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.
Hiwaga
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sa'n na ba napunta, oh, kay gandang hiwaga
At tila 'pag mayro'ng sinta, barkada'y iiwanan na
Bakit nagkakaganyan, malalim na hiwaga
Ibon ay nagtipon ng damo pampugad
Tao ay nagtatali bago umulan
Ang mga mang-iibig, 'di na rin nalalayo
'Wag mo nang intindihin, hiwaga'y 'wag nang lutasin
Sayang ang hiwaga, 'pag 'di na siya hiwaga
Ibon ay nagtipon ng damo pampugad
Tao ay nagtatali bago umulan
Ang mga mang-iibig, 'di na rin nalalayo
Bilang ay siyam na buwan, pag-ibig ay nagbubunga na rin
Buhay patakbo-takbo, tila lolo na ako
Paano nagkaganyan ang aking kalagayan
'Wag mo nang intindihin, hiwaga'y 'wag nang lutasin
Sayang ang hiwaga
'Pag di na siya hiwaga
The lyrics of Apo Hiking Society's song "Hiwaga" express the curious wonder that often comes with love. The first two lines describe the small gestures and whispers that one shares with the wind. The beauty of the mystery surrounding love is emphasized with the phrase "kay gandang hiwaga" or "such a beautiful mystery." The next lines suggest that when someone falls in love, they may leave their friends to focus on their new romance. This sudden change in behavior may seem confusing and difficult to understand, hence the "malalim na hiwaga" or "deep mystery" of it all.
The song then mentions how birds gather twigs and grass for their nests and humans prepare for the rain by tying down items outside. These activities point to the preparation and care that love requires. The following lines state that lovers do not stray too far from each other and eventually, love bears fruit after nine months. Despite all of this, the chorus advises to not try to solve the mystery of love and to just appreciate and enjoy it.
The last lines express the singer's surprise at how quickly time has passed and how they feel like an "old man" due to the experiences of love and life. However, the chorus is repeated one last time to remind the listener to not try to unravel love's mysteries and to savor its beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Ligaw patingin-tingin, mga bulong mo sa hangin
Looking around aimlessly, your whispers in the wind
Sa'n na ba napunta, oh, kay gandang hiwaga
Where did it go, oh, such a beautiful mystery
At tila 'pag mayro'ng sinta, barkada'y iiwanan na
And when there's love, friends are left behind
Bakit nagkakaganyan, malalim na hiwaga
Why does it become like this, a deep mystery
Ibon ay nagtipon ng damo pampugad
Birds gather grass for their nests
Tao ay nagtatali bago umulan
People prepare before the rain comes
Ang mga mang-iibig, 'di na rin nalalayo
Lovers also do not stray far
Bilang ay siyam na buwan, pag-ibig ay nagbubunga na rin
After nine months, love bears fruit
'Wag mo nang intindihin, hiwaga'y 'wag nang lutasin
Do not try to understand, do not solve the mystery
Sayang ang hiwaga, 'pag 'di na siya hiwaga
The mystery is wasted once it is no longer a mystery
Buhay patakbo-takbo, tila lolo na ako
Life is running too fast, I feel like an old man
Paano nagkaganyan ang aking kalagayan
How did I end up like this
'Pag di na siya hiwaga
Once it is no longer a mystery
Writer(s): Jim Paredes
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.