The APO HIKING SOCIETY first gained recognition in 1973 when they gave a fa… Read Full Bio ↴The APO HIKING SOCIETY first gained recognition in 1973 when they gave a farewell concert at the plush Meralco Auditorium in Metro Manila. Just out of college, the group was the talk of the Ateneo University and adjoining campuses for their music and humor.

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.

Pasko Na
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pasko na naman
O kay tulin ng araw
Paskong nagdaan
Tila ba kung kailan lang
Ngayon ay pasko
Dapat pasalamatan
Ngayon ay pasko
Tayo ay mag-awitan

Pasko pasko
Pasko na namang muli
Tanging araw na ating pinakamimithi
Pasko pasko
Pasko na namang muli
Ang pag-ibig naghahari

Merry christmas ha
Thank you thank you and babait ninyo thank you

Pasko na naman
O kay tulin ng araw
Paskong nagdaan
Tila ba kung kailan lang
Ngayon ay pasko
Dapat pasalamatan
Ngayon ay pasko
Tayo ay mag-awitan

Pasko pasko
Pasko na namang muli
Tanging araw na ating pinakamimithi
Pasko pasko
Pasko na namang muli
Ang pag-ibig naghahari

Pasko na naman (ninong merry christmas)
Pasko na naman (naitago mo na ba ang bisekleta)
Kaninong bisekleta

Pasko pasko
Pasko na namang muli
Tanging araw na ating pinakamimithi
Pasko pasko
Pasko na namang muli
Ang pag-ibig naghahari

Pasko pasko (pasko pasko)
Pasko na namang muli
Tanging araw na ating pinakamimithi
Pasko pasko (pasko pasko)
Pasko na namang muli
Ang pag-ibig naghahari

Pasko pasko (pasko pasko)
Pasko na namang muli
Tanging araw na ating pinakamimithi
Pasko pasko (pasko pasko)

Pasko na namang muli (pasko na)
Ang pag-ibig naghahari

Overall Meaning

The song "Pasko Na" by the Apo Hiking Society is a lively and festive Christmas song that celebrates the holiday season in the Philippines. The song opens with the repetition of "Pasko na naman" which means "It's Christmas again". This line is followed by the exclamation "O kay tulin ng araw" which expresses the excitement of the season and how quickly time flies during the holiday season. The second line also references the previous Christmas, which somehow feels like it just happened.

As the song progresses, the lyrics highlight the need to be thankful during this season and to celebrate it by singing together. The repetition of "Pasko pasko" reinforces the celebratory mood of the song while the line "Ang pag-ibig naghahari" means "Love reigns" or "Love rules". This suggests that Christmas is all about love, unity and togetherness.

The song concludes with the singers thanking their listeners and wishing them a merry Christmas. The mention of "ninong" (godfather) and a hidden bicycle also hints at the Filipino tradition of having godparents give gifts to their godchildren during Christmas.

Overall, the song Pasko Na captures the essence of the Filipino Christmas celebration as a time of joy, love, gratitude, and togetherness.

Line by Line Meaning

Pasko na naman
The Christmas season has come again

O kay tulin ng araw
The days seem to pass by quickly

Paskong nagdaan
The previous Christmas season

Tila ba kung kailan lang
Feels like it was just recently

Ngayon ay pasko
Now it's Christmas

Dapat pasalamatan
We should be grateful

Tayo ay mag-awitan
Let's sing together

Pasko pasko
Christmas, Christmas

Tanging araw na ating pinakamimithi
The only day we long for

Ang pag-ibig naghahari
Love reigns