Quotes from apl.de.ap

I'm good at shapes. If I'm not close, even if it's big, I can't read it.

It is important for me to help others because I was also helped by others before I became part of the Black Eyed Peas.

The Black Eyed Peas is a family.

I was born blind in Sapangbato in Angeles City.

I hated sunsets for a long time.

Coming from the Philippines to the U.S. did shape me in that it gave me perseverance.

I'm fascinated by the Philippines because I'm from here. I was born here. I'm a Filipino.

Growing up for me in the Philippines was hard to read comic books because I'm blind.

My being in America and being adopted from the Philippines have given me motivation and drive as an artist.

When I see the discrepancy between kids in the Philippines and the U.S., I feel like I have to give them an opportunity.

It was already hard enough growing up in the Philippines but imagine being blind, that's 10 times harder.

I want the kids in the Philippines to compete with the world, with other kids out there, to have the opportunity. You never know, you might find the next Black Eyed Peas out there.

There's a lot of kids just like me growing up in the Philippines, so I don't want them to give up. So listen to your parents, work hard and you can achieve so much.

We wanted to make music to fit with the way we live and celebrate life.

Coming from the Philippines, my whole goal was to support my family and have a better living situation.

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.

If there's a Filipino flag waving, will.i.am whispers to me, 'Filipinos are over there!' And then I wave towards that direction.

Music is common language. I can sing 'Bebot' in front of white people and they will dance.

My friends, they can't beat me in pool or bowling.

If we go to a party, I'll just be chilling in the corner, absorbing everything.

Someday' talks about a dream of mine.

We want to show people in the U.S. and Europe that hey, here in Southeast Asia, we have so much artists brimming with talent and so deserving. We needed to tap into that so that the West can take notice and sign them up, too.

There's the fine line between presenting your culture and learning about other cultures so it becomes global.

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.