Peace ambassador apl.de.ap pledges books, classrooms for Bangsamoro children

MANILA – Filipino-American singer and volunteer peace ambassador apl.de.ap of the world-famous Black Eyed Peas expressed his desire to expand the programs of the Apl Foundation to include school-feeding programs and book donations for school children in Bangsamoro areas.
The U.S.-based singer said he learned about the historic framework agreement reached by the Philippine government peace panel with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on CNN.

As peace ambassador, apl.de.ap whose real name is Allan Pineda, received a briefing on the framework agreement over Skype from OPAPP’s technical staff. “Definitely, I want to be involved. This is great news!” he said, while mentioning the work of his Apl Foundation.
The Apl Foundation has school building projects in the Philippines and Asia. It has an ongoing partnership with the Ninoy and Cory Foundation and the MyLibrary program of Ayala Foundation/Philippine Development Foundation and the 57-75 Movement for educational reform.
Among the projects that apl.de.ap would like to spearhead in Mindanao are school feeding programs and book donations. The singer who used to ride a jeepney to go to his school in Pampanga was often quoted as saying that “education is the only long-term ticket to a better life.”
apl.de.ap, along with other celebrity and personality peace ambassadors, were inducted formally by President Benigno Aquino III during the launch of the “I Am for Peace” campaign held on September 14 at Malacañan.
As a peace ambassador, he pledged to do his best in spreading good news about the country, and in calling on young people in the Philippines and around the world to give peace a chance via Twitter and other social media sites.
Other peace ambassadors tapped by OPAPP are performing artists Noel Cabangon, Christian Bautista, Ebe Dancel, Datu Khomeini, Gloc-9, celebrities and actors Anne Curtis, Epy Quizon, Derek Ramsey, Megan Young, Mikael Daez, Gerald Anderson, Ramon Bautista, Rovilson Fernandez and fashion designers Arnold Galang and JC Buendia.