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 Sa Mundo
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na sa mundo
Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na mahal ko
Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na pare ko
Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na-ha magbigayan tayo!
May regalong laruan, may regalong damit
May regalong may silbi, may regalong walang gamit
Lahat tayo'y may regalo wag ka nang maiinip
(Repeat Chorus)
May dala akong puto, mayroon ding dinuguan
May dala akong biskit, may baon na sulsuman
May dala akong serbesa, pwede nang mag-inuman
Wag ka nang mahihiya pagkain ay simulan
(Repeat Chorus)
Nagmano na kay itay, inakap na si nanay
Kamustahang kapatid, ang iyakan ay tunay
Masarap ang samahan, kalimutan ang away
Laganap ang kasiyahan ng pasko'y habang buhay
(Repeat Chorus)
Merong silent night, merong holy night
Merong jingle bells, pamaskong delight
May nagbobolahan, may naghuhulaan
Kung anong nilalaman ng regalong bubuksan
Merong palitan, may nakalimutan
Tama na yan!
Baket?
Sa susunod na taon na lang!
The song "Pasko Na Sa Mundo" by Apo Hiking Society is about the Christmas season being celebrated all around the world. The chorus, "Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na sa mundo" means Christmas is here, Christmas is here, Christmas is here in the world. The song portrays the festive nature of the holiday and the joy it brings to people's lives, especially to the singer's beloved ones and friends. The lyrics also highlight the importance of gift-giving, as well as the significance of sharing food and drinks with each other.
The verse "May regalong laruan, may regalong damit, may regalong may silbi, may regalong walang gamit, may regalong pagkain, may regalong maliit, Lahat tayo'y may regalo wag ka nang maiinip" talks about the various gifts that people give to each other during the holiday season. All these gifts, whether useful or useless, have a meaning because they come from the heart. The singer tells their friend, "wag ka nang maiinip," meaning don't be impatient because your gift is also coming, and it is a way to show their love and appreciation.
In conclusion, the song "Pasko Na Sa Mundo" is a reflection of the Filipino culture, where Christmas has always played a vital role in bringing people together. The song's message reinforces the Filipinos' value of sharing, giving, and spending time with their loved ones during the Christmas season.
Line by Line Meaning
Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na sa mundo
Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived in the world
Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na mahal ko
Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, my love
Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na pare ko
Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, my friend
Pasko na, Pasko na, Pasko na-ha magbigayan tayo!
Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, let's share and give to each other!
May regalong laruan, may regalong damit
There are gifts of toys, there are gifts of clothes
May regalong may silbi, may regalong walang gamit
There are gifts that are useful, there are gifts that are not
May regalong pagkain, may regalong maliit
There are gifts of food, there are small gifts too
Lahat tayo'y may regalo wag ka nang maiinip
Everyone has a gift, so don't be impatient
(Repeat Chorus)
Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, let's share and give to each other!
May dala akong puto, mayroon ding dinuguan
I brought some rice cakes, and there's also blood sausage
May dala akong biskit, may baon na sulsuman
I brought some biscuits, and some sweet sticky rice for snacks
May dala akong serbesa, pwede nang mag-inuman
I brought beer, so we can start drinking
Wag ka nang mahihiya pagkain ay simulan
Don't be shy to start eating
(Repeat Chorus)
Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, let's share and give to each other!
Nagmano na kay itay, inakap na si nanay
We showed respect to Dad, hugged Mom
Kamustahang kapatid, ang iyakan ay tunay
Siblings catching up, the tears are real
Masarap ang samahan, kalimutan ang away
The company is enjoyable, let's forget about any fights
Laganap ang kasiyahan ng pasko'y habang buhay
The joy of Christmas is widespread forever
(Repeat Chorus)
Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, Christmas has arrived, let's share and give to each other!
Merong silent night, merong holy night
There's a silent night, there's a holy night
Merong jingle bells, pamaskong delight
There are jingle bells, Christmas delight
May nagbobolahan, may naghuhulaan
There are people playing guessing games
Kung anong nilalaman ng regalong bubuksan
Guessing what's inside the gift being opened
Merong palitan, may nakalimutan
There's gift exchange, something may have been forgotten
Tama na yan!
That's enough!
Baket?
Why?
Sa susunod na taon na lang!
Let's do that next year!
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.