MANILA, Philippines —The International band Black Eyed Peas is performing at the closing ceremony of the 30th Southeast Asian Games slated at 6 p.m. at the New Clark City today.

The Grammy Awards winner rap band will be singing 10 songs in praise of all the athletes from 11 competing countries led by host Philippines that has bagged 380 medals (149 gold, 115 silver, and 116 bronze) as of 10:30 a.m. today, Wednesday, 11 December 2019.

“We are doing our hits and Tagalog parts in our album,” the band’s Filipino member apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo) told a press conference Tuesday at The Peninsula Manila. “It’s going to be a celebration for the athletes that gave their all to have a great SEA Games for the Philippines.”

Lindo is performing with co-members will.i.am (William Adams) and Taboo (Jaime Gomez).

“We see ourselves as citizens of the world,” said will.i.am. “We have played in the Super Bowl in the USA and it was amazing. There are American acts that come from America and brought American culture around the world, like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and others. We are bringing Filipino culture to the four corners of the world. Those who have never met a Filipino, who do not know Filipino culture, are educated through apl.de.ap.”

will.i.am added that playing in the Philippines is very memorable, thanks to apl.de.ap.

“It’s because our brother apl.de.ap is from the province here. He was raised here. He was a rice farmer. He had a humble beginning here. It’s amazing for him to have been given up for adoption, to come to America and start a group like the Black Eyed Peas and come back to his country to help his people.”

apl.de.ap is active in charity works. He is accordingly building classrooms around the country.

“Being here in the SEA Games,” continued will.i.am, “is some kind of celebration. It’s an honor knowing where he comes from, how hard he has worked and meeting all the hurdles.”

Taboo is married to a Filipina.

“I wouldn’t have married a Filipina if it were not for apl.de.ap. He showed me the beauty of the culture and also what it is like to love and appreciate family. I am a native American Mexican. We have a lot of similarities. My three children are here in the Philippines for the very first time.”

Lindo (apl.de.ap) said he felt nervous when he performed at the SEA Games opening ceremony last Nov. 30 at the cavernous 55,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“It was the first time that I was so nervous on stage. There were so many moving parts. It was all about timing. I got to see it afterwards. The way it came out (on television) was so amazing. I was really proud of how they connected the rap part to Manny Pacquiao (who lighted the cauldron).” (IAMIGO/CNS)