Rap sensation Young JV has met with the 15 scholars of his Lahing Bayani Foundation at the launch held at the AFP Educational Benefit System Office inside Camp Emilio Aguinaldo last July 26.

During the short program, the rapper pledged to help the scholars finish school by giving them books and paying for their tuition fees.

“I will be a Kuya to all of you,” he told the Lahing Bayani Foundation beneficiaries who are orphans of soldier fathers.

Young JV put up the foundation because he can relate to the beneficiaries. The youngest son of retired PAF Col. Eduardo “Red” Kapunan and Elsa Arancillo, he has heard many stories about the life of a soldier and of the sacrifice a soldier’s family must make to support the noble calling.

“I was moved by my father’s war stories when he was a combat pilot in Mindanao and when he took part in the EDSA I People Power Revolution. These stories of conflict not only made my father stand tall but brought me closer to the sad situation of our Muslim brothers in Mindanao and countless women and children war victims,” he said.

More than the financial help, Young JV said he wants to give his scholars moral support through his music.

“People like them inspire the songs I write,” he said. “I do not write gibberish, but of things that happen in real life to real people. I may not have become a soldier, but music is my way of uplifting people.”

Young JV performed to the scholars his song “Kapayapaan” from his debut CD titled “Ready or Not.” He also sang his promotional single, “That Girl,” which is currently making its presence felt on radio and different music video channels.

When asked why most of his songs are in English, Young JV gave a sensible answer.

“Marunong po ako mag-Tagalog kaya lang ang aim po natin sa album na ito is to reach an international audience. It’s important for me to show the world that we are comparable to rappers in the West. Kung ano po ang kaya nilang gawin, kaya din natin,” he said.

Other tracks in “Ready or Not” are “Doin’ It Big,” “I Bet They Can’t Do It Like That,” “Can’t Get Enough,” “Do The Snap,” “The Way I Feel,” “Can I Kick It,” “Don’t Know You,” “Lipad Noypi,” “Shake Shake,” “Kaibigan Lang” and “Ola Chica” (mulled as the second single).

“Ready or Not” is released under PolyEast Records and produced by Young JV’s label, Doin’ It Big Production. The album will be launched in Sunday variety show, “ASAP,” on August 2.

Part of the album sales will go to Lahing Bayani Foundation.

“We also plan to do concerts and more mall shows so we could...have more funds for the foundation,” said he whose family dipped into their own pockets to jumpstart the project.

“Ready or Not” is currently getting favorable feedback in Manila, Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao.