APO Hiking Society

APO Hiking Society
APO Hiking Society performing in 2010. From left: Boboy Garrovillo, Danny Javier, and Jim Paredes
Background information
OriginQuezon City, Philippines
Genres
Years active
  • 1969–present
Labels
MembersJim Paredes
Boboy Garovillo
Past membersKenny Barton
Doden Besa
Bruce Brown
Gus Cosio
Butch Dans
Renato Garcia
Danny Javier
Lito de Joya
Chito Kintanar
Sonny Santiago
Ric Segreto
Websitewww.apohikingsociety.org

The Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, later popularly known as APO Hiking Society, or simply APO, are a Filipino musical group, that comprised Danny Javier, Jim Paredes, and Boboy Garrovillo.[2] Today, the group consists of only Paredes and Garrovillo as a duo.

APO Hiking Society are regarded as one of the pillars and icons of Original Pilipino Music (OPM). The group was formed and had its fledgling beginnings in 1969 at the Ateneo de Manila High School, with 12 members:[2] Lito de Joya, Sonny Santiago, Gus Cosio, Renato Garcia, Chito Kintanar, Kenny Borton, Bruce Brown, Butch Dans, Doden Besa, Ric Segreto Macaraeg, Jim Paredes, Boboy Garrovillo, and the 13th member, Danny Javier, who joined in college. The group's name was created from the acronym AMHS representing their school with a witty twist having an irreverent reference to the Philippine revolutionary intellectual and hero, Apolinario Mabini, and later shortened to "Apo", an Ilocano term for a wise man or a Tagalog term for grandchildren, and later re-branded to "APO" (all caps). Contrary to popular belief, the "Apo" name was not a reference to the Philippines's highest peak, the potentially-active stratovolcano Mount Apo. The group's name and meaning was a joke for the fact that Mabini has been paralyzed by polio during the Philippine revolution and cannot use his feet for walking nor hiking, hence the name.

As the students advanced into college, their lead vocalist, Danny Javier joined the group. After graduation, the majority of its members left to pursue individual careers, with only three members remaining,[3] made up of Javier, Jim Paredes, and Boboy Garrovillo.[4]

In the span of their professional career, APO emerged as a principal adherent of the musical movement termed Original Pilipino Music (OPM), a term coined by Javier,[5] a milieu in which their original musical contributions and cultural influence became essential.[3][6][7] APO became involved in record production, talent management and organizing artists under the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (O.P.M., acronym translation: "Organization of Philippine Singers/musicians"). The group expanded its activities into establishing and furthering the careers of new OPM artists in the Philippines.[7]

To date, the group has released 27 albums in the five decades of their career.[8] Two successful tribute albums were produced in 2006 and 2007 by their management group, featuring numerous young bands reinterpreting APO's expansive repertoire.

The group frequently utilized their brand name, "APO", as a clever component for Tagalog puns in titles for television shows such as their own noon-time variety shows, Sa Linggo nAPO Sila and 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila, live programs and marketing materials, for example, as in nA PO, which transliterates as "already" (polite/formal usage).

In 2010, APO Hiking Society performed a series of concerts and the inauguration of Benigno Aquino III from February to June 30, 2010.[9] Paredes and Garrovillo still remained active in show business and perform occasionally as a duo. In 2022, the group lost one of its members upon the death of lead singer, Danny Javier, due to a prolonged illness at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute on October 31, 2022, at the age of 75, as confirmed by his daughter Justine.[10]

  1. ^ "Thirdline Incorporated's Profile". Thirdline Incorporated. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Lolarga, Elizabeth (June 1–15, 2002). "Apo Hiking Society After 34 Years: It's Still A New Day". Planet Philippines Online Edition. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Apo Hiking Society at Crossroad 77". Manila Bulletin. February 17, 2008. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  4. ^ "Apo Hiking Society History: Three Decades of APO". www.apohikingsociety.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  5. ^ Pagulong, Charmie Joy (November 2, 2022). "APO Hiking Society's Danny Javier: 'The man who coined OPM'". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Panaligan, Jojo (August 27, 2006). "Classic APO hits by contemporary acts in tribute concert". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on March 17, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  7. ^ a b "Promoting Original Pilipino Music". www.apohikingsociety.org. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  8. ^ "Apo Hiking Society on Online Registry of Filipino Musical Artists and Their Works". Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit. 2004. Archived from the original on September 25, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  9. ^ "APO Hiking Society to retire 40-year career this 2010". PEP.ph. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  10. ^ "Danny Javier, one-third of APO Hiking Society, passes away at 75". ABS-CBN News. October 31, 2022. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2022.