Sex, infidelity, vice and APO

APO Hiking Society is my favorite musical group – The Beatles is just a poor second in my short list.

I love the trio not because their group was formed in the year I was born – 1969 – but because their songs carry the true notes of pinoy spirit. They beautifully sing our lives in their 27 best-selling albums which hold at least 40 hit songs.

Who could forget the tunes of “Batang-Bata Ka Pa”, “Blue Jeans”, “Ewan”, “Kaibigan”, “Pumapatak Ang Ulan”, and “When I Met You”? These are only a few of the iconic hits that Danny Javier, Jim Paredes and Buboy Garrovillo used to conquer the heart and soul of most Filipinos.

Their retirement as a singing group only intensified the fans’ hunger for their music – raking more attention to these Tanglaw ng Lahi awardees.

But there is one APO song that I really hate, specifically its lyrics – the song titled “Yakap Sa Dilim.” I don’t want to sound like a religious killjoy. But for me, this song endorses sex, marital infidelity and vice.

Let’s try to dissect some parts of “Yakap Sa Dilim”:

Sex – Halika na at sumiping ka sa kama / Lasapin natin sarap ng pagsasama. Marital Infidelity – O kay sarap ng mga nakaw na sandali / Habang tayo’y magkayakap sa dilim. Vice – Kung gusto mo ay magsigarilyo muna / Bago tayo magkayakap sa dilim.

Well, the music industry worldwide is peppered with the so-called dirty-tunes, some songs even went to the extent of praising the devil and hell.

But in their 40-year career, APO Hiking Society tried to show that they are not an ordinary singing group; that they are also activists who condemn the many social and political evils in the country.

Actually, according to online sources, the group’s name was an irreverent reference to the paralytic Philippine revolutionary and hero, Apolinario Mabini. Perhaps, they wanted to show the world that their songs also champion people’s well-being.

Thus, it is very shocking for me to hear an APO song that hums the notes of sex, marital infidelity and vice.

Maybe, the real reason why Danny, Jim and Buboy supported Benigno Aquino III in the presidential race was Noynoy’s smoking habit which is consistent with the campaign of “Yakap sa Dilim.”

The said song was revived by Orange & Lemons, furthering the spread of its message. I just hope that one day, APO will have another reunion. A reunion with an extra-ordinary purpose: to retire “Yakap Sa Dilim.”