Apl.de.ap: We Can Be Anything

In a progressing country such as ours, education is the one thing that parents can give their children to ensure a bright future because unlike material things, the knowledge and values we derive from school can't be taken from us. "With education, we can be anything!" is the echoing message that Apl.de.ap, the Filipino-American member of the world-famous Black Eyed Peas, wants to impart to the Filipino youth through his education advocacy campaign.

The "We Can Be Anything" education advocacy had a soft launch yesterday at the Grand Sunset Pavilion of Sofitel Philippine Plaza and provided selected media and guests a glimpse of the joint advocacy project of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF) and the Apl.de.ap Foundation. The grand launch will be done at the Black Eyed Peas' Manila concert at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on October 25.

We have seen how apl.de.ap has always been proud of being a Filipino as heard in his music and interviews. This education advocacy gives him a greater chance to help the Filipino youth and he uses his music and influence to enjoin others support the project. "I was born here and I'd like to give back to the Philippines by making it possible for more kids to go to school," Apl.de.ap said. "I would not have gotten this far were it not for education, and I'd like to be able to help the youth to achieve their dreams."

Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.ap

The press conference was opened by Rafael Lopa, president of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), by giving an overview of what the education advocacy campaign is all about and how it came to be.

NCAF president Rafael Lopa

"We Can Be Anything" will support private sector efforts to build public school classrooms and other learning centers nationwide. As the NCAF's iamninoy-iamcory movement special ambassador for education, Apl.de.ap is lending his magic to boost programs like the Bayanihang Pampaaralan program of the 57-75 Education Reform Alliance which seeks to build 10,000 new classrooms within two years.

Mario Deriquito, one of the convenors of the 57-75 alliance

To get more people involved in raising the funds, the Ten Moves campaign was born. Spearheaded by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Ten Moves espouses the "10 pesos per day for 10 months" donation -- or P3,000 donation from each Filipino -- that would help finance the construction of the classrooms. According to Mr. Lopa, "It costs about P600,000 to P650,000 to build one classroom. So far, out of the 726 classrooms pledged, 428 have been constructed."

DepEd Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera

Department of Education Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera shared," DepEd's Key Mandates are: ensuring that all school-age children are in school; keeping the children in school; and providing the children quality education." The shortage in classrooms makes it difficult for DepEd to meet their key mandates since it reduces government's ability to accommodate all school-age children. The lack of education infrastructure also affects the children's interest in staying in school, thus affecting learning.

"We Can Be Anything" Video

The upbeat song "We Can Be Anything" was composed by Apl to make the youth relate to the advocacy campaign. An accompanying music video that Apl.de.ap co-produced with his best friend and B.E.P. colleague Will.i.am is currently being shown on TV and online. Share the video to spread the word.

Apl.de.ap telling his life story and why he is campaining for education

As the NCAF's iamninoy-iamcory movement special ambassador for education, Apl.de.ap was asked how he was as a student and he quipped, "I did pretty well!" Although he had trouble back then as a student because of his eyesight problem which gave him a hard time seeing the blackboard, he told us that , "I just copy notes from my classmates or I move my seat closer to the blackboard to see better. My adoptive father was very proud of my grades."

When asked about his favorite subject in school, he answered, "English," and shared this anecdote, "I knew I was going to be adopted so I asked my mom how I can improve my English and she advised me to read the dictionary."

As a student Apl "did pretty well."

It was no secret that Apl.de.ap was given good education (and a better eyesight via an operation) by the family who adopted him and brought him to the United States of America. "I still cherish my Pinoy roots and I would like to give back whatever I can to the Philippines. The best way to do that, I feel, is by creating opportunities for young Filipinos, " thus, the birth of the Apl Foundation in 2008 to help various communities and children within the Philippines and through out Asia.

(l-r) Mario Deriquito, Rafael Lopa, Apl.de.ap, Lino Rivera and Audie Vergara

Noticing how the education campaign seems to focus on resources for public school school classrooms, I asked them, "Do you have plans to come up with a campaign to help the Filipino teachers as well? Mr. Lopa said that plans to help teachers get proper incentives and proper training as definitely in the pipeline.

Advocacy materials: t-shirt, button pin and celphone charm

To know more about the campaign or to support it, visit www.wecanbeanything.com or www.facebook.com/WeCanBe AnythingHeroes.

Filed under EVENTS

Ninoy Remembered in Photos

The Filipino is worth dying for. That's one phrase that will always remind me of Ninoy, the late senator Benigno S. Aquino, Sr. and his death on August 21, 1983 -- the death that sparked courage and hope in the hearts of millions of Filipinos enough to overcome a political regime through the 1986 EDSA People's Revolution (People Power).

I was but a young girl of 9 back then with no inkling whatsoever of the political and social climate in the country and of why a respectable looking man, on his way home to Manila, was shot and left dead on the tarmac. I was young then but the image of Ninoy, his body being dragged by a soldier, is vividly etched on my mind.

Now, that phrase poses a question in my mind: are we still worth dying for? Am not going to play scholarly here and try to answer that question but instead share what I saw and learned at the recently concluded 'Ninoy, My Hero' photo exhibit at the Atrium of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

I was fortunate to have gotten a chance to visit the exhibit that was staged to celebrate Ninoy's life and commemorate his martyrdom. The overall feel of the exhibit is that of heroism and love for fellowmen and country. The colors yellow and black dominate the Atrium and the phrase "The Filipino is worth dying for" is prominently displayed all around.

The third floor Atrium showcased different artist interpretations of Ninoy and his assassination while the second floor was occupied by larger than life images showing the various facets of Ninoy's life, both personal and professional. All these, in an effort to refresh the memory of the older generation while attempting to educate the younger generation and hopefully make Ninoy relevant to this day and beyond.

Ninoy may have been part of the distant past but the youth should know and understand what he stood for and lived by because that part of the past was what made this present and will eventually shape the future.

Filed under EVENTS