I WAS casually scrolling through Facebook when a short post made me stop and really pay attention. It was about Apl.de.Ap—the world-renowned Filipino member of the Black-Eyed Peas.
We know him as a global music icon, a trailblazer who proudly brings his Filipino heritage to the world stage. But this post revealed a different side of him—one that’s deeply rooted in the soil of home.
Apl recently launched something he calls the “100 Million Coconut Trees Project,” starting in Laguna. At first glance, it might sound like just another celebrity-backed environmental cause. But it’s much more than that. This is a bold, grounded vision to fight soil degradation, support sustainable agriculture, and create long-term livelihoods for Filipino farmers.
What struck me most was how personal it is for him.
Growing up in the province of Pampanga, Apl was raised by a family that knew the value of hard work and the land. He often helped his grandfather tend their small farm—days spent under the sun, hands in the soil, learning the rhythm of planting, growing, and harvesting. For many, those are just childhood memories. But for Apl, they became the foundation of something greater.
During the pandemic, like many of us, he had time to pause and reflect. In that stillness, he learned something that changed his perspective: coconut trees—long a staple of rural life—actually play a powerful role in restoring soil health. That single insight planted a seed in his mind.
“If coconuts can revive the land,” he thought, “why not plant millions of them? Why not create a movement that heals the earth and helps farmers thrive?”
And so, the 100 Million Coconut Trees Project was born.
Laguna is just the beginning. Apl envisions a nationwide effort, working hand-in-hand with local cooperatives, LGUs, and, most importantly, the farmers who will nurture and sustain this dream. It’s an approach that’s not only ecological—it’s deeply community-driven.
This project isn’t about fame or headlines. It’s about giving back. It’s about coming full circle—from a child who once worked the fields of Pampanga, to a global artist using his platform to uplift the very people and land that shaped him.
But more than anything, it’s a call to all of us.
A reminder that success isn’t the finish line—it’s a doorway.
Instead of staying confined to the fields we’re already thriving in—whether that’s music, business, art, tech, or any other pursuit—maybe we can ask ourselves: How can I use what I’ve built to give back? How can I help plant something that lasts beyond me?
We each have something to offer. A platform. A skill. A network. A voice. And like Apl, we have the power to reconnect with our roots—not just to remember where we came from, but to nurture where we’re going.
The 100 Million Coconut Trees Project isn’t just about trees. It’s about growth—in every sense of the word. Growth of the land. Growth of communities. And the growth of a mindset that says: What I have, I will use for something greater than myself.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the kind of legacy worth leaving behind.
