Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.Ap is continuing his mission to give back to fellow Filipinos with a new scholarship program offered to creative students.
The Filipino member of the world famous American song and dance group, through his Apl.de.Ap Foundation, is supporting The Creative Innovators Programme which aims to contribute to the Philippines’ creative industries by providing Fellowship and educational opportunities.
Apl.de.Ap aka Allan Pineda Lindo, born to a Filipina mother and an African-American father, was himself a beneficiary of foundation support from the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, an organization dedicated to the well-being of Amerasian children.
In a People report it was revealed that Apl went to America after being diagnosed with a rare lifelong condition called nystagmus-which makes his eyeballs constantly vibrate, resulting in chronic blurry vision-and severe nearsightedness. Apl’s vision is so poor that even with optimal contact lenses for his condition (his prescription is -11.0), he’s legally blind. And yet he’s won six Grammys, busted countless backflips… “Until I discovered hip-hop,” he says, “I felt I wasn’t going to accomplish anything.” Apl then went on to co-found the Grammy-award winning group Black Eyes Peas.
With the Creative Innovators Programme, Apl’s own foundation seeks to create similar conditions for Filipinos to develop their talents despite adversities and with the help of creative communities.
The chosen Fellows will not only serve as inspiration and mentors for creatives but become global ambassadors for the Philippines’ creative and cultural industries.
The selected Fellows, through their creative hubs, will support and help grow hundreds of creative entrepreneurs, designers, and artists from all over the Philippines and abroad.
Creative hubs are organisations that provide space and support for product and professional development, networking, business sustainability and community engagement within the creative and cultural sectors. A global research by the British Council found that hubs are catalysts for innovation, inclusive growth in the creative economy, and positive change in cities. Examples include co-working spaces, makerspaces, design studios, fablabs and art collectives.
But the research also pointed out that creative hubs are often under-supported and under-appreciated by institutions and stakeholders. In addition, creative hub managers lack the necessary skills and business knowhow to sustain their hub and communicate their value in society.
The creative economy makes up 3 per cent of the world’s GDP and employs 29.5 billion people (CISAC, 2015). It makes up $12.5 billion, or 7.34 per cent of the Philippines’ GDP, and employs almost 6 million workers (Ozy, 2018).
The Creative Innovators Programme includes personalised mentorships, trainings, a project grant, scholarships, and networking opportunities in the Philippines, ASEAN, and the UK.
Apl’s project is presented in partnership with the British Council and Department of Trade and Industry through the Design Center of the Philippines and Philippine Trade and Training Center (PTTC), and Thames International.
Inquiries for applications for scholarships can be found here about the ff:
- Creative Innovators Fellowship by British Council and DTI – looking for Creative Hub managers all over the Philippines to become a Creative Innovator Fellow
- ICE Scholars (Innovative and Creative Entrepreneurs Scholars) by Thames International and Apl.de.Ap Foundation – Thames International and Apl.de.Ap Foundation are looking to award undergraduate and professional diploma scholarships to 40 creative entrepreneurs.
Applicants can apply for either a Creative Innovators Fellowship or an ICE Scholarship.
