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.
Blue Jeans
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nagsusumikap sa araw-araw
Kayod nang kayod hanggang sa mapagod
Maagapan ang natatanaw
Paminsan-minsan ay naglalaro
Pag-ibig lang ang 'di ginagawang biro
Kung sa tuksuhan lang hindi pahuhuli
Kinabukasan ay tinatabi
Paminsan-minsan ay nabibigo
Sakit sa puso ay hindi maitago
Ngunit tuloy pa rin hindi pinapansin
Ang kabuhayan ay intindihin
Blue jeans
Alam mo ba ano ang ibig sabihin ng ating pagsisikap sa 'skwela
Blue jeans
Ba't 'di na lang iwanan ang pag-aaral at sama-sama tayong magsaya
Ngunit ang kabataan daw ay kayaman
'Wag daw basta't itapon at papabayaan
Kaya magsikap tayo habang may panahon at
Mag-aral at mag-ipon tayo ng karunungan
Blue jeans
Sige sige sige kayod sa 'skwela at balang araw makikita n'yo
Blue jeans
Pagkatapos ng iyong paghihirap 'di ka rin makakahanap ng trabaho
Sino ba silang nagmamarunong sa buhay
Huwag sana silang makialam sa 'king buhay
Anong kinabukasan pagkatapos sa 'skwela
Huwag nang isipin at baka mangamba ka pa
Kay tagal-tagal ko nang nag-aaral
Tignan mo kupas na'ng aking maong ho
Kung akala mo ako ay natuto na
Hindi pa rin
O kay tagal-tagal ko nang nag-aaral
Tignan mo kupas na'ng aking maong ho
Kung akala mo ako ay natuto na
Hindi pa rin ('di pa rin 'di pa rin 'di pa rin)
Blue jeans
Sige sige sige kayod sa 'skwela at balang araw makikita n'yo
Blue jeans
Pagkatapos ng iyong paghihirap 'di ka rin makakahanap ng trabaho
Sino ba silang nagmamarunong sa buhay
Huwag sana silang makialam sa 'king buhay
Anong kinabukasan pagkatapos sa 'skwela
Huwag nang isipin at baka mangamba ka pa
Blue jeans blue jeans blue jeans blue jeans
Blue jeans ah
Blue jeans ah
Blue jeans ah
Blue jeans ah
In Apo Hiking Society's song "Blue Jeans," the band talks about the struggles of everyday life as well as the pressures that come with studying and education. The song touches on themes such as hard work, love, and the constant effort to be better.
The first stanza talks about pushing oneself to work hard every day to reach one's goals. It is emphasized that even if one gets tired, one should still continue working hard to achieve their aspirations. The chorus is where the title of the song becomes relevant as it is repeated several times, encouraging the listener to work hard and not let go of their ambitions.
The second stanza talks about how love should not be taken lightly and that one should take it seriously. Emphasis is on commitment and taking a long-term perspective rather than indulging in short plays. The song also mentions the importance of education and accumulating knowledge as they consider it an essential aspect of the future.
In summary, the message conveyed in this song suggests that hard work, love, education, and commitment to long-term goals are crucial to success. It also advises not to abandon education, as it is considered a vital element for a person's future.
Line by Line Meaning
Nandirito kami ngayon
We're here now, present and accounted for.
Nagsusumikap sa araw-araw
We're working hard day by day.
Kayod nang kayod hanggang sa mapagod
We're pushing ourselves until we tire out.
Maagapan ang natatanaw
So that we can achieve what we want before it's too late.
Paminsan-minsan ay naglalaro
Sometimes we play around.
Pag-ibig lang ang 'di ginagawang biro
But we don't take love lightly.
Kung sa tuksuhan lang hindi pahuhuli
If we're joking, we never want to be the last one.
Kinabukasan ay tinatabi
Tomorrow can wait, let's focus on what's important now.
Paminsan-minsan ay nabibigo
Sometimes we fail.
Sakit sa puso ay hindi maitago
Heartache is hard to hide.
Ngunit tuloy pa rin hindi pinapansin
But we push forward anyway, without dwelling on it.
Ang kabuhayan ay intindihin
Let's focus on livelihood.
Blue jeans
Blue jeans.
Alam mo ba ano ang ibig sabihin ng ating pagsisikap sa 'skwela
Do you know the meaning of our efforts in school?
Ba't 'di na lang iwanan ang pag-aaral at sama-sama tayong magsaya
Why not just leave school and let's have fun together?
Ngunit ang kabataan daw ay kayaman
But they say that youth is wealth.
'Wag daw basta't itapon at papabayaan
Don't just throw it away and neglect it.
Kaya magsikap tayo habang may panahon at
So let's work hard while we still have time
Mag-aral at mag-ipon tayo ng karunungan
Let's study and save up knowledge.
Sige sige sige kayod sa 'skwela at balang araw makikita n'yo
Keep on working hard in school, and someday you'll see the rewards.
Pagkatapos ng iyong paghihirap 'di ka rin makakahanap ng trabaho
After all your hard work, you might still struggle to find a job.
Sino ba silang nagmamarunong sa buhay
Who are they to act like they know everything about life?
Huwag sana silang makialam sa 'king buhay
I hope they don't interfere with my life.
Anong kinabukasan pagkatapos sa 'skwela
What's the future after school?
Huwag nang isipin at baka mangamba ka pa
Don't worry about it and make yourself anxious.
Kay tagal-tagal ko nang nag-aaral
I've been studying for so long.
Tignan mo kupas na'ng aking maong ho
Just look at my faded jeans.
Kung akala mo ako ay natuto na
If you think I've already learned my lesson.
Hindi pa rin
Not quite yet.
Blue jeans ah
Blue jeans, ah.
Blue jeans ah
Blue jeans, ah.
Blue jeans ah
Blue jeans, ah.
Blue jeans ah
Blue jeans, ah.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
a sa on sa ondai.