Apl.de.Ap launches ‘100 Million Coconut Trees for the Climate’ project

During his much-anticipated comeback concert in the Philippines earlier this year, Apl.de.Ap made a promise to uplift Filipino farmers and begin planting coconut trees in Laguna.

On stage, he declared that “farmers are the real rockstars,” underscoring his deep respect for those who work the land and feed the nation as he was a farmer himself back then.

True to his word, the Filipino American rapper and philanthropist has turned that promise into action. Months later, Apl officially kicked off his “100 Million Coconut Trees for the Climate” campaign in Liliw, Laguna.

In a recent social media post, the Black Eyed Peas member expressed gratitude for the warm support his team received after launching their pilot project at Esmeris Farm.

“So many of you have reached out to us with support on how you can get involved,” he shared, adding that the initiative stems from years of learning about soil degradation and the urgent need to protect the environment.

Apl revealed that his journey toward sustainable farming began during the pandemic, after meeting Indian yogi and environmentalist Sadhguru.

Their discussions on the dangers of soil degradation inspired him to explore biochar, a carbon-rich material made by heating organic matter in low oxygen in a process called pyrolysis.

“We learned that coconut husks, something thrown away in their millions across our country, was something that could effectively produce this biochar,” he explained.

His advocacy caught the attention of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), which shared its own goal of restoring the nation’s status as the world’s top coconut producer.

“They made me the Coconut Ambassador; I was humbled in their belief in me,” Apl said.

However, he emphasized that his team’s approach goes beyond mass monocropping. Instead of planting coconuts alone, they are developing “food forests” — intercropping coconut trees with malunggay, coffee and cacao to preserve biodiversity and create sustainable ecosystems.

Apl’s organization, OMTSE, aims to eventually plant over 350 million trees through partnerships with the government, farmers and indigenous communities.

Citing the resilience of a coffee tree in Palawan that survived El Niño due to biochar-enriched soil, Apl underscored the power of healthy soil to nurture life and withstand climate challenges.

“This is why the soil is so important,” he wrote. “Together we can do this. Together we can grow.”

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