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.
Lata Ang Aming Tambol
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hindi man lang makabuo ng apat
Ngunit ang aming mga puso'y maligayang tunay
Pagkat si Hesus ay buhay na buhay
Buhay na buhay, buhay na buhay
Dito si Hesus, buhay si Hesus
Sa bawat puso namin at ninyo
Maligayang pasko sa nakakarinig
Ang aming awit ay mula sa dibdib
Kahit paskong walang regalo ang hinaharap
Sa piling ni Hesus, ang buhay ay masarap
Masarap, masarap, napakasarap
Talagang nalalasap
Sa piling ni Hesus, ang buhay napakasarap
Sa piling ni Hesus
Lata ang aming tambol
Boses ang aming gitara
Katawan ang niyuyugyog
Sa awiting handog sa pasko
(One more time)
Lata ang aming tambol
Boses ang aming gitara
Katawan ang niyuyugyog
Sa awiting handog sa pasko
Isa, dalawa, tatlo
Mistulang kawawa ang aming pangkat
Kahit na papa'no'y hindi sisikat
Ngunit ang aming mga puso'y maligayang tunay
Pagkat dito si Hesus ay buhay na buhay
Maligayang pasko sa nakakarinig
Ang aming awit ay mula sa dibdib
Kahit paskong walang regalo ang hinaharap
Sa piling ni Hesus, ang buhay ay masarap
Masarap, masarap, napakasarap
Kung kayo'y magbibigay
Basta 'wag lang barya, tayo'y hindi mag-aaway
Sayang ang laway
Lata ang aming tambol
Boses ang aming gitara
Katawan ang niyuyugyog
Sa awiting handog sa pasko
Lata ang aming tambol
Boses ang aming gitara
Katawan ang niyuyugyog
Sa awiting handog sa pasko
Lata ang aming tambol
Boses ang aming gitara
The opening verse of "Lata ang Aming Tambol" by Apo Hiking Society portrays the melancholic mood of a group of individuals who seem to be down on their luck, as they cannot even form a group of four. However, the chorus emphasizes the joy and meaning they find in their hearts because of the belief that Jesus is alive among them. They are ecstatic and thrilled to have Jesus living within them, giving them hope and reason to celebrate Christmas despite being poor.
The song's upbeat melody pairs well with the theme of a humble Christmas celebration, even when there is no abundance of gifts or material goods. Instead, they have a joyful, festive spirit that is a direct result of their faith in Jesus.
This song provides the listener with an uplifting message about the true meaning of Christmas, and how one can find joy in the simple things, even if material possessions are limited. The lyrics underscore the idea that Jesus is the reason for the season and his presence is felt within one's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Mistulang kawawa ang aming pangkat
We may seem pitiful as a group
Hindi man lang makabuo ng apat
Unable to even form a group of four
Ngunit ang aming mga puso'y maligayang tunay
But our hearts are genuinely happy
Pagkat si Hesus ay buhay na buhay
Because Jesus is truly alive
Buhay na buhay, buhay na buhay
Alive, truly alive
Dito si Hesus, buhay si Hesus
Here with us is Jesus, alive is Jesus
Sa bawat puso namin at ninyo
In each of our hearts and yours
Nating lahat
All of us
Maligayang pasko sa nakakarinig
Merry Christmas to everyone who hears us
Ang aming awit ay mula sa dibdib
Our song comes from the heart
Kahit paskong walang regalo ang hinaharap
Even if we face a Christmas without gifts in the future
Sa piling ni Hesus, ang buhay ay masarap
Life is still wonderful with Jesus by our side
Masarap, masarap, napakasarap
Sweet, so sweet
Talagang nalalasap
Truly satisfying
Sa piling ni Hesus, ang buhay napakasarap
Life is very sweet with Jesus by our side
Sa piling ni Hesus
With Jesus by our side
Lata ang aming tambol
Our drum is made of cans
Boses ang aming gitara
Our guitar is our voice
Katawan ang niyuyugyog
Our bodies are the ones dancing
Sa awiting handog sa pasko
In this song we offer as a gift this Christmas
(One more time)
(One more time)
Isa, dalawa, tatlo
One, two, three
Mistulang kawawa ang aming pangkat
We may seem pitiful as a group
Kahit na papa'no'y hindi sisikat
Even if we can't become famous
Ngunit ang aming mga puso'y maligayang tunay
But our hearts are genuinely happy
Pagkat dito si Hesus ay buhay na buhay
Because here with us, Jesus is truly alive
Maligayang pasko sa nakakarinig
Merry Christmas to everyone who hears us
Ang aming awit ay mula sa dibdib
Our song comes from the heart
Kahit paskong walang regalo ang hinaharap
Even if we face a Christmas without gifts in the future
Sa piling ni Hesus, ang buhay ay masarap
Life is still wonderful with Jesus by our side
Masarap, masarap, napakasarap
Sweet, so sweet
Kung kayo'y magbibigay
If you would give
Basta 'wag lang barya, tayo'y hindi mag-aaway
Just not in coins, so we won't fight
Sayang ang laway
It would just be a waste of saliva
Lata ang aming tambol
Our drum is made of cans
Boses ang aming gitara
Our guitar is our voice
Katawan ang niyuyugyog
Our bodies are the ones dancing
Sa awiting handog sa pasko
In this song we offer as a gift this Christmas
Lata ang aming tambol
Our drum is made of cans
Boses ang aming gitara
Our guitar is our voice
Writer(s): Danny Javier
Contributed by Kaylee M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.