The kindness of apl.de.ap

When one has known kindness early in life, one will one day pay it forward so others will be recipients of generosity, too.

apl.de.ap, a generous member of the Grammy-Award winning Black Eyed Peas, is giving back anew. This time, the 43-year-old musician, whose first taste of a stranger’s kindness was when an American, who would later become his foster father in the US, had him treated for his blindness, is co-piloting the Creative Innovators Programme.

The Creative Innovators Programme will ensure that people working in the creative industry will be globally competitive in the future. And that goes without saying that they will be properly compensated, too, for their talent. These globally competitive talents will come from film, broadcasting, publishing, theater, music, journalism, visual arts, fashion, architecture among other creative pursuits.

“The global creative industry is a $2-trillion industry and I am a direct product and beneficiary of this industry. I was born blind in Sapangbato in Angeles City. Had a chance to go to the land of opportunities and became part of one of the successful groups in the music business. Now, I would like to bring that opportunity back to the Philippines because we have so many creative people here but with little opportunity.

“We want to build that creative industry so our people don’t have to leave the Philippines to make a living. If we improve the industry, they can actually work here in the Philippines. You don’t have to be separated from your family to make them richer,” says apl.de.ap.

Thames International managing director Joel Santos with apl.de.ap.

apl.de.ap, through his Apl.de.Ap Foundation is working hand in hand with Thames International Business School in bringing into fruition the Creative Innovators Programme. Together with the British Council and the Department of Trade and Industry (through the Design Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Trade Training Center), they recently launched the Creative Innovators Programme.

Published reports disclosed that an estimated 40 percent of the existing jobs are likely to be rendered obsolete in the next 20 years. The race to avert the scenario by creative innovative industries is necessary to be in place. That’s where the Creative Innovators Programme will figure in.

“Globally, technology is changing everything. Artificial Intelligence will take over BPO. Call center, robotics. There’s something that they can never take over. That is creativity. All the technology in the world cannot overtake creativity. It needs human intervention. It comes from the heart. It has soul. You cannot have that anywhere else,” says Joel Santos, managing director of Thames International. He adds that the model for successful creative industries are just two, the US and the UK. The US is all about big businesses. The UK is about small-medium enterprises. This is the time that the successes in those countries be shared and replicated in developing countries. The Philippines is the first country in the world, according to Joel, to do the Creative Innovators Programme.

Joel explains that Thames International, being the education arm of the program, will give scholarships for both undergraduate and post-graduate courses. Forty grants are up for grabs. (Please visit www.britishcouncil.ph to download application forms and e-mail scholarships@thames.edu.ph for inquiries on scholarships.)

An open call for application of Fellows is running until July 8. Fifteen creative hub managers will be selected to be part of the Fellowship. A scholarship for 40 creative entrepreneurs (20 undergrad and 20 post-graduate grants) will be funded by Apl.de.Ap Foundation and Thames International.  

Joel Santos and apl.de.ap are joined by BBC anchor Rico Hizon and the author.

“As the education partner of the program, what we want to do is to help creative artists know the business side. It is our desire to change the image of ‘the starving artist.’ Look at Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, are these filmmakers poor? No. They are creative entrepreneurs. Bakit tayo, ‘yung comics industry natin, mamatay-matay na?” says Joel.

apl.de.ap says the Creative Innovators Programme is very important to him because it will sooner reveal success stories of people in the creative industry. “It is important for me to help others because I was also helped by others before I became part of the Black Eyed Peas,” says the Fil-Am singer (He adds that the members of the Black Eyed Peas — will.i.am., Fergie, Taboo and himself — are still together, even if Fergie is going solo now. “We’re going on a tour and a new Filipino talent that I’m developing, Jessica Reynoso, is joining us. The Black Eyed Peas is a family.”

His belief in the scholars to succeed and keep the fire of the Creative Innovators Programme burning is high. As high as his desire to see and learn the ways of the world when he was a kid. But in his case, he had to leave the Philippines to find his place under the sun, so to speak.

“Why did I leave? It’s a long story.  It’s an opportunity to have a better life. Back in Sapangbato in Angeles City, my mom signed me up on this foundation called Pearl S. Buck where they support Fil-Am kids left during the time when US soldiers where at the Clark Air Base. I was qualified to be sponsored by Pearl S. Buck Foundation. In return, you get an allowance for schooling and in return you get to say a thank you letter to your foster parent. Basically, to let him know where you spend the money. It’s all accounted for. You show receipts. You take photos.

“With my thank you letter, I would just tell my dad my life story. It started like this, ‘Dad, thank you very much for all your support. I’m sorry for my Math grade because I’m always having to play catch up ‘cause I’m actually legally blind and I cannot see the board. Forgive me. I know it’s very low because I have this rare eye condition called nystagmus’,” apl.de.ap, whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo, recalls.

Quickly, his foster father had him flown to the US where Allan, seven at that time, was treated. His father brought him to Disneyland and other theme parks. The young Allan did not want to leave the US. But because there were papers to fix for his transfer to the US, Allan returned home. His wish to be in the US was granted when he was 14. He studied hard, even enrolling in fashion design for a month at Los Angeles Trade Tech with his best friend will.i.am. One day, they looked at each other in disbelief that they were in a fashion school. They left the school to continue making music. The rest is history. A melodious history.

Because he is legally adopted, he cannot petition his biological mother and six half siblings. apl.de.ap, in his desire to help his biological family, built businesses for them — gas stations, rice fields and fast-food chains in Pampanga. His family has two Jollibee stores. 

apl.de.ap wants to repeat his beautiful story in the hearts and minds of Filipino people. That’s why he’s giving his all — time, resources, talent — to help Joel Santos and their partners in the Creative Innovators Programme and make it an imminent success story.

(For your new beginnings, e-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com. I’m also on Instagram @bumtenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)