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.
Softly
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comes through my window pane
Thoughts come to me
Memories of you fill my mind and I smile
So gently and my world transforms
Into a merry carousel
Turning me round
Bringing me back to the place where
You there, time could have stood still and then
We'd spend all our moments to share
The dreams that we've known
sometime, somewhere
II
And as, we go through the days
Remembering the love we made
I know that you'll stay
Bringing me more than that mere words can say
I know, that time can stand still and then
We spend all our moments to share
The dreams that we know sometime,
somewhere.
The song "Softly" by Apo Hiking Society is a touching love ballad that talks about how love can transform a person's world. The lyrics describe the feeling of waking up in the morning as the sun shines through the window and remembering the moments spent with someone special. Memories of that person fill the singer's mind, and they smile gently as they are transported to a joyful place, like a merry-go-round. The song speaks of finding that person, and how, if time stood still, they would spend all their moments of life together, sharing the dreams they have had for each other; a love that lives on over time.
Throughout the song, the lyrics emphasize the importance of cherishing the moments spent with someone loved, and how these preserve us during sad and difficult times. The second verse specifically talks about how, as time passes, remembering the love that was made keeps the love alive even when the person is no longer present. The lyrics express that the memories can, in themselves, create a place where love always exists, as we wait in hope to be reunited.
In conclusion, "Softly" is a beautiful love song, with heartfelt lyrics that capture the essence of what love is all about. It is about treasuring every moment that life has to offer us and cherishing the people that we hold dear. The message is that whatever happens in life, those memories that we create together are what keeps us going and helps us overcome life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Softly, as the morning sun
As the sun rises slowly and tenderly, my mind is calm and tranquil.
Comes through my window pane
The light of the morning sun passes through the window and illuminates the room.
Thoughts come to me
I begin to think about you and our past memories together.
Memories of you fill my mind and I smile
Thinking of the times we shared together brings me joy and happiness.
So gently and my world transforms
This feeling is so familiar and comfortable, it changes my outlook on the world.
Into a merry carousel
My thoughts spin and twirl like a joyful carousel, with you at the center.
Turning me round
These thoughts of you completely envelop and surround me, lifting me up.
Bringing me back to the place where found ...
I am transported back to the moment when we first met, remembering how special that time was.
You there, time could have stood still and then
Being with you was so perfect, time seemed to pause and stand still.
We'd spend all our moments to share
We would cherish each and every moment together, never wanting to leave each other's side.
The dreams that we've known
sometime, somewhere
Together we dreamt of endless possibilities for our future, no matter where it may lead us.
And as, we go through the days
As time passes and we move through our lives, our love continues to grow stronger.
Remembering the love we made
We fondly recall the moments when our love was at its strongest and most passionate.
I know that you'll stay
I am confident that our love will remain strong and never fade away.
Bringing me more than that mere words can say
Our love is so profound and deep, words alone cannot fully express its magnitude.
I know, that time can stand still and then
Our love is timeless and can make time seem to stand still when we are together.
We spend all our moments to share
Our love is so valuable to us that we want to spend every moment possible together.
The dreams that we know sometime,
somewhere.
We will continue to dream and hope for a future filled with love and happiness, no matter where life takes us.
Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.