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.
Inaamin Ko
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Di na 'ko natuto
Nasilaw na naman ang pusong ito, oh
At muling napalayo sa 'yo
Iwanan ka'y hindi ko masadya
Nalilibang lamang
Ilang ulit na ba nangyari ito, oh?
Paano 'ko mababalik ang ligaya?
Nabuhay sa ating pagmamahal
Muling magpapasiyang ako'y magbabago
Hindi na maaakit sa iba
Sana naman, maniwala ka sa akin
At pakinggan ang aking sasabihin
Limutin natin ang mga problema na nakaraan
Paano 'ko mababalik ang ligaya?
Nabuhay sa ating pagmamahal
Muling magpapasiyang ako'y magbabago
Hindi na maaakit sa iba
Sana naman, maniwala ka sa akin
At pakinggan ang aking sasabihin
Limutin natin ang mga problema na nakaraan
Sana naman, maniwala ka sa akin
At pakinggan ang aking sasabihin
Limutin natin ang mga problema na nakaraan
Sana naman
At pakinggan
Sana naman, maniwala ka sa akin
At pakinggan ang aking sasabihin
Limutin natin ang mga problema na nakaraan
The song "Inaamin Ko" by Apo Hiking Society is a story of regret and longing for love that was once lost. The singer admits to his mistakes and confesses that he has not learned from them. He speaks of being blinded and drawn back to someone, but still being pushed away. The singer expresses his sadness and pleads that their love can be revived if only she would believe and listen to him.
The song plays with the theme of relationships and how love can be painful or blissful. The person in the song is portrayed as someone who has a tendency to repeat the same mistakes repeatedly. Despite this, he hopes to regain the happiness that was once brought about by their love. He knows that he needs to learn from his mistakes and is willing to make changes to prevent himself from being attracted to someone else. The song lyrically conveys that love is not perfect, and it is a process that takes effort to maintain.
In summary, "Inaamin Ko" by Apo Hiking Society is a love song that speaks to the heart of someone who yearns and longs for a lost love. It portrays a person trying to change themselves to become better, hoping to revive what was once a blissful relationship. The message of the song is about acknowledging mistakes and turning it into an experience that would create growth, and taking responsibility for our own happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Inaamin kong pagkakamali
I acknowledge my mistake
'Di na 'ko natuto
I haven't learned my lesson
Nasilaw na naman ang pusong ito, oh
My heart has been blinded again
At muling napalayo sa 'yo
And I am once again far from you
Iwanan ka'y hindi ko masadya
Leaving you was not my intention
Nalilibang lamang
I was just preoccupied
Ilang ulit na ba nangyari ito, oh?
How many times has this happened before?
Naririnig mo ba ako?
Can you hear me?
Paano 'ko mababalik ang ligaya?
How can I regain happiness?
Nabuhay sa ating pagmamahal
We lived through love
Muling magpapasiyang ako'y magbabago
I will decide to change once again
Hindi na maaakit sa iba
I will no longer be drawn to anyone else
Sana naman, maniwala ka sa akin
I hope you'll believe me
At pakinggan ang aking sasabihin
And listen to what I have to say
Limutin natin ang mga problema na nakaraan
Let's forget the problems of the past
Writer(s): Jim Paredes
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.