Apl.de.Ap inspires Sendong survivors in Cagayan de Oro

By Robert E. Roperos

Saturday 3rd of March 2012

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 3 (PIA) -- His visit to disaster-struck Cagayan de Oro, days after Tropical Storm Sendong, left a lasting impact on him.

Now, Apl.de.ap of the famous Black Eyed Peas is back in CDO, warmly welcomed by students, teachers and residents at the Balulang Elementary School, which was damaged by Sendong.

Hastily-made posters welcomed the Fil-Am international rapper to their school, while “student-disaster survivors” sang “The Power of your Love,” which put everyone in a reflectivel mood.

“Thank you for the warm welcome you've given me. I was touched by your song,” Apl.de.ap said in his message to the students. “Continue to dream...study hard. I was once like you. I was adopted when I was a child. Continue dreaming,” he told the students.

Apl.de.ap (a.k.a. Allan Pineda-Lindo, Jr) was in Cagayan de Oro recently for the groundbreaking ceremony of a 2-storey, 4 classroom schoolbuilding he donated for students of Balulang Elementary School. He was accompanied by Rafael Lopa, head of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and president of the Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF).

Balulang Elementary School sustained major damage due to Sendong's wrath. Nine (9) of its students remain missing and presumed dead while another one was recovered. The school was submerged in six feet deep floodwaters during the deluge last December.

After the simple grounbreaking rite, Apl.de.ap gamely accepted the crowd's request for him to rap a sample of his hip hop composition. The audience made up mostly of survivors swayed and joined Apl in his rendition of “Bebot.”

Apl.de.ap's last stop was at the Ecoville Relocation site for survivors in Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City. At least 130 families have already moved in to the 5-hectare relocation area donated by Xavier University when Apl.de.ap visited the place.

Kids at the relocation site recognized and called him “idol,” then rushed towards the hip-hop artist to talk to him.

Apl. talked to some of the kids at the site who readily recognized him.

Apl.de.ap together with NCAF and PBSP, spearheads the “We Can Be Anything” Education Advocacy Campaign that helps marginalized students, youths and communities.

Before leaving Cagayan de Oro on a barrowed private jet, Apl.de.ap made a wish: that is, to comeback and inaugurate the school building he donated to students of the Balulang Elementary School. (RER/PIA-Caraga)