The APO HIKING SOCIETY first gained recognition in 1973 when they gave a fa… Read Full Bio ↴The APO HIKING SOCIETY first gained recognition in 1973 when they gave a farewell concert at the plush Meralco Auditorium in Metro Manila. Just out of college, the group was the talk of the Ateneo University and adjoining campuses for their music and humor.

It was only when two of its four members were about to retire from the field of amateur music, however, that the APO, then known as the Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, finally had a city-wide audience. One of them was scheduled to leave for Turkey as an exchange student. The other had a position waiting for him in his father's advertising firm.

Why a talented young man of 21 would want to go to Turkey, every young man in the early seventies would probably understand. But what the APO could not understand was their fourth member's decision to leave the irresponsibility of being unemployed to join the ranks of the corporate world.

The trip to Turkey did not materialize and the APO, now a tentative trio, pushed on steadily towards fame and fortune.

Looking back, the APO members Danny Javier, Boboy Garrovillo, and Jim Paredes do not regret never having been regular wage earners. Their farewell concert, which had SRO audiences for two stormy nights, not unexpectedly became a hit record the following year.

In the three decades since that "farewell" concert, the APO has made 22 record albums; hosted several television shows including their own noontime Sunday show "Sa Linggo nAPO Sila"; and launched hugely successful major solo concerts and countless provincial, dinner, and corporate shows. They have performed in over 50 cities in the United States, in Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Japan to bring Original Pilipino Music to Filipinos the world over.

In October of 1987, during their annual US tour, the APO became the first Filipino pop artists to perform at the Main Hall of New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall. They also performed at the equally prestigious Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada's music capital. Both concerts, as well as the other shows held during that particular concert tour, were sold out. The APO were also the first Filipino artists to perform in a public concert in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1987, they were one of the first Filipino artists to be recorded on compact disc. And in 1994, they were awarded the first Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino by Awit Awards - the Filipino equivalent of the Grammy. They have also been conferred the Tanglaw Ng Lahi Award, the highest accolade given by Jesuits in the field of culture and arts.

The APO also earned international recognition for Jim Paredes' anthem on the bloodless Philippine revolution in 1986. "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo" was recorded by 15 Filipino artists in April 1986. A few months later, the English version "A New and Better Way" was launched in Australia. In February 1987, the first anniversary of the Philippines' People Power revolution, the song was released in London, England. The lyrics of the song are embedded on a wall of Our Lady of Edsa Shrine, the center of the revolution.

12 Days of Pinoy Krismas
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sa unang araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Isang basketbol na bago

Sa pangalawang araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Sa pangatlong araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Tatlong sakong bigas,
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Pang-apat na araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Apat na pagong,
Tatlong sakong bigas
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Ika-limang araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Limang pulang lobo,
Apat na pagong,
Tatlong sakong bigas
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

[ Interlude ]

Ika-limang araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Anim na sofa,
Limang pulang lobo,
Apat na pagong
Tatlong sakong bigas,
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Ika-pitong araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Pitong berdeng unan,
Anim na sofa,
Limang pulang lobo,
Apat na pagong
Tatlong sakong bigas,
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Ika-walong araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Walong lechong baboy,
Pitong berdeng unan,
Anim na sofa
Limang pulang lobo,
Apat na pagong,
Tatlong sakong bigas
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Ika-siyam na araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Siyam na case ng beer,
Walong lechong baboy,
Pitong berdeng unan
Anim na sofa,
Limang pulang lobo,
Apat na pagong
Tatlong sakong bigas,
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Ika-sampung araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Sampung inaanak (mano, po ninong),
Siyam na case ng beer
Walong lechong baboy,
Pitong berdeng unan
Anim na sofa,
Limang pulang lobo,
Apat na pagong
Tatlong sakong bigas,
Dalawang payong at isang basketbol na bago

