Marion Ginelsa
7/5/21 - 8/7/04
rest in peace...

It is with great sorrow that I announce that my dear uncle
Marion Ginelsa, who starred as the main elder in "The Apl
Song" music video, passed away due to natural causes this
past Saturday, August 7. He was 83.

Playing "Manong" in the Black Eyed Peas video was the final
contribution from Marion. In the video, he's a World War II
veteran stuck in a retirement home, neglected by his family,
and hoping to return to his homeland.

It was Marion who honestly created "The Apl Song" music
video. Whereas "The Apl Song" was inspired by Black Eyed
Peas member Apl.De.Ap following his family visit back to the
Philippines and the suicide of his brother, the origin of its
music video was inspired by the death of my father and my
visit to see uncle Marion at his retirement home. I was shocked
to see how he was living. As I notified him of his brother's
death, he wept and all I could think about was "How could
anyone leave their beloved all alone here?"

Marion fought in the second World War alongside the Americans.
Unfortunately, a simple clerical error restricted Marion from being
an "official" veteran. His family says that even though he
wasn't a veteran on paper didn't keep him from proudly calling
himself a "veteran".

I will never forget my last visit. In front of the nursing home staff,
I showed my Uncle Marion "The Apl Song" music video for the first
time. The staff went ballistic, yelling they had a star in the house!
All Marion did was smile as he stared at himself onscreen- a smile
that made his whole face glow. For the first time, the TV was
giving him something he yearned for his whole life:
acknowledgement.

The Black Eyed Peas and everyone here of the "Apl Song" crew
thank you all for all your support! Keep spreading the word
about the video and to please acknowledge our veterans and our
elders...


-Patricio Ginelsa
Writer/Director "The Apl Song" music video