Apl.De.Ap, binalikan ang hirap noon bago makamit ang buhay sa Amerika

• Apl.De.Ap recalled growing up in a poor but joyful family in Sapang Bato, Angeles
• He worked in the fields and delivered water to help cover his school expenses
• His mother helped him connect with the Pearl S. Buck Foundation and its Dollar-a-Day program
• American lawyer Joe Ben Hudgens eventually sponsored his treatment and later adopted him

Apl.De.Ap looked back on the difficult yet meaningful experiences of his childhood, recalling how poverty, hard work, and an unexpected opportunity eventually shaped the life he would build in the United States.

The Black Eyed Peas member, whose real name is Alan Pineda Lindo, opened up about his humble beginnings during his appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda on Wednesday, October 8. He remembered growing up in the Bliss Project housing community in Sapang Bato, Angeles, Pampanga, at a time when their neighborhood did not yet have an electricity grid.

“I remember when we were on a housing project called Bliss Project in Sapang Bato, and I remember when the electricity grid wasn't even there yet. We had to use kerosene at night, sometimes you have to sleep early 'cause wala nang ilaw so you just go to sleep early,” Apl said.

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Despite their financial struggles, Apl described his childhood as a happy one and credited his mother for being strong and resourceful. He also recalled coming from a small farming family and finding ways to earn extra money for his daily needs.

“And you know, we were poor, but very joyful. My mom was super strong, resourceful, I come from a small farming family, and then I would, to make an extra buck, I would deliver water from the pump to houses so I have extra allowance for pamasahe, for schooling.”

His mother later worked as an overseas Filipino worker in Hong Kong, while Apl also helped his grandfather on the farm. Among his responsibilities was driving a carabao while tending crops.

“I was the designated kalabaw driver. We grew sweet potatoes, corn, rice, and pechay, and that's where I learned the value of soil, food, and hard work with my grandfather,” Apl said.

Another important chapter in his childhood began when his mother helped him discover the Pearl S. Buck Foundation. The organization assisted American children who had been abandoned, orphaned, or left without recognition from their American parents.

Through the foundation's Dollar-a-Day program, Apl received financial assistance that helped support his education. The program also led him to meet Joe Ben Hudgens, an American lawyer who became his sponsor.

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When Hudgens learned that Apl had nystagmus, a condition involving involuntary eye movements, he arranged for the young Apl to travel to the United States for medical evaluation.

“[He] brought me to the US and had my eyes, my vision, checked by American ophthalmologists and came to find out that I needed to be under seven years old to operate on my condition, so it's too late,” Apl said.

His stay in the United States also gave him experiences that were far removed from his difficult childhood in the Philippines. Between his medical appointments, Hudgens took him to Disneyland, Universal Studios, and other destinations.

Those experiences eventually inspired Apl to make an unexpected request.

“As a kid, I'm just like, 'Mr Hudgens, can I stay a little longer, for another two weeks?' And then I just kinda like sprung it on him, 'Would you adopt me?' and he was like, 'Well, son, I need to talk to your mother and the Philippine government, and let's see what we can do,'” Apl shared.

According to Apl, the adoption process took three years before he was eventually adopted by Hudgens and began living permanently in the United States.

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His journey from a childhood marked by limited resources to international stardom remains closely connected to the people and experiences that helped shape his character, determination, and dreams.

Apl.de.ap is a globally renowned Filipino-American rapper, record producer, and founding member of The Black Eyed Peas who overcame poverty and visual impairment in Angeles City, Pampanga, to achieve massive international stardom and fund extensive philanthropic education initiatives in the Philippines.

In another report, Apl.De.Ap opened up about his past attempt to pursue Filipino-American singer Nicole Scherzinger. He shared that the singer viewed him more like a “kuya,” which kept their relationship from developing romantically.

Meanwhile, Nadine Lustre recently teamed up with Apl.De.Ap for her latest single “Donuts,” which she released through her independent label, Cool Girl Records. The song explores a more experimental direction, combining pop, hip-hop, and R&B elements with Nadine’s rap-sung delivery.

Source: KAMI.com.gh