CELEBRITY PHILANTHROPIST Filipino-American rap artist apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda). INQUIRER file photo
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—The devastation brought by tropical storm “Sendong” should not prevent students from fulfilling their dreams of becoming professionals one day.
This was the message conveyed by international pop sensation apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda in real life) when he led the groundbreaking for the construction of a two-story building at the Balulang Elementary School on Friday.
The school sustained heavy damage during the onslaught of Sendong.
Of the school’s 27 classrooms, 10 were damaged beyond repair. The school also lost 7,765 textbooks, 36 television sets, several computers, DVD players and other school supplies.
Among its 1,450 students, 9 remain missing.
But apl.de.ap, who grew up in Pampanga province, said there had to be places where dreams could be nurtured and the classroom being built would be one of them.
Nurturing dreams
“I want everybody to keep on dreaming, and to do that, there has to be a place for you to dream,” apl.de.ap said of the project, funded under the “We Can Be Anything” education campaign in coordination with the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF).
The Black Eyed Peas member, who first visited this city immediately after the devastating December flood, said constructing the school building was necessary in the case of the Balulang Elementary School.
“I’ve seen a lot of schools devastated and I’ve seen that it was really needed here,” he said.
According to apl.de.ap, the groundbreaking only marked the start of the effort to rebuild the damaged school buildings.
Joining him in the groundbreaking ceremony were Dr. Myrna Motoomull, Department of Education assistant director for Northern Mindanao; Anita Gomez, Balulang Elementary School principal; NCAF president Rafael Lopa; Polo Molina, manager of the Black Eyed Peas, and Audie Vergara, his manager.
Beautiful beginning
“This is a beautiful beginning, a beautiful rebuilding, especially in education,” he said amid the jubilation of students who came to see him.
“We are here to provide help and service, the building of a school is really a great idea,” apl.de.ap said.
The ongoing WCBA campaign has so far raised more than P4 million from fundraising events and online contributions through www.wecanbeanything.com. More are expected to be raised through WCBA events in Boracay, Manila, Singapore, London, Cannes (France), and the United States in the next few months.
Special way
The advocacy started after apl.de.ap was appointed special ambassador for education of the IamNinoy-IamCory Movement, NCAF’s program to tap the heroic side of the Filipino youth in February 2011.
Subsequently, apl.de.ap composed the song “We Can Be Anything” to inspire children to “get an education” to “change their situation” and achieve their dreams in life.
A music video of that song became the main marketing material for the WCBA campaign and has been viewed countless times on television and online through the official and allied sites, YouTube, Facebook and other social networks.