Bebot Bebot Bet

Everyone knows the Black Eyed Peas…

We know this musical powerhouse for turning out hit after hit…Songs like “Don’t Funk With My Heart, Push It, and I Got a Feeling have everyone listening to the groups funky and contagious beats. The most recognized front man Will.i.am. and the beautiful Fergie lead the group, but can anyone even name the other two members?

Well there’s that one guy with long hair….and that other guy who raps in Filipino right?

Jaime Gomez better known as Taboo, is the member many recognize by his long dark hair and has been a part of the Black Eyed Peas since the early 1990’s before Fergie even joined. The final member, Allan Pineda better known as Apl.de.ap, is an original founder of the band. Apl.de.ap met Will.i.am in the late 1980’s, and the two decided to collaborate on a few songs…the rest is history.

An original member of the Black Eyed Peas, Apl.de.ap has had

huge influence on the group and has lead many songs throughout the group’s history. One of his songs "The Apl Song" on the Peas' 2003 album Elephunk, includes cameos by fellow Filipino-Americans Dante Basco and Chad Hugo. It is also a tribute to the Filipinos who fought for the U.S. in World War II; the song reached number one in the Philippines. The song also references hardships throughout Apl.de.ap ‘s life including the death of two of his siblings. Another song entitled "Bebot" (which is Filipino slang for pretty woman) is Apl.de.ap’s most recognized song and is completely in Tagolog. Pronounced (ta-gol-ig), meaning ‘river-dweller,’ this Spanish and Latin based language is the official tongue of the Philippines.

This song was an instant hit in the Philippines, and Apl.de.ap performed live during HBO's Marquez Vs. Pacquiao 2 countdown show. Pacquiao, who is one of the biggest stars in the Philippines, also used the song as an entrance theme.

Apl.de.ap has used his fame to expose more of the Philipino culture, and he finds it very important to remember were he came from. In 2009, Apl.de.ap partnered with the Philippine Department of Tourism, and created a video that visually underscores Apl’s lyric homage to his homeland. Entitled “Take Me to the Philippines,” the song was also collaboration with MTV Asia to promote tourism in the Philippines.