Fil-Am rapper apl.de.ap promotes diversity in US

Filipino-American rapper-artist apl.de.ap (Allan Lindo Jr.) helped promote diversity at an international leadership summit in California in the United States last November 3, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Internet giant Google's summit, with the theme "One Google. Many Roots, Exponential Potential," was held at the Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel in California. "He (Lindo) is a microcosm of what this summit's theme is all about. He came from a very diverse background and was able to transcend all barriers to rise to the top and touch many lives through his music and philanthropy. His life story shows that no matter how small or how big we are, we can give back to our community and be fulfilled individuals," Consul General to San Francisco Marciano Paynor Jr. said in a news release. During the summit, apl.de.ap made a keynote presentation, an initiative of the Filipino Googler Network, a group of Filipino employees in the company. The Filipino Googler Network had sought to empower Filipino googlers and Filipinos globally with education as a catalyst. During the event, a video of apl.de.ap's life story was shown. The Filipino celebrity had grown up in a family of seven children and a single mother in Sapang Bato, Pampanga. He went to the United States through an adoption program at age 14. Within weeks of his arrival, he would meet William Adams (will.i.am) who encouraged him to embrace and promote his Philippine heritage and culture through music. The two, along with Jaime Gomez (Taboo) and Stacy Ferguson (Fergie), would later form the Black Eyed Peas. "When I was young, all I wanted was to be cool. Now I want to give back," apl.de.ap said. Giving back Lindo, who was in the Philippines recently, said he had undertaken projects such as forming computer laboratories and music appreciation classrooms. His ultimate vision for his foundation is to give equal opportunities to as many people as possible through technology and education. "We need to provide as many opportunities for kids to learn. Who knows, you might find the Black Eyed Peas, the next apl.de.ap," he said. Recently, he launched the "We Can Be Anything" campaign in the Philippines which aims to help reverse the education crisis by building more classrooms nationwide. Ties with homeland When asked, "How do we build ties with the homeland?," he said this can be done by visiting the Philippines, engaging in medical/business missions, and being informed about news about the Philippines. He also said one can effect change using Google as a brand: "Not a lot of people have an opportunity to make change. By coming together from our diverse backgrounds and utilizing the voice and reach of Google, we can have the power to make change." "With Stevie Wonder, Manny Pacquiao, his adoptive dad Joe Ben Hudgens and the Black Eyed Peas as his heroes, Apl.de.ap personified 'creativity,' 'diversity,' 'being a trailblazer,' and 'overcoming obstacles,' values which Google and many successful companies promote," the DFA said. The video of the campaign, which was also presented at the Google summit, is available atwww.wecanbeanything.com, it added. - VVP, GMA News