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The Oppression of Filipinos in United States Policy: Veterans’ Benefits (page 2 of 3)
The University of Santa Cruz’s (UCSC)’s Filipino Student Association’s (FSA)’s annual Pilipino Cultural Celebration (PCC) is centering their theme with a WWII Filipino Veteran character in this year’s play. The same goes for other UC campuses, like UC Davis. This is a prominent issue pushed towards the youth to take action. Filipino-American figure, Associate Producer of the ground-breaking Filipino-American film, The Debut, director of the “ultimate homemade movie,” Lumpia, Patricio Ginelsa, makes a political statement about Filipino veterans’ benefits as the director of the Black Eyed Peas’ video, “The APL Song,” in which he shows images of veterans’ protests. APL a.k.a. APL de Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, talks about his longing for home in the Philippines.
Lyrics to the APL Song:
[Chorus in Tagalog]
Lapit mga kaibigan at makinig kayo
Ako'y may dala-dalang, balita galing sa bayan ko
Nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kwento
Ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap
Sa lupang pinangako
[English Translation:]
(Come closer my friends and everyone listen
I brought news from my homeland
I'll tell you how we live and what goes on
From my beloved homeland.)
[Verse one, Apl.De.Ap]
Every place got a ghetto this is my version
Check it out...
Listen closely yo, I got a story to tell
A version of my ghetto where life felt for real
Some would call it hell but to me it was heaven
God gave me the grace, amazin' ways of living
How would you feel if you had to catch your meal?
Build a hut to live and to eat and chill in.
Having to pump the water outta the ground
The way we put it down utilizing what is around
Like land for farming, river for fishing
Everyone helpin' each other whenever they can
We makin' it happen, from nothin' to somethin'
That's how we be survivin' back in my homeland
[Chorus]
[Verse two, Apl.De.Ap]
Yo, its been a while but...
I been back home to my homeland, (check it out)
to see what's going on
Man it feels good to be back at home
And it's been a decade, on the journey all alone
I was fourteen when I first left Philippines
I've been away half my life, but it felt like a day
To be next to my mom with her home cooked meal
Meant 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...
[Chorus]
To view the music video that was tried to air on TRL in the summer of 2004, go to http://kidheroes.net/aplsongvideo.htm
The youth continues this battle, to remember our roots, so we can stop this struggle and give Filipino Veterans their long-deserved benefits.
