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.
Huwag Masanay Sa Pagmamahal
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O ayan ka na naman sa drama mo
Aminin mo na na nagbago ka na dati nilalambing mo 'ko kinakarinyo sinusuyo
Eh dati (ngayon ngayon hu hu hu) eh paano naman ako gaganahan eh puro ka nalang dada diyan
Hu hu hu
Tumigil ka tumigil ka na diyan sabi eh etong um walang hiya ka
Tumahimik ka diyan
Pinabayaan mo ako dito
Huwag na huwag masanay sa pagmamahal
Kapag nasanay ka naku kawawa ka
Hindi lang basta-basta ang pagmamahal
Kapag umibig ka tila may abala
Ibang-iba ang buhay mo kapag nag-iisa
Walang inaasikasong problema ng iba
Kaya kung nag-aalinlangan magmahal
Ang payo ko sa 'yo ay huwag na lang
Bakit parang umaangal ka ngayon
Ngayon at nasa iyo na ang pag-ibig ko
Hindi ba kelan lamang nung sinabi mo
Walang ibang gusto para sa buhay mo
Ganyan ba talaga ang kwento ng pagmamahal
Parang 'sang gayuma na hindi nagtatagal
Kaya kung nag-aalinlangang magmahal
Ang payo ko sa 'yo ay huwag na lang
Bakit ayaw ng nag-iisa
Kailangan pang merong kasama
Kasama na nagdadala lamang ng sakit ng ulo
Huwag mong pasukan kung hindi mo kaya
Ang buhay ng mayroong kasama
Mabuti pang maiwan na nag-iisa
Wala pang abala
Hu hu hu
Ayaw mo talagang tumigil hah
Walanghiya ka walanghiya ka talaga bayaran mo na ang utang mo
Binaon pa ngayon
Ibang-iba ang buhay mo kapag nag-iisa
Walang inaasikasong problema ng iba
Kaya kung nag-aalinlangang magmahal
Ang payo ko sa 'yo ay huwag na lang
Ang payo ko sa 'yo ay huwag na lang
The song "Huwag Masanay Sa Pagmamahal" by the Apo Hiking Society talks about the consequences of getting too used to love, and how it can lead to a lot of pain in the end. The song begins by addressing someone who has promised everything but cannot fulfill a simple task of coming home early. It then goes on to say that the person has changed and is no longer as affectionate as before. The singer doesn't feel motivated to show love when all they receive is constant complaining.
The chorus advises not to get too used to love, because when one does, it can become a kind of addiction. Love is not something that can be taken lightly or casually. It comes with a lot of responsibilities and complications, as the person falls in love, they become more vulnerable to hurt, feel inadequate and unhappy with the relationship. Being in love might seem exciting but it is a difficult road, one should not choose if they cannot handle it.
The song concludes with a warning that if someone is not prepared to embrace love, they are better off being alone instead of being with someone causing headaches and heartache. The message is to not make someone's life complicated with wishy-washy feelings and to evaluate if one is ready for love before committing.
Line by Line Meaning
Pinangako mo sa akin ang lahat ngunit ang pag-uwi lang ng maaga ay hindi mo pa matupad
You promised me everything, but you haven't even fulfilled the simplest thing of coming home early.
O ayan ka na naman sa drama mo
There you go again with your drama.
Aminin mo na na nagbago ka na dati nilalambing mo 'ko kinakarinyo sinusuyo
Admit that you've changed before you used to sweet talk me and court me, now you just keep talking nonsense.
Eh dati (ngayon ngayon hu hu hu) eh paano naman ako gaganahan eh puro ka nalang dada diyan
Before (now now hu hu hu), how could I find motivation when all you do is talk nonsense.
Hu hu hu
Laughing sarcastically.
Tumigil ka tumigil ka na diyan sabi eh etong um walang hiya ka
Stop it, stop it, I've said that before, now you shameless person.
Tumahimik ka diyan
Stay silent.
Pinabayaan mo ako dito
You've left me here.
Tumahimik ka
Stay silent.
Huwag na huwag masanay sa pagmamahal
Never get too used to love.
Kapag nasanay ka naku kawawa ka
If you get too used to it, you'll suffer.
Hindi lang basta-basta ang pagmamahal
Love is not just a simple matter.
Kapag umibig ka tila may abala
When you fall in love, there seems to be some sort of trouble.
Ibang-iba ang buhay mo kapag nag-iisa
Your life is different when you're alone.
Walang inaasikasong problema ng iba
You don't have to worry about other people's problems.
Kaya kung nag-aalinlangan magmahal
So if you're still in doubt about loving someone.
Ang payo ko sa 'yo ay huwag na lang
My advice to you is to just let go.
Bakit parang umaangal ka ngayon
Why does it seem like you're complaining now?
Ngayon at nasa iyo na ang pag-ibig ko
Now that my love is with you.
Hindi ba kelan lamang nung sinabi mo
Didn't you recently say?
Walang ibang gusto para sa buhay mo
You didn't want anything else in your life.
Ganyan ba talaga ang kwento ng pagmamahal
Is that really the story of love?
Parang 'sang gayuma na hindi nagtatagal
Like a love potion that doesn't last.
Kaya kung nag-aalinlangang magmahal
So if you're still in doubt about loving someone.
Ang payo ko sa 'yo ay huwag na lang
My advice to you is to just let go.
Bakit ayaw ng nag-iisa
Why does the lonely one not want it?
Kailangan pang merong kasama
Do they really need someone else?
Kasama na nagdadala lamang ng sakit ng ulo
Someone who just brings headaches with them.
Huwag mong pasukan kung hindi mo kaya
Don't enter if you can't handle it.
Ang buhay ng mayroong kasama
Life with someone else.
Mabuti pang maiwan na nag-iisa
It's better to be left alone.
Wala pang abala
No more hassle.
Hu hu hu
Laughing sarcastically.
Ayaw mo talagang tumigil hah
You really don't want to stop, huh?
Walanghiya ka walanghiya ka talaga bayaran mo na ang utang mo
You're a shameless person, pay your debt already.
Binaon pa ngayon
Buried even now.
Ang payo ko sa 'yo ay huwag na lang
My advice to you is to just let go.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elton John, Bernard J. P. Taupin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.