by B.J. on 7/05/2004 09:41:00 PM 0 comments Print this post

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Bring the APL Song by the Black Eyed Peas to MTV's TRL

But first my own commentary because you really care as to what I have to say.

As a Filipino (and Spaniard blood), I hardly see any of my "own folks" represented in the American media. And when "we" are, our roles are usually underplayed and/or I could detect something else negative (though you'd probably just disregard me as having some kind of some concocted Western mental disease and casually describe me as "going overboard").

Generally, when you're a minority in the media, you ultimately are seen as some kind of representative of your culture, and culture is really all you can talk about because there's so little of "us" in the media that you can't really see any differences of opinion in Filipinos cause they're brought in and forced to say whatever the corporate folks up top want them to say.

The Filipinos you see in the media from the guy who played Rufio in Hook to Chad Hugo of the critically-acclaimed Neptunes to Benni Agbayani in pro sports are ultimately seen as good small dick second men (hey, my friend Tyler who is linked to the left of this blog made that comment, but hold back, he's my friend). With only them, we are seen as these people not in control, not umm. . .reproducing, and feminized as our country is a major dependent on them. Male Asian sex symbol is such an oxymoron. I don't like that, because without power in sexuality, you really don't have control or say in the media or any agency especially in such a loose mother-knocking country as America.

This APL video is a production in America where Filipinos are the ones controlling the action and not some well-meaning but horribly misguided straight white well-off American. This video is representative of this emerging second generation Filipino-American, the one who doesn't quite fit in with those in the Phillippines nor does he/she fit with the upper-echeleon of America.

America has seen enough of this history of the Philippines and Filipino people as if were frozen in time with the 1800s still living in straw houses waiting for another white guy to "discover" us.

So bring the APL Song to white America.

Now let the E-mail commence.

Attention LUMPIA Lovers worldwide,

It is time to get up, unite, and show your pride. The LUMPIA crew is starting
an e-mail campaign like no other and it all begins with YOU! As you know,
the LUMPIA crew directed and produced the latest Black Eyed Peas music
video, "The Apl Song". Although the music video has been well-received in
the Philippines with countless airplay, it has yet to debut in the country it
was created in, the U.S. Since the song's chorus is sung in Tagalog the
native Philippine language, the chances of the video hitting American TV
sets are slim. Our job is TO CHANGE THAT!

On Monday, July 26, the number one video on MTV's Total Request Live will
be "The Apl Song". Impossible? Only if you don't do YOUR part. Here's
what you have to do:

STEP ONE: WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO
Log online to either one of the following websites:
http://www.xylophonefilms.com/bep.html
http://www.kidheroes.net/aplsong.htm

Starting FRIDAY, JULY 9, both websites will carry "The Apl Song" music
video online. Mirror sites will also be established. The video boasts a
who's who of Filipino-American celebrities in the movie and music industry.
Playing the grandson in the video is Chad Hugo, one half of the mega-
producing team the Neptunes. Actors Dante Basco (THE DEBUT, HOOK)
and Joy Bisco (Port Charles, Not Another Teen Movie) also make cameos,
alongside DJ Rhettmatic of the Beat Junkies.

Catch it and let us know you what you think on our message board.

STEP TWO: SPREAD THE WORD
We all got two weeks to spread the message. Forward this email. Forward
the link to the music video. Create and personalize your own email and make
sure all your friends get the message. Go to online forums, message boards,
chat rooms, and let them know about the video. Be creative! Tell all of your family,
friends, and THEIR family and friends and let them know why this is important.
Who's down? Gather as many of them as possible to join our exclusive mailing
list at:
http://www.coollist.com/subscribe/subto.cgi?l=the_apl_song&C=95312
We'll remind them with all our "Apl Song" updates and latest developments!

STEP THREE: VOTE ON JULY 26!
If you love the video, here's your chance to join thousands in requesting the
video altogether and sharing it with the masses. To get the video aired on
Monday, July 26, visit the following web site:
http://www.mtv.com/onair/trl/vote/
Go there anytime during the day of July 26 before 4pm eastern/1pm pacific.
Black Eyed Peas "THE APL SONG" will NOT be listed on the website.
You must scroll below and under "OTHER", manually input "The Black Eyed
Peas" under Artist Name and "The Apl Song" under Video Title. Fill out
section 2 and submit. WALA! You just did all of us proud. So why not
go back and VOTE AGAIN?! While you're at it, vote 3 times, even 5. The
more the merrier! Keep in mind, "THE APL SONG" is not scheduled to
play on MTV on July 26 UNLESS WE VOTE FOR IT!

