groups willing to back the cause.
Born Allan Pineda Lindo, Jr. in Angeles City, Pampanga, apl.de.ap spent much of his childhood in the city’s Barangay Sapang Bato. He studied at Sapang Bato Elementary School and Pampanga’s Holy Angel University. “Apl.de.ap is a very appropriate ambassador for Smart, a homegrown brand of international caliber,” said Vea. “But more than anything, this partnership is Smart’s recognition of him for being an excellent advocate for all Filipino people.” As one of the founding members and creative forces behind The Black Eyed Peas, he is instrumental in having the group achieve its superstar status in the music scene. His incorporation of Filipino lyrics, instruments and messages (socio-economic concerns, plight of war veterans, etc.) in The Black Eyed Peas’ music and videos contributed in the awareness of the Filipino culture and conditions in the international mainstream media. His success led him to start his own music company called Jeepney Music that provides opportunities to aspiring Filipino musicians in the United States. He also founded the Apl Foundation to give back to communities and children within the Philippines and throughout Asia.
[News-Pictures] Black Eyed Peas: Manila Press Conference.
adriph on 24-10-2011, 18:17 (UTC)
OCT 24TH: Speaking to reporters at their press conference Monday at the EDSA Shangri-La, the four-member group composed of will.i.am (William Adams), apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda), Taboo (Jaime Gomez) and Fergie (Stacy Ann Ferguson) expressed their fondness for the Philippines, the local fans and the Filipino culture.
Apl.de.ap described the concert to be a very important event in his life coming from the time he was adopted and taken to the United States from his hometown Sapang Bato, Angeles City, in Pampanga. He said that it was “amazing… just to be here right now,” adding that the reception of the Filipino community for his Tagalog songs gave him the “motivation to keep on singing (and) share my culture. (It is) one of the great gifts I received from my countrymen.”
Taboo revealed how their group started out playing their music in Filipino communities in Glendale, California, “smelling of chicken adobo…and lumpia.” He said that it was also apl.de.ap who introduced him to “the beauty of Filipinas,” adding that he eventually married one who hailed from Cavite.
A close friend of apl.de.ap, will.i.am said that when his friend felt sad and homesick he would try to cheer him up by saying “one day we’re gonna go to the Philippines.” But the welcome they received when they visited the Philippines was so much more than how he had imagined it, said will.i.am. He also recalled the time when he told apl.de.ap how the reception of Filipinos for their songs were “special. America’s not gonna embrace this like the Filipinos do. You could do so much for (the) country.”
Apl.de.ap said that he wanted Filipino children to “have a place to develop their imagination and (have access to) technology…so they can compete around the world.” Will.i.am said that he was proud of his friend for “not only (giving) back but paying it forward.” The Philippines being the home of one of her closest friends whom she considers to be her “brother,” Fergie said she admired the trait of the Filipino community where “everyone sticks together…like a family.” She said that this character of the Filipino people was “a beautiful thing…that should be looked up to.”
Will.i.am supported Fergie’s observation of Filipino culture by saying that “America can learn from the Philippines when it comes to culture, family, working hard–I’m not saying they don’t work hard but we can learn from Filipinos.” For Taboo, aside from the rich culture, the Filipinos’ tenacity was also a great trait. The group revealed that their trip is also a chance for apl.de.ap to show them around the country as Fergie revealed that they were “seeing some indigenous spots…a little tour (the details of which are) very secret.”
“I can’t wait for them to taste my mom’s adobo, nilaga, tortang talong…and yes, balut,” said the Fil-Am rapper.
For the fans, the group said that they had a lot in store for them during the show, including an “important announcement” from apl.de.ap. He told their fans that the concert was bound to “just be a good time, bring your dancing shoes!”
-By: Karen B / Edited by: Adriana Perez
-Click on thumbails to see pictures:
[News] Apl.de.ap send message to kids: We can be anything!
OCT 16TH: “Get an education, change your situation. Get your graduation, earn your occupation.” The lines come from apl.de.ap of the well-known American band Black Eyed Peas in a new song titled “We Can Be Anything,”complete with a music video, that kicks off a campaign to build 10,000 new classrooms in the next two years.
Apl.de.ap, or Allan Pineda Lindo Jr. launched his new advocacy for education on Saturday, urging Filipinos, including Filipino-Americans like him and others from all over the world, to help Filipino schoolchildren “to go to school and stay in school.” “I am proud to be Pinoy and I never forget where I came from…. It’s important to me to give back for the improvement of my country,” said the rock star, who grew up in a poor neighborhood in Sapang Bato, Pampanga, then was adopted at age 14 by an American family.
