Dannyka Manangan

Apl.de.Ap begins project of planting 100 million coconut trees in Laguna

Article (news)

Peter Andrew Acierto

Push Team

<p>Filipino-American singer and rapper Apl.De.Ap began his project of planting 100 million coconut trees in Liliw, Laguna. He explained the benefits that these coconut trees hold not just economically but environmentally as well. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFrUfZnBW04/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFrUfZnBW04/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFrUfZnBW04/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Apl.de.Ap (@apldeap)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Apl.De.Ap shared with GMA News about his project and as to why he decided to plant 100 million coconut trees.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2024/11/20/apl-de-ap-opens-filipino-restaurant-in-uk-1126"><strong>READ: Apl.de.ap opens Filipino restaurant in UK</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Growing up in the Philippines, the singer-rapper recalled his first encounter when it came to planting seeds–– through helping his grandfather. </p><p>“Before I moved to the US, I used to help my grandfather in tending to our water buffalos and also plant crops from sweet potatoes to corn to kamoteng kahoy,” he recalled.</p><p>It was during the pandemic when he learned about the effects of soil degradation and how coconut trees could help in stopping it. </p><p>According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, soil degradation is when a change in the health of the soil results in a “diminished capacity of the ecosystem” which will have an impact on the goods provided and services towards those who benefit from it. </p><p>“Then we ran into this thing called biochar. Biochar is an organic soil made from the pyrolysis of biowaste. And you know, coconut has the best carbon to create biochar,” he added.</p><p>As Apl.De.Ap begins his project, he’ll be working with various local government units as well as the farmers in assuring that 100 million coconut trees are planted. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2024/5/21/darren-espanto-apl-de-ap-bamboo-express-gratitude-for-the-voice-ph-1032"><strong>READ: Darren Espanto, apl.de.ap, Bamboo express gratitude for The Voice PH</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>“[At the] beginning of next year, I’m hoping to start the whole project. I’m working with coops and LGUs and the farmers… We gotta figure it out, that’s why we’re doing the pilot here so that it’s easier,” he expressed.</p><p>Previously, the singer-rapper opened up on his social media accounts the various benefits that coconut brings to the Philippines. He claimed that it is “the greatest natural resource” that the country has.</p><p>“This journey began a couple years ago when my team and I first got interested in biochar, and the educational journey on its many benefits continues to astonish me. One of the major benefits is when you can intercrop it with coffee — another crop that the Philippines can grow — to create some of the best and most often overlooked combinations,” he previously wrote.</p>