Vanette Colmenares
I MET the Apo Hiking Society when they were stepping up their foothold in the music industry. I was still in my teens, just a year shy of being in College. I recall that summer, when a testosteronic organization sponsored them to do a show in Cebu and I was priviledged to take on the job as a secretary/gofer for the Apo Concert. It was one of the first out of town gigs that Apo had and I’m referring to the Summer of 1974.
There is that chemistry that the trio radiates when they’re together and the sense of euphoria is more intense when you personally meet them. That’s what did e on my first encounter with the pinoy triad. Danny J. was understandably bisaya, so we could relate. Boboy G. was the playful one not just because of his height but he had carisma, and Jim...hmmm..he was the ‘crush ng mga collegialas’ and I was the lucky one to be real good friends with him. And even after the concert, Jim and I communicated for sometime during my college years.
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The Apo went on to become one of the Philippine’s top entertainers of all times. They subjugated noontime shows , conquered the Pinoy community around the world and even held more stints in Cebu. As for me, I moved on, raised a family and had my own little ‘apos’ (the english version).
As fate would have it and thanks to technology, I was able to hook up again with Jim after 30 years. The websites, twitters and blogs kept me up to date of the APO, while Jim and I communicated through emails and facebook.
My elation of connecting with the guys was soon quashed when they revealed they were retiring from the industry after 4 decades. Even their last performances in the States will be way out of my area. I feel so sad, because now, my chances of seeing them perform together is gone kaput! Nada! Muy pasado!!!! Pastilan!
As the commencement of their performances come to a conclusion, may the APO HIKING SOCIETY be forever remembered for as long as there are apos for generations to come. And I’m pretty sure they will be in history books because it is:
-The only group that calls themselves, the hiking society, but in reality never walked—they rode planes or cars. The only time they walked is when they’d join rallies in Manila.
-The only group that used the name of Apolinario Mabini – but none of them looked anyone like him even when they reached Mabini’s age---maybe one…and I’m not telling. Maybe I will, if you go see them on May 5 at the Waterfront.......hmm we’ll see.
-The only group that has 3 members and call themselves a society. By the way, society in bisaya is called sosyidad..it’s probably why they feel they have to ”go?” ...kasi , ‘Society na may Idad’ Sosyidad
Even if the Apo is on the “may idad” side, their songs are timeless and their camaraderie is priceless. Their matured appearances are deceiving because they can still head bang, stomp and jump like any teenager and their Many Paquiao punches of jokes will surely knock you out.
Growing up in Cebu, I would often hear my grandfather play “matud nila’ on the piano, composed by Ben Zubiri in 1941. It is the cebuanos cultural anthem and I would often catch myself singing it as well. Here in America, with high cost of help, it’s just but understandable that I do ‘apostolic’ work which in my vocabulary means bantay ‘apo’ (my son’s 2 daughters). It is my fervent desire to have my apos sing an Apo tune such as the song, “ANA” but using the name “silvANA” to remember me by and the APO as well.
How about you? what Apo song would you want your apo to remember you by? Can’t decide? then watch them lagi. They’re amazingly good. More pa! Call me ‘bakakon’ if you won’t have fun. But you can call me that only if you watch the show on May 5, 2010 at the Waterfront at 7:00 p.m.
