ShareThisFilipino-American singer Allan Pineda, also known as apl.de.ap of the American pop group Black Eyed Peas, continues to earn raves not only for his music but also for his efforts to help in the education of the Filipino youth.
President Benigno S. Aquino III himself personally thanked again the Fil-Am singer from Pampanga and California during a dinner last Monday hosted by the President’s cousin, Rafael Lopa, head of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation.
Pineda is in town again for a special concert of the Grammy winner Black Eyed Peas at the Mall of Asia Open Fields on October 25 to raise funds for the construction of additional classrooms in the country.
The benefit concert held in partnership with the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation got big support from institutions and individuals.
“The President dropped by to personally extend his gratitude to Allan Pineda, apl.de.ap, for his APL Foundation which is in partnership with the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation for the construction of classrooms in the country,”said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.
Pineda also launched his education campaign, “We Can Be Anything,” at the Black Eyed Peas concert.
President Aquino, however, did not attend the concert “as he was attending to important matters of state.”
Pineda’s “ We Can Be Anything” campaign features an upbeat, feel-good track titled “We Can Be Anything” that encourages impoverished kids to dream big.
The campaign aims to deliver a lesson the world-famous singer learned himself: “Education is the only long-term ticket to a better life.”
Proceeds from the sales and downloads of the song will benefit the Bayanihang Pampaaralan initiative of the 57-75 Movement for Educational Reform and the MyLibrary program of Ayala Foundation/Philippine Development Foundation.
The campaign also aims to pilot a music library and studio concept in the two schools apl.de.ap attended in the country (Sapang Bato National High School and Holy Angel University).
More information about the campaign are available at the website www.wecanbeanything.com.
Apl.de.ap is the eldest of Cristina Pineda’s six children. His father, a US airman stationed at Clark Air Base, abandoned his mother shortly after he was born. It was a life of struggles since then.
He was sent by the Pearl S. Buck Foundation to California for treatment of his ailment. When his condition improved, he was adopted by his sponsor and thus continued his education and stay in California.