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.
Paggising Mo Bukas
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pag gising mo bukas wala na ako sa buhay mo
Wala nang iyakan wala nang tampuhan
Pag gising mo bukas tahimik na ang buhay mo
Ang pag-ibig natin pumanaw na (bigla na lang tumigil at ayaw na)
Wala akong iiwan kundi alaala
Pagod na'ng damdamin naubusan ng hangin
Parang isang istorya natapos nang bigla
Iniwan tayong tuilala (hilong-hilo't gulong-gulo at 'di mapakali)
Kahit balik-balikan sa simula (sige na)
Tadhana'y gawana tuloy na ang karma
Wala ng konsuwelo pantay tayong talo
Pag gising mo bukas tahimik na ang buhay mo (tahimik na wala ng gulo babagabag pa sa iyo okay ba)
Pag gising mo bukas simple na ang buhay mo
Wala na wala nang iyakan (wala na wala nang iyakan)
Wala nang tampuhan (lalo nang walang tampuhan)
Pag gising mo bukas (pag gising mo bukas)
Wala nang gisingan patay tayo tayo
Wala nang wala nang
Wala nang gulong babagabag pa sa 'yo
Paggising mo bukas
The song "Pagising Mo Bukas" by Apo Hiking Society talks about the end of a relationship and the aftermath of it. The lyrics tell the story of a breakup and the realization that the singer will no longer be a part of their lover's life. The phrase "Pag gising mo bukas" (when you wake up tomorrow) is repeated throughout the song, indicating that the singer has left and there will be a new reality in the morning. The song acknowledges that endings can be painful, but also suggests that sometimes it is better to let go and move on. The singer describes their great love that suddenly ended and left them with nothing but memories. The final message is that after the heartache, the lives of both parties can finally be peaceful.
Overall, the song's poetic tone is both melancholic and hopeful. It acknowledges the pain and sadness of endings but also emphasizes the importance of acceptance and moving on. The lyrics are simple but poignant, capturing the essence of a broken heart and the emotional turmoil it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Pag gising mo bukas wala na ako
When you wake up tomorrow, I won't be there in your life anymore
Pag gising mo bukas wala na ako sa buhay mo
When you wake up tomorrow, I won't be there in your life anymore
Wala nang iyakan wala nang tampuhan
No more crying, no more fights
Pag gising mo bukas tahimik na ang buhay mo
When you wake up tomorrow, your life will be quiet
Ang pag-ibig natin pumanaw na (bigla na lang tumigil at ayaw na)
Our love has suddenly ended, and it won't start up again
Wala akong iiwan kundi alaala
I won't be leaving anything behind except memories
Pagod na'ng damdamin naubusan ng hangin
My emotions are tired and out of breath
Pag gising mo bukas simple na ang buhay mo (wala ng gulo babagabag pa sa iyo okay ba)
When you wake up tomorrow, your life will be simple and without complications (are you okay without any problems bothering you?)
Parang isang istorya natapos nang bigla
It's like a story that ended suddenly
Iniwan tayong tuilala (hilong-hilo't gulong-gulo at 'di mapakali)
We were left confused and disoriented
Kahit balik-balikan sa simula (sige na)
Even if we look back at the beginning (go ahead)
Tadhana'y gawana tuloy na ang karma
Fate has done its work, karma has caught up with us
Wala ng konsuwelo pantay tayong talo
There's no more consolation, we both lost
Wala na wala nang iyakan (wala na wala nang iyakan)
There's no more crying, none at all
Wala nang tampuhan (lalo nang walang tampuhan)
No more fights (especially no more grudges)
Pag gising mo bukas (pag gising mo bukas)
When you wake up tomorrow (when you wake up tomorrow)
Wala nang gisingan patay tayo tayo
No more waking up together, we are both dead
Wala nang wala nang
No more, none at all
Wala nang gulong babagabag pa sa 'yo
No more troubles bothering you
Paggising mo bukas
When you wake up tomorrow
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.