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.
Saan Na Ba Ang Barkada
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sa kalokohan at sa tuksuhan hindi maawat sa isat-isa
Madalas ang istambay sa capetirya isang barkada na kay' saya
Laging may hawak-hawak na gitara konting hudyut lamang kakanta na
Kay simple lamang ng buhay 'noon walang mabibigat na suliranin
Problema lamang laging kulang ang datung
Saan na napunta ang panahon
Saan na napunta ang panahon
Saan na nga ba saan nanga ba
Saan na napunta ang panahon
Sa unang ligaw kayo'y magkasama magkasabwat sa pambobola
Walang sikreto kayong tinatago o kaysarap ng samahang barkada
Nagkawatakan na sa kolehiyo kanya-kanya na ang lakaran
Kahit minsanan na lang kung magkita pagkaka-ibiga'y hindi nawala
At kung saan na napadpad ang ilan sa dating iskwela'y meron' ding naiwan
Meron' pa ngang mga ilang nawala na lang
Nakaka miss ang dating samahan
Saan na nga ba saan na nga ba
Saan saan na nga bang' barkada ngayon
Saan na nga ba saan na nga ba
Saan saan na nga bang' barkada ngayon
Ilang taon din ang nakalipas bawat isa sa ami'y tatay na
Nagsusumikap upang yumaman at guminhawang kinabukasan
Paminsan-minsan kami'y nagkikita mga naiwan at natira
At gaya nung araw namin sa iskwela pag magkasama ay nagwawala
Napakahirap malimutan ang saya ng aming samahan
Kahit lumipas na ang iilang taon magkabarkada parin ngayon
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkaibigan parin ngayon
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkabarkada parin ngayon
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkaibigan parin ngayon
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkabarkada parin ngayon
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkaibigan parin ngayon
The lyrics of Apo Hiking Society's Saan Na Nga Ba'ng Barkada tell the story of a group of friends who started out as kids in school, bonded over their mischief and love for music, and eventually drifted apart but still long for the good old days. The song starts off by describing how the group of twelve friends would always be up to something in school, always teasing each other and hanging out in their secret meeting place, the capetirya. Music was always a part of their lives, with one of them always carrying a guitar and ready to sing at the slightest opportunity.
However, as they grew older and went to college, their paths diverged and they became caught up in their own lives. They still see each other occasionally, but it's not the same as before. The lyrics paint a picture of nostalgia for the past, with the friends wondering where the time has gone and where their barkada--their gang of friends--has disappeared to. Despite the fact that they have all become successful in their own fields, they still long for the simple life they once had with each other.
The song's lyrics are relatable to anyone who has experienced growing up and losing touch with friends, and it's become an iconic song for Filipinos. It's a reminder of the importance of friendship and how it can shape who we are today.
Line by Line Meaning
Nagsimula ang lahat sa iskuwela nagsama-samang' labingdalawa
It all started in school where twelve of us came together
Sa kalokohan at sa tuksuhan hindi maawat sa isat-isa
In mischief and teasing, we couldn't be stopped by anyone
Madalas ang istambay sa capetirya isang barkada na kay' saya
We often hung out in the canteen, a group of friends so happy
Laging may hawak-hawak na gitara konting hudyut lamang kakanta na
Always carrying a guitar, at the slightest prompting, we'd start singing
Kay simple lamang ng buhay 'noon walang mabibigat na suliranin
Life was so simple back then, with no heavy problems to weigh us down
Problema lamang laging kulang ang datung
Our only problem was always being short on cash
Saan na napunta ang panahon
Where has the time gone?
Saan na nga ba saan nanga ba
Where indeed, where has it gone?
Sa unang ligaw kayo'y magkasama magkasabwat sa pambobola
During our first romantic pursuits, we were each other's wingman in wooing
Walang sikreto kayong tinatago o kaysarap ng samahang barkada
No secrets held back, such was the joy of our barkada
Nagkawatakan na sa kolehiyo kanya-kanya na ang lakaran
In college, we went our separate ways
Kahit minsanan na lang kung magkita pagkaka-ibiga'y hindi nawala
Even though we only saw each other occasionally, our bond never faded
At kung saan na napadpad ang ilan sa dating iskwela'y meron' ding naiwan
Where some of us ended up after school, some of us remained behind
Meron' pa ngang mga ilang nawala na lang
There were even a few who just disappeared without a trace
Nakaka miss ang dating samahan
We miss the old companionship
Saan na nga ba saan na nga ba
Where indeed, where are they now?
Saan saan na nga bang' barkada ngayon
Where have all our barkada gone now?
Ilang taon din ang nakalipas bawat isa sa ami'y tatay na
Several years have passed, and each one of us is now a father
Nagsusumikap upang yumaman at guminhawang kinabukasan
We strive to become wealthy and secure our future
Paminsan-minsan kami'y nagkikita mga naiwan at natira
Occasionally, those of us who remain get together
At gaya nung araw namin sa iskwela pag magkasama ay nagwawala
And like in our school days, we still go crazy when we're together
Napakahirap malimutan ang saya ng aming samahan
It's so difficult to forget the joy of our friendship
Kahit lumipas na ang iilang taon magkabarkada parin ngayon
Even though years have passed, we're still barkada to this day
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkaibigan parin ngayon
We're still friends, still friends, still friends to this day
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkabarkada parin ngayon
We're still friends, still barkada to this day
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkaibigan parin ngayon
We're still friends, still friends, still friends to this day
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkabarkada parin ngayon
We're still friends, still barkada to this day
Magkaibigan magkaibigan magkaibigan parin ngayon
We're still friends, still friends, still friends to this day
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@donaldcorpuz9093
No cellphone
No internet
No gadget
💯 percent happiness
@pcptantoniomanucot6929
Mas masaya nun hano?
@garciaarnel8910
Haiss throwback 90s sino nkka relate
@charlitoguinhawa5324
relate n relate atm dati nuun 90's ansaya ng barkada ngaun my mga sariling pamilya na watak watak na
eto aq ngaun solo lang sa isang bilog nakakamiss un dating barkada
@leitoxblue4313
Isa to sa mga composition ni Danny Javier..
Salamat sa iyong musika sir Danny. Rest in peace.
@sahawihadjirasul7071
Na miss ko tuloy ang barkad ko noong 97 na palagi kmi stambay sa may Computer games 😂😂😂😂
@louiemaceda8743
Kakalungkot....na masaya...asan na Kya CLA....alala kpa nung grade one ako ung klasmeyt ko na katabi ko....biglang bumaho room nmin un pla nadumi na sa short...asan kna Kya...San na nga ba......😅😅😅
@georgedelima6103
Habang pnapkinhan qo ang kantang to PRA qo bigla nag flashback npansin qo nalang ntulo n luha qo nkkainis love u apo
@jonathancabiling291
Maraming salamat sa nag gawa nang kantang ito..tagos SA puso ko Ang kanta nyo..APOHIKING..your the best.
@AllanBoongaling-fq8dc
I miss my high school life my barkadas, 🥵🤧🤫🤣