Ang Kape Ni LaTtEX

I believe that the Filipino blogging community has sufficiently voiced out against Malu Fernandez’s “acerbic wit”, so I’ll not delve into the well echoed topic.

It remains, however, that the OFW psyche that she maligned has been deeply hurt, and I believe it is but apt to once more remind and underscore just what our countrymen are doing to support the land were they were born. I likewise think that the best way to do that would be to talk about the person who is, for me, the quintessential Overseas Filipino Worker.

His story isn’t extraordinary. I’m sure we’ve heard his kind of story over and over.

He was born to poverty in Pampanga to a Filipino mother who was left by his African-American father. He grabbed the opportunity to move to the United States at a young age. He came to the land of milk and honey knowing very little English. But he learns the language and pretty soon masters it while improving his innate talent. He performs onstage to be able to send money to his mother.

His brother commited suicide due to depression and poverty.

When he became successful in his career he went home every Christmas, and whenever else he can he would go home. He may be an American citizen with African-American roots but he can’t live without rice and adobo. He takes on the opportunity to use Tagalog to talk to his fellow Filipinos.

In fact, he used his success to be able to use Tagalog to sing his Filipino pride to the world.

His name is Allan Pineda Lindo. Most of us know him as Apl.de.ap, member of the world famous hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas.

In The Apl Song, he holds nothing back. He talks about how difficult life is from where he is, and professes that in the Philippines life is a mess, so much so that his brother took his life:

I was fourteen when I first left Philippines
I’ve been away half my life, but it felt like a dream
To be next to my mom with her home cooked meal
Man, I felt complete, my emotions I feel
Now life has changed for me in the U.S
But back at home man, life was a mess…
I guess sometimes life’s stresses gets you down
On your knees, oh brother I wish I could have helped you out…

However, his poverty and his experiences of hardship and pain never led him to despise his homeland and his identity. In fact in the song Bebot, not only does he profess his being truly Filipino, he does so in his own language:

Hoy pare, pakinggan n’yo ako
:Hey man, all of you listen to me:
Heto na ang tunay na Pilipino
:Here comes the real Filipino:
Galing sa baryo - Sapang Bato
:Came from the barrio - Sapang Bato:
Pumunta ng L.A. - nagtrabaho
:Went to L.A. and labored:
Para makatulong sa Nanay
:In order to help my mother:
Dahil sa hirap ng buhay
:Because life is so hard:
Pero masaya pa rin ang kulay
:But the disposition’s still bright:
Pag kumain - nagkakamay
:When eating - we use our hands:
‘yung kanin - *chicken adobo
:What we eat - chicken adobo:
‘yung balut - binibenta sa kanto
:The *balut - being sold at the corner:
Tagay mo na nga ang baso
:Share the glass already:
Pare ko, inuman na tayo
:My friend, let’s start drinking:

This was taken from what I think is the most complete and contextually accurate translation of this song, and can be found here.

Despite the obstacles that he faced in his colorful life, Apl.de.ap embodies the realization of the hopes and dreams of millions of Filipinos; the hope that one’s talent, ability, and hard work will bring about prosperity and, perhaps, recognition, and the dream of being able to live a better life with one’s family.

Dreams and hopes that can never be shattered by the irresponsible ramblings of the apathetic and insensitive; hopes and dreams that will never be swayed by pessimists and naysayers. That millions are fighting, and fighting hard, in the country or abroad, is reason enough to be proud in being Filipino.

So come on, sing with me.

Kung Pinoy ka sigaw na, SIGE!

Kung maganda ka sigaw na, SIGE!

Kung buhay mo’y mahalaga, SIGE!

Salamat sa iyong suporta.