STEP FOUR: WATCH THE RESULTS
Was our campaign big enough to dent TRL? Did any of your friends listen
to you? Find out by tuning into MTV at 5 p.m. ET/PT, 4 p.m. CT to see if our
pick made it on the countdown. Hit us up on the messageboard at
XylophoneFilms.com and share with us your thoughts!

CALLING ALL NEW YORKERS!
We're also organizing a group of enthusiastic APL SONG lovers to volunteer,
wave signs, and represent your pride in front of MTV TRL Studios in Times
Square on July 26. Are you down? You must be over 16 and be in the New
York area to join! If you want to join, please email Ted at:
lasalleboygmu@yahoo.com. The first 25 people to join receive a FREE
promotional Apl Song DVD courtesy of the LUMPIA crew.

Do you prefer to be inside the studio instead and witness everything in front
of you? Make reservations to join TRL's live studio audience on 7/26 by calling
212-398-8549 or e-mail TRLcasting@mtvstaff.com. All audience guests must
be 16 or older, so please include your age in your e-mail. If you get in,
represent us!!!

WHY JULY 26?
After watching the video, you'll have a better understanding of the underlying issue

brought up in "The Apl Song" video. July 26 will be the 63rd year anniversary of
the induction of the Filipino military organizations to fight in WWII under the U.S.
flag. On July 26, 1941, President Roosevelt issued an Executive Order calling
members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army into the service of the United
States Armed Forces of the Far East . Under this order, Filipinos were entitled to
full veterans' benefits. More than 100,000 Filipinos volunteered for the Philippine
Commonwealth Army and fought alongside the United States armed forces. Today,
some of these proud veterans have yet to be acknowledged and yet to receive their
full benefits. For more information, please visit http://www.fullequitynow.com/

Various organizations such as the Student Action for Veterans Equity are also
holding their own events that day in recognition of our war veterans. We urge you
all in joining us in this simple request. On July 26, an "invisible" community will yet
take another step in being acknowledged. Good luck and start spreading the word!

Peace and LUMPIA grease,
Patricio Ginelsa
Writer/Director "LUMPIA", "The Apl Song" music video
http://www.lovethatlumpia.com/
http://www.kidheroes.net/

"Taking low-budget to new heights... a youth project that got
delightfully out of hand... street-level affectionate look at kid culture
among Filipino immigrants... should be shown in high-school media
classes across the continent"
-Ken Eisner, VARIETY

"Loveable, interesting, culturally sensitive while being very
entertaining!"
-ReviewedMovies.com

"'Lumpia' a homemade relief from unfunny big-budget flicks...
Hilarious!"
-HondaReport.com

"If you're looking for a surprise hit, then this is it! A movie made for
all aspiring film makers to see, LUMPIA is a film that will make you
feel the true magic of the movies."
-KFCCinema.com

"A thoroughly enjoyable teen comedy… LUMPIA will leave a great
taste in your mouth!"
-2004 Toronto ReelWorld Film Festival

"Leaves you wanting more at the end of each scene... [with] tasteful
comic book panels and delightful morsels of musical jaunts... Above
all, LUMPIA wraps orthodox and novel ideas of ethnic-based schism
to interject an awareness that will stick to your soul as much as the
delicacy that sticks to your ribs"
-2003 Hawaii International Film Festival
===================================================
LUMPIA takes you back to the late-90's when tension is
at an all-time high in Fogtown High School. James and his
friends become the targets of ridicule for the CREW, a
bunch of thugs who have invented a new fad of (gulp!) F.O.B.
bashing! But only one thing stands in their way... LUMPIA!
Romance, action, and comedy are all rolled up deliciously
in this satire from Kid Heroes Productions and Xylophone
Films.

KID HEROES PRODUCTIONS presents in association
with XYLOPHONE FILMS A PG Movie "LUMPIA"
Starring CARLOS BAON * FRANCIS CUSTODIO
EDWARD BAON * ELIZABETH MENDOZA
DENNIS CUSTODIO * CARLO RICAFORT
RICHARD CABATIC * ROY PIMENTEL * BRIAN LUCAS
PHILIP SISON * PAUL PAEZ * JERRICK GUINTO
JOEL CABATIC * PALOMA BELARA * JERRY CABATIC
JONATHAN CAYABYAB * J.J. CASAS * ALBERT SISON
MARISSA SANTOS and JOHN RAPOSAS
Narrated by JOY BISCO
MUSIC COMPOSED AND PERFORMED BY
Windward Way & Elson Trinidad
COMICS ILLUSTRATED BY Leroid David
EDITED AND CO-PRODUCED BY A.J. Calomay
PHOTOGRAPHED AND PRODUCED BY
Darriel Ginelsa & Patricio Ginelsa
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY
Patricio Ginelsa


Oh yeah, on this summer of Olympics tip, Vicki Draves forever !

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