The famous group was organized in 1969, APO’s members are Daniel “Danny” Javier, 57, Jaime Ramon “Jim” Paredes, 53; and Jose “Boboy” Garovillo, 53.
The trio graduated with Liberal Arts degrees from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1973 and decided to turn professional a year after. From then on, they have developed into one of the movers of the evolution of OPM music. Their songs are enveloped with the distinct Filipino culture and style. Their style uses colloquial Tagalog and ranges from ballads, protest songs and novelty numbers.
In 1985 and 1986, amid threats of censorship, they staged three major solo concerts, “EtonAPO Sila,” “EtonAPO Sila part II,” and “NanalonAPO Sila.” “Posila” is a Cebuano dialect which means “Shoot him” - the very words that Benigno Aquino’s assassins shouted.
The group’s hit songs include, “Mahirap Magmahal ng Syota ng Iba,” 1976; “Pumapatak ang Ulan,” 1978, and “Salawikain,” 1981, “Show me a Smile,” 1976, “Kaibigan,” 1978, Kabilugan ng Buwan,” 1980, “Di Na Natuto, 1986,” “Awit ng Barkada,” 1988 “Paano,” 1991.
In 1985, APO came out with “American Junk,” which protested the dominance of the Americans top 40 song hits on Philippine radio. The group also spearheaded anti-Marcos protests in the early and mid 1980s.
The group composed socio-political themes like: “Hindi ka Nag-iisa,” 1986; “Tuloy ang Ikot ng Mundo,” and “Sasaya ang Pilipinas” 1987; and “Piece of Peace”, 1988.
After the Marcos dictatorship was toppled in 1986, Jim Paredes composed “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo, ” and was sung by 15 great Filipino singers, in a way, it was USA for Africa’s “We are the World” equivalent of the Philippines.
The APO Hiking Society was cited by the Awit Awards as The Best Group in 1989. They also garnered platinum record awards for their albums Ten Years Together, 1980; Mga Kenton ng APO, 1988; and Ang Songbuk ng Apo, 1991.
Danny Javier introduced “Pidro” t-shirts in the early 1990s. “Pidro” t-shirts usually has imprinted messages that echo the Filipino culture. Boboy Garovillo now has his own business, while Jim Paredes is into photography.
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