Filipino – American rapper Apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo) receives a welcome from students of the Boystown and Girlstown campuses of The Sister of Mary School in Cavite on May 16, 2024. (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-American rapper and founding member of the Black Eyed Peas Allan Pineda Lindo, better known as Apl.de.ap on Thursday teased upcoming collaborations with local artists.
He, however, was coy on who the artists are, but plugged his new song with K-Pop superstar Sandara Park, titled “2 Proud.”
“I have new collaborations coming up, I got a brand new song right now with Sandara park and I got more collaborations coming up, especially Filipino artists,” the six-time Grammy winner told INQUIRER.net in a chance interview.
“I can’t give you a name but it’s coming out very very soon,” he added.
Apl on plans to stay in the PH?
According to Apl, he is planning to stay in the country for another two weeks, but expressed willingness to stay in the country for good.
“I’m looking for a place gusto ko na tumira dito (I want to live here already),” said the rapper.
EV advocacy
His reason? His advocacy to promote the utilization of more electric vehicles in the country.
The rapper’s own funding agency, Apl.de.ap Foundation International partnered with the Asia Development Bank on a project to equip young Filipino students with education on the electric vehicle (EV) sector.
Students from both the Boystown and Girlstown campuses of The Sister of Mary School in Cavite welcome Apl.de.ap on May 16, 2024. (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net)
Their partnership also aims to develop an EV curriculum for Filipino students and establish a center for e-mobility training and development, as well as an EV innovation hub in the country.
“This is why I want to be back more often, because, I’m starting a project about electric vehicles, and we want to start an education program because I believe that the Philippines need to be at the start of this industry which is electrification when it comes to climate change,” Apl.de.ap told the students in a speech.
“We need to educate our workforce; and by teaching electrification — EV will be at the forefront for hiring more jobs,” he added.