I'm fascinated by the Philippines because I'm from here. I was born here. I'm a Filipino.
apl.de.ap
You need a screwdriver for screws and a hammer for nails. Anybody that's trying to screw in a nail with a screwdriver… that ain't too smart.
My friends, they can't beat me in pool or bowling.
I believe that there are many talented Filipinos and their talent is great and globally competitive, just waiting to be tapped. I don't want such great talent to be wasted.
I go out pretty much every night, and when you spend time in those clubs, watching how the DJs make their mash-ups to heat up the room, you want to create that sound yourself.
All my life, I believe in overcoming challenges.
I've started my own record label - Jeepney Music - and I want to put out my own stuff and also stuff by other Filipino artists.
We met Ferg at one of our shows in L.A. She gave us her number. For the song 'Shut Up' on Elephunk, we needed a vocalist. Someone said 'yo, remember that white girl - we should get her in the studio.' Since then, we've become friends. She's one of the guys now, she isn't just a girl.
I was blessed and lucky to have been given opportunity. I really thank my dad, Joe Ben Hudgens, for taking his time and adopting this kid from the Philippines, and gave him his future, and opportunities. Without him, I wouldn't be here.
Back then we were young, we would just mash all forms of music together and come up with something.
It was already hard enough growing up in the Philippines but imagine being blind, that's 10 times harder.
I'm proud of who I am, where I came from, what I was born into, and I would represent that till I die.
You also have to surround yourself with people who have the same dreams and values as you do.
My computer's the first thing I'd save if my house was burning down.
I've been building classrooms for children. Computer labs for kids. It's such a huge problem and so many children just aren't given a chance in life.
Coming from the Philippines, my whole goal was to support my family and have a better living situation.
I had poor eyesight when I was young and despite that, I was making good grades.
Me, I'm just gonna keep spreading the word about 'We Can Be Anything' campaign among Fil-Am communities in the U.S.
There were a lot of gangs in high school. Instead of being in a gang, I decided to dance.
Queen Latifah once came up to me and said 'Bebot' was her favorite song. She said, 'I don't know what you're talking about, but it feels dope!'
Back in Sapangbato in Angeles City, my mom signed me up on this foundation called Pearl S. Buck where they support Fil-Am kids left during the time when U.S. soldiers where at the Clark Air Base.
Being adopted was my motivation to help others by first becoming successful.
We come up with slogans on the road and then we start putting them on the songs.
Usually when you hear about rappers in Asia, they always try to be like gangsters and stuff like that and I don't get it.
When you become successful, it is not just money that makes you happy.
Until I discovered hip-hop, I felt I wasn't going to accomplish anything.
I have memories of being on the farm with my grandfather.
Singapore ladies are very beautiful.
I think anyone that's running for office really should focus on the education for our youth, creating more jobs and employment, and really focusing on our next generation.
I actually got to go back to where I was born and perform there. I just brought my mom up onstage and was like, 'Look, here we are.'
I'm good at shapes. If I'm not close, even if it's big, I can't read it.
I am proud to be Pinoy and I never forget where I came from.
If we go to a party, I'll just be chilling in the corner, absorbing everything.
I have pursued my dream and I believe it is important to give back because I have been given the opportunity to be what I am now.
To me, it's pretty much the same thing - I just love playing music. But the cool thing about DJing is that I get to play other people's music, I can mix it up between our songs and a variety of musical genres. It also enables me to be more intimate with the audience.
Coming from the Philippines to the U.S. did shape me in that it gave me perseverance.
I was sponsored to go to the U.S. and became a Black Eyed Peas, and now I'm paying it forward and helping other children like me.
Building virtual classrooms was the brainchild of Charity Dreams. So many people play games online, it's a huge business - and so harnessing the power of the Charity Dreams community to help build classrooms just made a lot of sense.
Not only I am an adoptee, but I also want to prove to everyone that being legally blind with a rare eye disease called Nystagmus that you can do and be anything if you put your mind to it and believe in yourself.
I was just a kid. I had nothing to my name but I was still happy. But I was also given a chance to pursue my dreams, have an education.
But when I discovered music, I knew that that's what I wanted to do in my life and I just jumped in all the way and pursued my dreams as a musician.
It is important for me to help others because I was also helped by others before I became part of the Black Eyed Peas.
I have introduced Filipino culture to the world.
Growing up, I've always kinda been into academics.
When Will and I were growing up in Los Angeles, his girlfriends were always Israeli, so we'd always be hanging out with Israelis in L.A.
I like to cook chicken adobo and do my own laundry.
If there's a Filipino flag waving, will.i.am whispers to me, 'Filipinos are over there!' And then I wave towards that direction.
When I dance, I picture myself and the floor in my head.
Mentoring artists is something I love.
We wanted to make music to fit with the way we live and celebrate life.
