Apo Hiking Society Memories are made of these

By Alwin M. Ignacio, Contributor

09/06/2008

It was in 1973 when people first heard of the Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, and during that time the group was the talk of the town specifically in the confines of the Ateneo de Manila University and adjoining campuses for its brand of music and irreverent sense of humor.

Since that initial spark that propelled them to the limelight, Danny Javier, Boboy Garrovillo and Jim Paredes, for 39 years now, have given their fellow Pinoys the soundtrack of their lives. They had 21 studio albums, four compilations have 16 collaboration albums and of late two highly successful tribute albums.

Now, the trio is set to conquer the Araneta Coliseum this September, and no doubt it will be a musical journey of the group’s unforgettable songs, which they have recorded throughout their enduring musical career.

“When we do a concert, the aim is always to surprise and delight, that is what we promise to our audience for this Araneta Coliseum show which is actually our first time,” says Paredes. “We have done appearances in the Araneta, but this is the first time that we are doing head billing. We promise our audience na hindi kayo uuwi ng bitin.”

Apo Hiking fanatics will surely enjoy their timeless classics such as “Pumapatak ang Ulan,” “Awit ng Barkada,” “Ewan,” to mention a few. Paredes shares that some of his most favorite Apo ditties are “When I Met You,” “Panalangin” and “Nakapagtataka.”

“I would like to believe that most of our songs have become the soundtrack of our lives,” replies Paredes to the query on what he considers as their biggest achievement. “That was definitely unconscious but later on when we looked at it consciously, we realized that 99.97 percent of all the pop songs in the world are really about love. All the others are derivatives of love. Through the years, we learned that ballads have a special place in the Filipinos’ heart. Because gan’un tayo, we are very romantic. The other thing is if you want to express love through your song, dapat ‘yung lubus-lubusang expression and gustong-gusto ‘yung put your beloved on a pedestal.”

Does he immediately know if a song he is writing is a potential hit?

“No!” he answers quickly and explains, “Sometimes you really get the feeling that this is it, and it is. Sometimes you are betting on a song in the album that this is the one, and then it does not really take off. Then, some songs that you just wrote and didn’t care about and when you recorded it, balewala lang, iyon pa ang nag-hi-hit. All I can say is the best songs were the easiest to write.”

He further says, “I avoid cliché phrases when I wrote songs although in my earlier years I used to do it. For example, the lyrics of When I Meet You, ‘You gave me a reason for my being and I love what I’m feeling,’ parang medyo philosophy student ang nagsulat, ‘di ba? Within the first 20 seconds, it should be interesting. If it does not grab you in the first 20, get rid of it. Second, I think it should describe an authentic experience; you must give a part of you in the song. I learned, now that I am older, the best songs are something that just came out the most natural. Like in the case of ‘Tuyo ng Damdamin,’ sabi ni Danny, ‘I have to admit to myself na wala na akong ibubuga.’ So, the lyrics of the song became ‘Aminin sa sarili mo na wala ka ng ibubuga.’ That was the inspiration there. In addition, I wrote that one really fast, ang taas na n’un, within five seconds. ‘Yang mga break-up talaga are the perfect inspiration for a milestone song.”

“We have three secrets regarding our longevity, and they are: No. 1, we really enjoy what we are doing, No. 2 is that we believe that we are doing something greater than us. When we came in, we really wanted Filipinos to experience the idea of having a Filipino soundtrack of their lives. During our wonder years, all we heard were English songs. I felt then as a young Filipino, 39 years ago, the British, they sing British songs, the Americans as well so bakit tayo American songs ang kinakanta natin? We were one of those young people who thought we should have our own pop music. In a way, you might say that the Apo is very cause-oriented. Thirdly, siguro kaya tumagal kami kasi walang sex. ‘Pag may sex kasi nagkakahiwalay,” Jim smiles naughtily.

“Admittedly, I don’t think we have great voices as soloists but somehow when we are together, we sound good,” he adds. “We are like Clark Kents na pag nagsama, nagiging Superman or Super Group. You really have to submerge your ego for the group because nobody would say na ang ganda ng song na ginawa ni Jim na kinanta ni Danny na binak-upan ni Buboy. Hindi naman ganun. Laging ang ganda or ang pangit ng song ng Apo. The group now I think in terms of the way we entertain our audience. I think we are better than ever. Our instincts are so good. We are such a tight team. We just know each other so well, and the songs have a life of their own. People will enjoy the songs much more now.”

How does he feel about the tribute albums? “I felt really good about it,” Paredes replies. “For awhile, I was beginning to think that this music maybe will just be going to be part of my generation and that it is a new world out there, and it is really a new world out there. However, I felt the kids connected to our music, maybe not always in the way I pictured they connect with it. Natuwa ako kasi ang nangyari they liked the remake, and then after magsawa na sila sa remake, they went for the original. Now I think the jury is out on which they would really like.”

Paredes concludes, “My thought process every time I’m on stage and then you see thousands of people singing your songs and raising their hands or just getting applause and all of that. Ang ano ko talaga I’m standing there ang iniisip ko talaga, can it get better than this? I mean, some people will work in law offices. That’s their kick, but for me and the rest of the Apo it will be music and singing for the people.

Apo Hiking Society, one of the country’s leading music icons, kicks off a year long celebration marking their 40th year in the entertainment scene with a show titled Apo of the Philippines on Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum. For tickets, call Ticketnet at 911-5555 or visit www.apohikingsociety.org or call Thirdline at 426-0103 or 426-5301.

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