Apl.de.ap offers classrooms, books for Bangsamoro kids

Bangsamoro children stand to be among the first to feel the benefits of a framework peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).   The children are to benefit from classrooms and books pledged by Filipino-American rapper-musician apl.de.ap a.k.a. Allan Pineda Lindo Jr., a member of the US-based hiphop group Black Eyed Peas.   “Definitely, I want to be involved. This is great news!” a news release from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) quoted him as saying.   According to the release, Lindo said this after getting a briefing on the framework agreement via Skype's teleconferencing service.   The agreement is to be signed this coming Monday at Malacañang.   Lindo, a volunteer peace ambassador, was quoted as saying that he plans to achieve this by expanding the programs of the Apl Foundation to include school-feeding programs and book donations for schoolchildren in Bangsamoro areas.   After learning of the framework agreement from cable TV news, he got a briefing from OPAPP technical staff via Skype.   "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," the OPAPP said.   The OPAPP said Apl Foundation has school-building projects in the Philippines and Asia.   It also 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.   Mindanao projects   The OPAPP said Lindo wants to spearhead projects in Mindanao such as school-feeding programs and book donations.   It said Lindo, who used to ride a jeepney to go to his school in Pampanga, had often been quoted as saying “education is the only long-term ticket to a better life.”   Last Sept. 14, Lindo and many other Filipino celebrities took their oaths as peace ambassadors at the launch of the “I Am for Peace” campaign at Malacañang.   Other peace ambassadors tapped by OPAPP include 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. — KBK, GMA News