Home for the holidays

apl.de.ap, the Black Eyed Pea from Pampanga of whom we are all very proud, is home for the holidays. We know that he now resides in the U.S. of A. and travels around the world in style. Along with fellow Black Eyed Peas members, will.i.am, Fergie andTaboo, apl.de.ap, now moves around in the elite circle inhabited by pop superstars.

But he is still Pinoy. He has not forgotten this at all. He shows this in the way he manages to insert something Pilipino, like a sample, Balita by Asin, in his signature work, The Apl Song, or a Tagalog word or two like Bebot or Mare in their albums. So I am very sure apl, who was born in the town of Sapang Bato in Angeles, will have a blast experiencing the unique way Filipinos celebrate Christmas.

But that is not the only reason why he is here. apl.de.ap joins star DJs, DJ Joker, DJ Buddha and DJ Animo in the Party Light, Party Night Club Tour 2010. Produced by Jeepney Music in cooperation with Fluid Promotions & Productions and MCA Music, Inc., the year’s ultimate club tour kicked off last Dec. 18 in VUDU in Cebu and continues at the Republiq Club in Resort World, Manila on Dec. 22 and on Christmas Day, Dec. 25 at The Mansion in Pampanga. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Pearl S. Buck Foundation and other beneficiaries.

The Pearl S. Buck Foundation is very close to apl’s heart. As Allan Pineda Lindo Jr., the boy who was deserted by his American serviceman father, he received help from Joe Ben Hudgens in the Foundation’s Dollar A Day program. Later on he was legally adopted by Hudgens and went to live in the States. It was there while in high school that he met will.i.am. They started out as hip-hop dancers and later became The Black Eyed Peas. So whenever he can, apl goes out of his way to do something for the foundation and help other kids get a better chance at life.

apl is now working on his first solo album, which it has been said will feature some Filipino artists like folk music icon Florante and international star Billy Crawford. I’d love to see what local influences and samples he will use in the CD. He is also busy touring and promoting The Beginning, the latest CD by The Black Eyed Peas, which as you must have deduced is a sequel or maybe prequel to the hugely successful The E.N.D. with the hits I Gotta Feeling and Boom Boom Pow.

The Beginning is a predominantly dance album with the Peas exploring techno, trance, good old disco and other beats. It debuted at No. 6 in the US charts. The first single out is The Time. Also included are Light Up The Night, Love You Long Time, XOXOXO, Someday, Whenever, Fashion Beats, Don’t Stop The Party, Do It Like This, The Situation, The Coming, Own It, The Best One Yet (The Boy), Just Can’t Get Enough and Play It Loud.

The BEP also leads the all-star line-up of 2010, The Hottest Music That Shook The World. This is made up of the songs that we danced to, sang along to and by which we will remember the year 2010 in the future. It is a varied, interesting batch that ranges from Lady Gaga to Owl City. This is a nice compilation for collectors, a way to sum up the sounds of an entire year. And because all the cuts are great to listen to, I am sure many of you will continue to play this long after the year is over. The Peas’ featured cut is Imma Be.

Among the others included are Misery by Maroon 5; Somebody To Love by Justin Bieber; Beautiful Monster by Ne-Yo; Dynamite by Taio Cruz; Bad Romance by Lady Gaga; You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift; I Like It by Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull; Carry Out by Timbaland feat. Justin Timberlake; Fireflies by Owl City; Te Amo by Rihanna; Find Your Love by Drake; Secrets by OneRepublic; and Darkside Of The Sun by Tokio Hotel.