Confessions of an APO Virgin

As a child of the 80s, I grew up on  Original Pilipino Music (OPM). I have quite a few hundred OPM songs in my iPod.  Most of them from the 70's and 80's and quite a handful from the 90s.  I believe that the best OPM songs were generally from 'my time'. (I'm not particularly fond of today's OPM. It must be my age.  In my opinion, most of them are poor rehashes of old songs and the rest, "noise"). I remember dedicating Dingdong Avanzado's Maghihintay Sa 'Yo to my first college crush (I cringe at the thought now. *shivers*)  Odette Quesada's Friend of Mine carries with it a heart tugging memory and Side A's Hold On  brings back a memorable birthday.  I remember a moment back in high school, my head resting against our old Toyota Corolla's window, feeling the cold breeze of the early morning air and listening to Sharon Cuneta's To Love Again on the radio. As you can see, OPM was very much a part of my youth, as New Wave and Funk.

Back when I was young, the radio was my friend.  I was on a limited allowance then, so collecting cassette tapes was out of the question. That's why my daily ration of music was provided courtesy of the radio. One of the fondest memories I had of my youth was listening to  OPM over the radio every June 12, Independence Day.  It was something I looked forward to,  a ritual that I went through every school year with my Sanyo mini-cassette player (with AM/FM radio and adorned with Little Twin Stars stickers). The radio played all day OPM while I sorted old socks and undies (determining what can still be used the following school year) or while I covered schoolbooks with plastic.  OPM kept me company during these mundane tasks.    I would sing along to those songs that I have learned by heart just by listening to them over the airwaves. 

Back then, the APO Hiking Society was one of my favorites.  I loved singing along while I listen to their songs.  Perhaps it was due to the songs' easy going melody.  It may also be due to those creative lyrics which are quite humorous, but nevertheless speak of moments in life that are so real.  Their songs remind me of one of those cool early Saturday mornings, me curling up in my bed, while the rain pitter patters on the roof. Their rhythm was so laid back and cool.  Their songs are so "sing-able", they feel your heart with cheer.    I remember gushing over my crushes to the tune of When I Met You, or wishing my name was Anna so that their song Anna was about me or reminiscing about close friends with Awit ng Barkada. There was a time I kind of pitied the guy in Pumapatak Na Naman ang Ulan because he had no money and he was incredibly bored. And I rolled my eyes at the guy in love with someone else's girlfriend in Mahirap Magmahal ng Syota ng Iba. I know most of their songs by heart that when I listen to them, they feel like family to me.

That's why I didn't hesitate when my twin sister asked me if I could join her in watching the APO Collection at the Music Museum.  She's more the APO fan since she bought the CDs and even has Danny Javier's autograph on one of them. (Bless her because those are her cds which I ripped to my iPod. )  I realized that it's about time I watch them live. Together with our closest buddy, Marivic, we trooped to the Music Museum to catch the first night of The APO Collection. 

To say we enjoyed the show is an understatement. It was a blast! No, it was more than a blast, it was so great it was catastrophic in a way.  For more than two hours, I was transformed to the days of my youth, I was in my teens again, sorting socks and listening to the radio.    I laughed, cried a little, and was totally awed at how talented they were and how effortlessly they entertained the audience.  I love their brand of intelligent spieling which today's singers do not have.  (Honestly, a lot of today's singers are talented, wag mo na lang pagsalitain.) Each number was a gem. Their performance is the epitome of what Filipino creativity truly is.  It was OPM at its finest. I especially enjoyed the part when they sang Panalangin and When I Met You.  I loved the spiel they made with Kabilugan ng Buwan and Awit ng Barkada (Amen to you, Mr. Javier!). Oh, and the Yesterday/Do-Re-Mi number was a riot!   Also, it was only with the APO where I enjoyed listening to folk songs and kundiman. They ended the concert with an encore of Batang-Bata Ka Pa.  As they sang their final number, I secretly  thanked them  for being  a part of  my younger years.  Their songs truly bring such warm memories that I shall treasure for the rest of my life.

During the concert,  they asked the audience as to who among them were watching the APO perform for the first time.  Naturally, we raised our hands. The APO called the first-timers, "APO Virgins".  I guess I am an APO virgin.  Who would have thought one's first time can be such an enjoyable and memorable experience.

And like any virgin who enjoyed her first time…

I just want to do it again (watch the APO, that is) , anytime soon.  

Photo from:  

The APO Hiking Society Official Website

Update: October 26, 2007…Just saw that the APO website has been updated.  This entry now appears on its home page. *giggles*