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.
Pag-Ibig
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ang munti mong mga kamay
Ika'y tuwang-tuwa
Panatag ang loob sa damdaming
Ika'y mahal
No'ng nakilala mo ang una mong sinta
Umapaw ang saya at siya'y ibang-iba
Chorus
Hindi mo malimutan kung kailan
Nagsimulang matuto kung papaanong magmahal
At di mo malimutan kung kailan mo natikman
Ang una mong halik
Yakap na napakahigpit
Pag-ibig na tunay hanggang langit
No'ng tayo'y nagkakilala ng hindi sinasadya
Ikaw lang ang napansin
Nahuli sa isang tingin
At sa pagbati mong napakalambing
Hindi mo malimutan kung kailan
Nagsimulang matutung ikaw lang ang mahalin
At di ko malimutan kung kailan ko natikman
Ang tamis ng iyong halik
Yakap na napakahigpit
Pag-ibig mong tunay hanggang langit
Hindi mo malimutan kung kailan
Nagsimulang matutung ikaw lang ang mahalin
At di ko malimutan kung kailan ko natikman
Ang tamis ng iyong halik
Yakap na napakahigpit
Pag-ibig mong tunay hanggang langit
The song "Pag-ibig" by the Apo Hiking Society takes on the universal theme of love and how it is remembered through time. The song's verses share different moments of experiencing love - from a child being held by their mother to the excitement of falling in love for the first time. The chorus then highlights two significant moments that are difficult to forget - the first time one learns how to love and the first kiss shared with someone special. These moments are paired with an embrace that is tight and a love that is pure and reaches up to the heavens.
The lyrics of the song are filled with nostalgia and sentimental emotions. Through every verse, the song touches the listener's soul, making them remember their own similar experiences. The vivid images created make the listener feel as if they are living in these moments and experiencing them once again. The chorus's repetition of the same lines drives the message deep into the listener's memory, making them remember and relive their own experiences of learning how to love and the first kiss they ever experienced. Overall, the song is a testament that first love experiences are never forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
No'ng tangan ng nanay mo
When you were held by your mother
Ang munti mong mga kamay
With your tiny hands
Ika'y tuwang-tuwa
You were filled with joy
Panatag ang loob sa damdaming
Your heart was full of peace and love
Ika'y mahal
You were loved
No'ng nakilala mo ang una mong sinta
When you met your first love
Umapaw ang saya at siya'y ibang-iba
Happiness overflowed and everything changed when you met him/her
Sinasamsam ang bawat gunita
You cherished every memory
Hindi mo malimutan kung kailan
You'll never forget when
Nagsimulang matuto kung papaanong magmahal
You learned how to love
At di mo malimutan kung kailan mo natikman
And you'll never forget when you first tasted
Ang una mong halik
Your first kiss
Yakap na napakahigpit
A tight embrace
Pag-ibig na tunay hanggang langit
A love that's true and reaches the sky
No'ng tayo'y nagkakilala ng hindi sinasadya
When we met unexpectedly
Ikaw lang ang napansin
You were the only one I noticed
Nahuli sa isang tingin
Caught by a single glance
At sa pagbati mong napakalambing
And your sweet greeting
Hindi mo malimutan kung kailan
You'll never forget when
Nagsimulang matutung ikaw lang ang mahalin
You started learning how to love only me
At di ko malimutan kung kailan ko natikman
And I'll never forget when I first tasted
Ang tamis ng iyong halik
The sweetness of your kiss
Pag-ibig mong tunay hanggang langit
Your love that's true and reaches the sky
Hindi mo malimutan kung kailan
You'll never forget when
Nagsimulang matutung ikaw lang ang mahalin
You started learning how to love only me
At di ko malimutan kung kailan ko natikman
And I'll never forget when I first tasted
Ang tamis ng iyong halik
The sweetness of your kiss
Yakap na napakahigpit
A tight embrace
Pag-ibig mong tunay hanggang langit
Your love that's true and reaches the sky
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@richiedgjuan284
Who’s here na naging theme song ng MMFF entry na “Family of 2”?
@A47NIGHFLARE
Tuwing mapapakinggan ko'to naiisip ko yung panahong elementary pa lamang ako. Simple at walang mabigat na problema. Time flies so fast. Rest in Peace Sir Danny Javier.
@trulyyours6732
True .. nasa high school nsman ako nong nagka interest ako makinig ng mga songs sa fm radio at mga songs ng apo hiking society ang isa sa madalas kong mapakinggan ..
@takitobutface6805
ako din, mas masarap maging bata ulit. school at puro laro lang, tpos happy k makita ung crush mo pero shy ka makipagusap dito.
@riceislife722
Danny Javier was one of the best voices among male Filipino artists. Sing with the angels in heaven Sir Danny❤️
@jdbimmer3853
Nakakamiss... Such fond memories!Apo's music played a big part in my childhood...💖💖💖
@mashupichuuu
I cried when i heard this song being played while watching Family of two... 🥲
@cherrybblossom1848
Favorite ko ito, C Danny ang nag compose nito at panalo ang voice nya tlaga. RIP Danny.
@martindonato8024
We miss you Sir Danny.
Your music lives on.
@indaymarya416
Elementary days nung last ko narinig Yan .. ganda nga parang walang problema noon.