DUMATING KAMAKAILAN SA bansa si Allan Pineda Lindo, Jr. aka Apl.De.Ap of The Black Eyed Peas para magtanghal kasama ang kanyang sikat na grupo sa isang concert sa SM MOA Concert Grounds on October 25 at para isulong ang kanyang advocacy sa edukasyon sa pamamagitan ng kanyang sariling foundation sa Pampanga at sa “We Can Be Anything” campaign of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation.
I always talked about the immense power and influence of celebrities. Stars and public fi-gures can use their fame for a good cause. Sa aking palagay, it is about time to give back and help our kababayans na walang sawang tumatangkilik at sumusuporta sa mga shows, movies, endorsements, record albums, at concerts ng kanilang mga iniidolo. At ganito nga ang ginagawa ngayon ni Apl.De.Ap para sa kanyang mga kababayan.
Para sa kanyang mga kababayan sa Pampanga, he built computer labs, a music studio and a library. “Education. I want to give hope to the kids especially in the provinces. Some of them will never see a computer or learn about technology so I want to open up that information for them. Pag-unlad ng bansa. I want the kids to compete with other kids all over the world with technology and stuff.”
Isang bukas na libro sa publiko ang buhay ni Apl.De.Ap. He was born in Sapang Bato, Angeles City, Pampanga to a Filipino mother and an African-American father. It was his mother who raised him and his six younger siblings. Through the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, an organization that finds better li-ving environments for young abandoned or orphaned Amerasian children, nagkaroon siya ng sponsor na nagngangalang Joe Ben Hudgens through a dollar-a-day program at nakapunta ng Amerika.
His Apl Foundation is committed to giving back to communities and children in the Philippines and throughout Asia. Kahit sikat na siya ay hindi pa rin niya nakakalimutan ang kanyang pagiging isang Filipino. Ilan sa kanyang mga kanta ay sumasalamin sa kanyang pagiging Pinoy tulad ng The Apl Song, Bebot, Mare at Take Me to The Philippines (which was in partnership with the Department of Tourism).
Apl is the ambassador for the We Can Be Anything campaign of the Aquino Foundation na naglalayong kumalap ng pondo para makapagpatayo ng mga classrooms sa public schools sa buong bansa. “We can be anything campaign. The main focus is the shortage of classrooms all over the country kasi mga bata nagsisiksikan sa maliliit na classroom, so we are adding classrooms, so they can focus better. And the teacher can pay attention to all the students in the classroom.” He also asks the public to check out www.wecanbeanything.com and help support the cause.
Nakikipagtulungan din siya sa Department of Tourism para mag-anyaya ng mga turista at Filipinos abroad na bisitahin ang Pilipinas at tumulong sa mga local communities through DOT’s project Mission Tourism.
We need people like Apl.De.Ap to remind us of the goodness of God and men. Kaya nating maging bayani kahit sa ating munting pamamaraan – we can create change by starting within ourselves.
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