Ika-labing-isang araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Labing-isang tuta (aw! aw!),
Sampung inaanak (mano, po ninong)
Siyam na case ng beer,
Walong lechong baboy,
Pitong berdeng unan
Anim na sofa,
Limang pulang lobo,
Apat na pagong
Tatlong sakong bigas,
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Ika-labing-isang araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Labing-isang tuta (aw! aw!),
Sampung inaanak (mano, po ninong)
Siyam na case ng beer, walong lechong baboy,
Pitong berdeng unan
Anim na sofa,
Limang pulang lobo (bayan!),
Apat na pagong
Tatlong sakong bigas,
Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Ika-labin-dalawang araw ng Pasko,
Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko
Labin-dalawang parol,
Labing-isang tuta (aw! aw!)
Sampung inaanak (merry Christmas!),
Siyam na case ng beer
Walong lechong baboy,
Pitong berdeng unan
Anim na sofa, limang pulang lobo (ay, apat na lang!),
Apat na pagong
Tatlong sakong bigas,

Dalawang payong
At isang basketbol na bago

Overall Meaning

The song “12 Days of Pinoy Krismas” by Apo Hiking Society tells the story of the singer’s girlfriend giving him gifts on each of the 12 days of Christmas. In the first day, he receives a new basketball. The girlfriend continues to give him more gifts each day, including umbrellas, rice sacks, turtles, toy airplanes, red balloons, sofas, green pillows, roasted pigs, cases of beer, godchildren, and even dogs. The song is a humorous and lighthearted take on the traditional Christmas carol, adding a Filipino touch with the inclusion of Pinoy gifts and customs.

The lyrics of the song reflect the Pinoy culture’s fondness for gift-giving and sharing, as well as the humor and playfulness that many Filipinos possess. It also highlights the importance of relationships and the joy that can be found in giving and receiving gifts, no matter how simple or unusual they may be. Overall, the song represents the festive and cheerful spirit of Christmas in the Philippines.

Line by Line Meaning

Sa unang araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Isang basketbol na bago
On the first day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me a brand new basketball

Sa pangalawang araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the second day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me two umbrellas and a brand new basketball

Sa pangatlong araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Tatlong sakong bigas, Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the third day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Pang-apat na araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the fourth day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Ika-limang araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Limang pulang lobo, Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the fifth day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me five red balloons, four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Ika-limang araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Anim na sofa, Limang pulang lobo, Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas, Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the sixth day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me six sofas, five red balloons, four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Ika-pitong araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Pitong berdeng unan, Anim na sofa, Limang pulang lobo, Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas, Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the seventh day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me seven green pillows, six sofas, five red balloons, four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Ika-walong araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Walong lechong baboy, Pitong berdeng unan, Anim na sofa, Limang pulang lobo, Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas, Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the eighth day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me eight roasted pigs, seven green pillows, six sofas, five red balloons, four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Ika-siyam na araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Siyam na case ng beer, Walong lechong baboy, Pitong berdeng unan, Anim na sofa, Limang pulang lobo, Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas, Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the ninth day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me nine cases of beer, eight roasted pigs, seven green pillows, six sofas, five red balloons, four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Ika-sampung araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Sampung inaanak (mano, po ninong), Siyam na case ng beer, Walong lechong baboy, Pitong berdeng unan, Anim na sofa, Limang pulang lobo, Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas, Dalawang payong at isang basketbol na bago
On the tenth day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me ten godchildren (bless me, godfather), nine cases of beer, eight roasted pigs, seven green pillows, six sofas, five red balloons, four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Ika-labing-isang araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Labing-isang tuta (aw! aw!), Sampung inaanak (merry Christmas!), Siyam na case ng beer, Walong lechong baboy, Pitong berdeng unan, Anim na sofa, Limang pulang lobo, Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas, Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me eleven puppies (aw! aw!), ten godchildren (merry Christmas!), nine cases of beer, eight roasted pigs, seven green pillows, six sofas, five red balloons, four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Ika-labin-dalawang araw ng Pasko, Binigay sa 'kin ng nobya ko Labin-dalawang parol, Labing-isang tuta (aw! aw!), Sampung inaanak (mano, po ninong), Siyam na case ng beer, Walong lechong baboy, Pitong berdeng unan, Anim na sofa, limang pulang lobo (bayan!), Apat na pagong, Tatlong sakong bigas, Dalawang payong At isang basketbol na bago
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me twelve lanterns, eleven puppies (aw! aw!), ten godchildren (bless me, godfather), nine cases of beer, eight roasted pigs, seven green pillows, six sofas, five red balloons, four turtles, three sacks of rice, two umbrellas, and a brand new basketball

Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS