28 October 2016 — Musical icon Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.Ap, in support of Filipino-American History Month this October, jointly hosted an afternoon reception with the Philippine Consulate General New York and the Philippine Department of Tourism New York (PDOT NY) held at the Viacom corporate headquarters building in Times Square on October 25, which hosts popular entertainment media brands as MTV, Nickelodeon, and VH1. 

The Philippine Consulate General, led by Consul Felipe Carino III, Acting Head of Post, and the PDOT-NY, led by Officer-in-Charge Zeny Pallugna, participated in the event that attracted over a hundred Filipino-Americans, media practitioners, and mainstream American guests.  The event is a brainchild of Apl.de.Ap and PDOT NY to boost tourism efforts in American mainstream market.  During the reception, the guests were invited to sample local Philippine food products such as dried papaya, dried coconut, and banana chips, as well as Calamansi drink. 

The main program featured Filipino-American musician Apl.de.Ap of the popular Black Eyed Peas band, who presented to the audience a travel documentary short by his group, referred to as “24 Top Influencers,” relating their experience while visiting destination spots in the Philippines such as Boracay and Bohol.  The Influencers where chosen by Apl.de.Ap based on their significant impact on the arts, music, social media and popular culture among today’s millennial generation.  During his presentation, Apl.de.Ap encouraged the Filipino-American community to continue to spread the positive word to the public about the Philippines’ beautiful destinations and participate in tourism promotion efforts. 

Apl.de.Ap later performed some of his Tagalog and English songs, together with up-and-coming Filipino-American singer Jessica Reynoso.  Also on hand to support the event was Rachel Grant, Filipina-British actress/model who appeared in the James Bond film “Die Another Day” starring Pierce Brosnan END