Rafael Lopa, president and executive director of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), in a joint press conference with the 57-75 Movement, the Department of Education and the Apl Foundation announced the pre-launch of the campaign at Sofitel with Apl. Apl.d.ap and NCAF plan to build 10,000 classrooms in two years or less through the advocacy. Corporate sponsors are encouraged to pledge for classrooms while citizens, too, can donate P10 per day for 10 months to build the classrooms. “I myself as a kid in the Philippines adopted in the US and given the opportunity, I know the situation so it’s really important for me to give back and never forget where I came from. It’s a privilege to be in school and make the best of it,” apl.de.ap said.
“I would not have gotten this far were it not for an education, and I’d like to be able to help the young ones out there to achieve their dreams,” he added. In buying the song “We Can Be Anything” and downloading them on mobile phones, the proceeds will go to the campaign, he said. “And we’ll do campaigning in the US targeting Filipino-Americans,” he added. On his birthday on Nov. 28, apl.de.ap said he would be in San Francisco for his education advocacy campaign among the Filipino-Americans. “We’re gonna partner with Google to tell the world about this campaign. The purpose of it hopefully will reach the Fil-Ams,” he said.
For his part, Lopa said the apl.de.ap Foundation and the NCAF said the music video of “We Can Be Anything” will resonate among the youth. “Launching ‘We Can Be Anything’ is towards helping education reform in this country. He (apl.de.ap) said I want to use my talent in reforming education in the Philippines. He has a soft heart for education,” Lopa said.
Apl.de.ap expressed his intent to focus his efforts on closing the huge gap in public school classrooms because “he knows what education can do to someone’s dreams.” Apl, with his signature shades and mohawk hair, shared that his grades were “pretty good” when he was a student despite his eye condition which meant he had to sit in the front row of the class in order to read what was on the blackboard. “I would get 85 or higher. When I have difficulty, I get 80, but I had my share of 75, too,” he said. “I had a scholarship so I had to submit my grades and my father was actually impressed.” Apl said that when looked back at his difficult childhood, he saw no room for pity, adding he would rather focus on “doing what you can.”
When asked what his favorite subject was, apl said it had to be “English” because he knew he was getting ready for adoption in the United States. “I remember I told my mom that I was scared. I asked her, how will I talk to everyone in English? And my mom gave me a dictionary, where I learned one day at a time,” he said.
-See Pictures:
[Videos] Apldeap on Happy Yipe YeHey and ShowTime.
adriph on 16-10-2011, 04:26 (UTC)
OCT 16TH: Apldeap performed "We Can be Anything" in different TV Shows in Philippines. On Friday, Apldeap signed autographs at Mall of Asia, he performed live as well.
-Check a few videos, more are coming!
[News] Apl.de.ap reveals hardships growing up abroad.
adriph on 15-10-2011, 04:00 (UTC)
Oct 15th: Black Eyed Peas member apl.de.ap revealed that he had his own share of hardships as a Filipino young adult growing up in the United States.
During his guesting in Ahwel Paz and Jobert Sucaldito’s dzMM Teleradyo show “Mismo” on Friday, apl.de.ap said life was difficult for him before his group made it to the music industry. “As soon as I turned 18 I had to get a job. You know the Black Eyed Peas didn’t come overnight, so I had to work at movie theaters, construction, telemarketing and at one point in my career. I had to sleep in closets and couches,” he said.
However, the singer didn’t let the setbacks get in his way of achieving his dreams. Instead, he used it as his motivation to strive harder. “I never gave up. That was my motivation to make it and help out my family. I just kept on going and I wouldn’t take no for an answer. Thank God, I was surrounded with good friends with same values and motivation so we just stuck together and made it happen,” he said.
Now that he is on top of his game, apl.de.ap, who was born Allan Pineda Jr. makes it a point to share his blessings to his fellow Filipinos. He recently donated a music library and a computer room to a public high school in Pampanga, where he grew up. Currently, he is actively promoting the education advocacy campaign dubbed “We Can Be Anything.” “We Can Be Anything” aims to address the Philippines’ unending problem with classroom shortage. “There are still millions of kids who are not going to school because of the shortage of classrooms, so the main goal [of this campaign] is to build 10,000 classrooms in 10 months,” he explained.
“We Can Be Anything” is made possible through the partnership of the Apl.de.Ap Foundation and the Ninoy Cory Aquino Foundation. When asked why he chose education as his primary advocacy, he replied, “I think education is very important. If it wasn’t for education, I wouldn’t be here.” “There are a lot of kids out there who are really smart, especially Filipino people. We just need an opportunity, a chance to prove that so that is why it is very important for me to give back to the children," he added.
