Filipino of the month: Allan Pineda Lindo

Allan Pineda Lindo, (b. 28 November 1974) better known as apl.de.ap, is a hip hop musician, record producer, and member of the The Black Eyed Peas. He was born in the Barangay (Barrio) of Sapang Bato, Angeles City, Pampanga, in the Philippines, to a Filipina mother and African American father
apl.de.ap is an original member of the hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas where he is the main composer. His father, a U.S. soldier stationed at nearby Clark Air Base, abandoned the family shortly after his birth. His mother, Christina Pineda, raised him and his four brothers and two sisters on her own in their small barrio. He grew up poor as heavily referenced in "The Apl Song". His house was frequently destroyed by typhoons, and he fished in the river to make money. Later after having moved to the US, he attended John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, California and often visits to help out in the music class. Music had always been part of Apl’s life, his early influences having been Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, The Beatles and the popular Filipino rock/folk group, Asin. Hip-hop soon came into the picture via the breakdancing, "I would take the jeepney all the way to Angeles City, and that's how I got introduced to break dancing," he said. "I would see kids at the corner break-dancing and I'm like, 'I wanna do that.'"

Trivia:

THE APL SONG:
The video for "The Apl Song" (which reached number one in the Philippines), featured cameo appearances by fellow Filipino Americans Dante Basco, Chad Hugo and Abe Pagtama and is a tribute to the Filipinos who fought for the U.S. in World War II...

APL.DE.AP .... a PHILIPPINE PRIDE!