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.
Nagmamahal Sa'yo
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
May mga araw na medyo masungit ang aking pakiramdam
Ngunit kapag napag-ipisan ko namang ika'y makikita
Basta ang nawawala, parang isang bula
Lahat ng karamdaman, madaling nalilimutan
May mga araw na ang ulo mo ay medyo madaling uminit
May mga araw na mahirap kang pigilin 'pag ika'y magalit
Tahimik lang ako, 'di ka tinutukso
Hanggang ika'y tumawa, nilalambing kita
Pagkat nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Ikaw lamang habang-buhay
At darating ang mga araw na tayo'y maging matatanda na
At may mga batang musmos na kung tawagin ka ay lola
At kung pag-iisipan natin kung ano ang sasabihin
Mauna ka na lang, ikaw ang may alam
Sa 'yong karanasan, hindi malilimutan
Pagkat nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Ikaw lamang habang-buhay
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Ikaw lamang habang-buhay
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Ikaw lamang habang-buhay
The song Nagmamahal Sa'yo by Apo Hiking Society talks about an undying love for someone. The first stanza describes the different moods and feelings that one may have, such as laziness or grumpiness, but all those negative feelings disappear once seeing the person they love. The second stanza talks about how the significant other can sometimes be difficult to deal with, but all of that can easily be forgotten with just a simple kiss. The chorus repeatedly states how the singer loves only one person, and they will continue to do so forever.
The last stanza talks about growing old and still being in love with their partner. They mention how there will be younger kids calling their partner "lola" or grandma. Despite their aging, they will still have their experiences and memories that they will never forget. Throughout the song, it is evident that the singer's love for their partner is persistent and will never fade.
In summary, the song Nagmamahal Sa'yo expresses the singer's undying love for someone in their life. The song expresses that despite the different moods and difficulties that may come, the love remains steadfast and enduring.
Line by Line Meaning
May mga araw na parang tinatamad akong gumising
There are days when I feel sluggish and unwilling to wake up.
May mga araw na medyo masungit ang aking pakiramdam
There are days when my mood is a bit sour.
Ngunit kapag napag-ipisan ko namang ika'y makikita
But once I gather the will, and see you, it's as if all my negativity vanishes.
Basta ang nawawala, parang isang bula
What disappears, almost as if by magic, is like a bubble that bursts.
Lahat ng karamdaman, madaling nalilimutan
All my troubles disappear easily.
May mga araw na ang ulo mo ay medyo madaling uminit
There are also days when you easily get angry.
May mga araw na mahirap kang pigilin 'pag ika'y magalit
Days when it's hard to control your temper.
Ngunit kapag napag-isipan ko naman ang iyong mga halik
But when I recall your loving kisses,
Tahimik lang ako, 'di ka tinutukso
I stay silent, not wanting to provoke or annoy you.
Hanggang ika'y tumawa, nilalambing kita
I'll just continue to lovingly tease you until you laugh.
Pagkat nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Because I love, love, love only you,
Walang iba kundi ikaw
No one else but you.
Ikaw lamang habang-buhay
Forever only you.
At darating ang mga araw na tayo'y maging matatanda na
And one day we'll both grow old.
At may mga batang musmos na kung tawagin ka ay lola
There will be little children who call you grandma.
At kung pag-iisipan natin kung ano ang sasabihin
If we consider what we'll say to them,
Mauna ka na lang, ikaw ang may alam
You should speak first because you know better.
Sa 'yong karanasan, hindi malilimutan
From your experiences, they will not be forgotten.
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Because I love, love, love only you,
Walang iba kundi ikaw
No one else but you.
Ikaw lamang habang-buhay
Forever only you.
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Because I love, love, love only you,
Walang iba kundi ikaw
No one else but you.
Ikaw lamang habang-buhay
Forever only you.
Nagmamahal, nagmamahal, nagmamahal sa 'yo
Because I love, love, love only you,
Walang iba kundi ikaw
No one else but you.
Ikaw lamang habang-buhay
Forever only you.
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.