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.
Paskong Walang Pera
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wala pa kong rigalo
Ubos ang pera
Butas ang bulsa papano na ito
Nalibot na ang bawat mall
And shopping center
Walang makita pwedeng
Minamahal ko pagbigyan sana ako
Kung pwede lamang
Ang gagawin ko para sayo
Sisindihan ko ng kandila
Ang buong ayala
Bawat simbahan ako’y magpapamisa
Buong pilipinas
Bubuhusan ng saya at kanta
Para sayo
Nung dating christmas
Kahit papano meron
Akong regalo
Ngayon mahirap maraming gastos
Kapus pa ang sahod ko
Ohh sana maintindihan
Ang aking kalagayan
Ang ninanais lamang
Ay iyong kaligayan
Labas sa gastos
Lahat ay gagawin ko
Kung pwede lamang para sa christmas
Itong alay ko
sasamahan kita sa simbanggabi
At notche buena
magkakarolling ako sayo hanggang umaga
sa araw ng pasko ipapasyal kita sa luneta
Kung pwede lamang para sa christmas
Itong alay ko
Isasama kita bumisa sa aking ninong at ninang
Hahanapin ang mga kamag-anak
Na balikbayan
Lahat ng pasalubong nila ibibigay ko sayo
Repeat
Para sayo
Maligayang pasko
The song "Paskong Walang Pera" by the Apo Hiking Society is a song about the struggles of a person who cannot afford to buy presents for their loved ones during the holiday season. The lyrics talk about the difficulties of not having enough money to splurge on gifts and the frustration of going to different malls and shopping centers but not being able to find anything that they can ask for as a freebie. The singer talks about how they wish they could do anything for their loved ones, even if it means giving up everything else they have just to make them happy.
The singer then sings about what they can do if they had the power and means to do so. They sing about lighting up the entire Ayala Avenue with candles, attending mass in every church, singing songs for everyone to hear, and doing everything to make their loved ones feel happy and special. Even though they cannot afford to give costly presents, they still have the heart to show their love and concern for their family and friends during the festive season.
Overall, the song "Paskong Walang Pera" is a reminder that Christmas is not about the material things we can give and receive, but about the love and care we share with the people around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Abente kwantro na ng disembre
It's already December twenty-fourth.
Wala pa kong regalo
I still haven't bought a gift.
Ubos ang pera
I'm out of money.
Butas ang bulsa papano na ito
My wallet is empty, what am I going to do?
Nalibot na ang bawat mall
I've been to every mall.
And shopping center
And shopping center.
Walang makita pwedeng
I can't find anything that
Mahingi na libre
I can ask for free.
Minamahal ko pagbigyan sana ako
Please understand, my dear. I love you, please grant my request.
Kung pwede lamang
If only I could.
Ang gagawin ko para sayo
I would do anything for you.
Sisindihan ko ng kandila
I'll light up every candle
Ang buong ayala
In the whole Ayala
Bawat simbahan ako’y magpapamisa
I will attend masses in every church
Buong pilipinas
The whole Philippines
Bubuhusan ng saya at kanta
Will be filled with joy and songs
Para sayo
For you.
Nung dating christmas
In the past Christmas
Kahit papano meron
I still had something
Akong regalo
To give as a gift
Ngayon mahirap maraming gastos
Now, it's tough, there are a lot of expenses
Kapus pa ang sahod ko
My salary isn't enough
Ohh sana maintindihan
Oh, I hope you understand
Ang aking kalagayan
My situation
Ang ninanais lamang
All I want
Ay iyong kaligayan
Is your happiness.
Labas sa gastos
Regardless of the expenses,
Lahat ay gagawin ko
I'll do everything.
Itong alay ko
This is my gift.
Kung pwede lamang para sa christmas
If only I could for Christmas.
Sasamahan kita sa simbanggabi
I'll accompany you to the dawn masses
At notche buena
And for Noche Buena
Magkakarolling ako sayo hanggang umaga
I will serenade you until morning.
Sa araw ng pasko ipapasyal kita sa luneta
On Christmas day, I'll take you to Luneta.
Isasama kita bumisa sa aking ninong at ninang
I'll bring you to visit my godparents
Hahanapin ang mga kamag-anak
We'll look for our relatives
Na balikbayan
Who come home from abroad.
Lahat ng pasalubong nila ibibigay ko sayo
All the gifts they bring, I'll give to you.
Maligayang pasko
Merry Christmas
Contributed by Sophia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.