Apl.de.ap to help Bangsamoro children

MANILA, Philippines – In the wake of optimism over a historic agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Fil-Am singer and Ambassador for Peace Apl.de.ap wants to be more involved in the program.

Apl.de.ap — whose real name is Allan Pineda — plans to include his own Apl Foundation in the initiative and use the NGO to carry out school-feeding programs and book donations for school children in Bangsamoro areas, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said in a statement on Friday, October 12.

Last weekend, the Black Eyed Peas member watched the news about the Framework Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on CNN, and asked to be briefed on the recent developments by OPAPP staff.

Muslim rebels & Philippines gov’t agree on common roadmap for peace! Mabuhay! #givepeaceachance #iamforpeace

— apl.de.ap (@apl_de) October 11, 2012

“Definitely, I want to be involved. This is great news!” he said.

The Apl Foundation has school-building projects in the Philippines and other Asian countries.

It has ongoing partnerships with the Ninoy and Cory Foundation, the MyLibrary program of Ayala Foundation/Philippine Development Foundation and the 57-75 Movement for educational reform.

Apl.de.ap — who used to ride a jeepney to get to his school in Pampanga before he was adopted by an American family and later became a celebrity — has often expressed that “education is the only long-term ticket to a better life.”

The singer as formally inducted a month ago by President Benigno Aquino III as Ambassador for Peace together with other celebrities such as actress Anne Curtis, composer Noel Cabangon or Internet icon Ramon Bautista, among others.

As a peace ambassador, he has pledged to do his best in spreading good news about the country and calling on youth in the Philippines and around the world to give peace a chance via Twitter and other social media sites. – Rappler.com