What keeps apl.de.ap grounded

MANILA, Philippines - “I just ride the waves.”

This was what apl.de.ap said when asked if his foray into Philippine showbiz could possibly turn into a long-term thing. The Filipino-American member of the multi-awarded US hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas is having his longest “working vacation” yet in the country being one of the coaches of ABS-CBN’s The Voice of the Philippines.

“At first, being on The Voice, I didn’t think I wanted to be on TV that much. But once I connect and relate to the people, to the contestants and to the art- ists, I’m like, I love it! I’m like, surfing on

the chair, and doing kind of silly things. I love it!” Apl recently told The STAR.

As a coach (together with Lea Sa- longa, Bamboo and Sarah Geronimo), Apl’s getting support no less from his fellow BEP members Fergie, Taboo and “best friend” will.i.am (who himself just wrapped up coaching duties on The Voice UK). In fact, the three did separate special video shout-outs calling Pinoys to sup- port Team Apl. (Apl can also be seen in various shows on MYX this entire month.)

Meantime, for Apl, the longer the time spent here also means the more the opportunity to push for and carry out the advocacies of his Apl Foundation.

He has been teaming up with corporate groups like Red Ribbon, Franklin Baker Company and San

Miguel Corporation to help build class- rooms all over the country.

To date, the Apl Foundation has built around 15 classrooms with locations in Angeles in Pampanga, Cagayan de Oro, Concepcion in Tarlac, among others. His most recent tie-up with Red Ribbon and Franklin Baker aims at building an entire school in Zamboanga. Apart from that, Apl took part in relief operations to help out Typhoon Maring victims.

Apl has admitted that doing all these things has its challenges but as in every- thing he does, he doesn’t let obstacles get in the way.

Take for instance his eye condition that limits his vision (in fact, during concerts around the world, it is his bandmates who would point out the Philippine flags in the audience so he could acknowledge the Pinoys in the crowd) — this should have posed a problem to his coaching job in The Voice, but he found an advantage to this weakness instead.

“Actually, it helps a lot because it’s all about the voice,” he explained. “There’s always a way you know. I break dance, I do certain things, I memorize the stage — I don’t let obstacles get in the way.”

Including in his desire to just give back to his birth country. “You know, I was a kid na nabigyan ng opportunity, I was adopted and brought to the US and was able to pursue my dreams. So, now that I have the means and the voice to help out, I like to reciprocate that same opportunity and you know, I’m proud of my kababayan and the kids. It’s just a matter of opportunity kasi ang gagaling!”

He cited as an example “the first computer lab that I built in Sapang Bato (Apl’s hometown)... all the kids now are, you know, editing and making their own videos. They used to just run around the neighborhood and now, they’re getting on the Inter- net, Googling stuff and learning. That’s just amazing progress. Their GPAs have gone up, they’re able to speak English now, and it’s a great feeling.”

He particularly enjoys being hands-on with the projects. “The most memorable thing for me is when I visit. I like to be hands-on from the ground-breaking and the kids are there, and they pre- pare a program for me, with cultural dancing, and their stories and their improvement in education.”

Keeping the things he’s doing going makes him grounded. “I always cherish the opportu- nity that I’m present- ed with. I grew up here till I was 14 and that’s why I like to come back because it reminds me of where I came from and it also gives me an idea on what to do next. And my family keeps me grounded and my friends because we all came from nothing. So, we like to cherish that and I am proud to be Pinoy.”

About his family here, he further shared, “They go back and forth (to the US). I brought my mom to the States already but she likes it here better because she has businesses here and nalulungkot siya dun eh, because I’m always on the road and touring.”

Asked about settling down, the eligible bachelor said that he’s dating and looking.

Meanwhile, Apl assured anew fans of BEP that they’re not breaking up. In a previous interview with The STAR, when the entire group was here in late 2011 for a concert right before their hiatus, Fergie said that she’s the one to blame for the break because apparently she had plans to finally have kids. (Apl posted recently on his Facebook that Fergie already gave birth to her firstborn.)

Apl said, “Right now, we’re on a break and work- ing on solo projects. We’re just taking a break, we didn’t break up. Of course, we had to let that course (Fergie’s pregnancy) run through. (Now) we’re doing our individual stuff. The return is tentative but it’s definitely going to happen.”