Mikey Bustos and the Appledrive Project treat kids to apples and ‘Ligo Day’

Fans of Filipino-Canadian comedian-singer-songwriter Mikey Bustos know all about his love for ants and how he is the brains behind AntsCanada, an organization that promotes proper care for those little insects. But now, he’s also into apples.

Bustos is one of the primary supporters of the Appledrive Project, a campaign to educate indigent kids in the Philippines about healthy food habits, encouraging them to eat fruits like apples instead of candies or chocolates.

The Appledrive Project was started two years ago by Appleboy RJ Garcia, the executive producer of Bustos’ latest video, “Halo Halo,” which features another comedian, Bogart the Explorer.

Bustos launched the “Halo Halo” song this month during a recent “Ligo Day,” Appledrive’s mass bathing project for some 400 indigent children in San Dionisio, Parañaque.

Bustos helped distribute not only apples but also toiletries to some 400 indigent children, who took a quick shower together in front of the neighborhood gym.
 
Appledrive holds “Ligo Days” in various communities to promote good personal hygiene and literacy. The group also conducts medical missions, feeding, and book reading activities.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Mikey said he helps the Appledrive Project because he loves kids. “I do lots of charity work with kids. Kahit may busy schedule ako, I always try to make time, when I can,” he said.

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Bustos was a "Canadian Idol" finalist in 2003 and currently an artist of GMA Network. He will turn 33 on June 23.

“I've always loved kids but I don't have kids yet,” he said.

“I feel like a big kid too. I try to always work with kids as much as I can. It keeps you youthful. I don't want to grow up too much.”

Bustos may be famous for the humorous videos he posts on his YouTube channel, but his charity work is just as important to him as his comedy.

“My career work is good for my bank but charity work like this is good for my soul,” he quipped.

Bustos said he now spends about 80 percent of his time in the Philippines, while he travels to other countries for concerts and shows. Just last week, he was in Singapore for the YouTube fanfest. He also has upcoming tours in the US and Canada.

Appledrive Project

Meanwhile, Garcia told GMA News Online that the Appledrive Project started out as something he and his friends did for fun during the Christmas holidays in 2011. They visited an elementary school in Baler, Aurora and handed out apples to the kids.

Asked why he chose to distribute apples instead of a local fruit, Garcia explained, “Mansanas kasi yan ang pinaka-luxurious na fruit, pinaka-fancy na fruit para sa bata.”

Garcia, who grew up in Pangasinan, added, “Noong bata ako, hindi ko sasabihin sa nanay ko pag pupunta siya ng palengke sa Linggo, ‘Nay, ibili mo ko ng saging o bilhan mo ko ng bayabas,’ Para sa akin ang pinaka fancy na fruit ay mansanas.”

But the children's reaction to the apples was eye-opening for him.

“The kids had never ever seen, held nor tasted an apple,” he said.

“Apples, to them, were sort of a myth, something they just saw or heard the teacher talk about. I could never forget the joy in those kids’ eyes the first time they have tasted their very first apple,” he added.

Garcia's collaboration with Bustos began when they became neighbors on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong.

He said Bustos has been an ardent supporter of Appledrive and even went with the group last Valentine’s Day for a project in Tacloban, Leyte, the area most devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.

“Nakipagdate kami sa more than 400 kids tapos nagbigay kami ng mansanas, nagturo kami ng proper handwashing sa kids, tapos may nag-sponsor din sa amin ng tsinelas,” Garcia shared.

For the “Ligo Day” in San Dionisio, Parañaque, one of the sponsors was the One Heart for Hope, a US-based organization that helps underprivileged children in the Philippines.

Noel Galang, operations officer of One Heart, told GMA News Online that they have been supporting Appledrive because they believe in the group’s mission of promoting healthy eating habits and proper hygiene.

Another ardent supporter of the Appledrive Project is Fe Lustañas, a public school teacher who received the 2012 Gawad Geny Lopez Bayaning Pilipino for teaching indigent children under bridges during her spare time.

Lustañas said she helps in identifying children in need of help and in organizing community projects for Appledrive.

She said the children are very blessed that there are people like Garcia who are willing to go out of their way to make lives better for other people. — BM, GMA News