Pamamaalam at Pasasalamat sa Apo...

Paalam is a very sad word. It's the Tagalog word for "goodbye" and, for some reason, I find it waaay sadder than the latter. Two nights ago, the Apo Hiking Society, my all-time favorite Filipino singing group, staged the last of their series of farewell concerts after they decided to disband after 41 years of making great music. The final concert was aptly entitled Paalam nAPO!

I wasn't at the concert, not even in the one that was held in Cagayan de Oro. I had to settle for the pictures and videos posted on Facebook and Twitter. I really wanted to watch at least one concert in the series, but time and circumstance weren't on my side. I could've gone to CdO for the concert there, but I had work. I would've wanted to go to Manila and watch the final concert at the Music Museum, but, well, I didn't have that much money. The thing is, now that I think about it, it was just as well because it would've been too painful for me. It would've been too sad.

For someone who has always considered the Apo a huge part of her life and so much a part of who and what she is, it would be total torture to see them perform knowing that it would be the last time they'd be performing together. I remember the first and only time I watched them in concert. I went by myself since none of my friends was available at that time. It was held in UP Diliman. The moment they came out on stage is a moment I will never forget for as long as I live. I was so overwhelmed that I didn't realize I was crying. Really, really. I think the lady seated next to me got irritated at some point because I was singing along with the group the entire time! In the most quiet way I could, at least. I knew most, if not all, of the songs they performed that night. And, I was so happy that it was my favorite, Kabilugan ng Buwan, that they chose to play with (they sang different versions of it). The concert was exactly as I expected and imagined it to be; it was great! Unforgettable!

I remember when I found out that the Paredeses were planning to move to Australia for good, the first thing I thought about was what was going to happen to the Apo. And then, I was relieved when they still continued to have shows together. Then, last December, when they officially announced that they were disbanding, like a cheated girlfriend, I was totally heart-broken. The very night I read about it from Sir Jim's Twitter account, I listened to all Apo songs I could find on YouTube and I cried like mad. I was inconsolable that night! I know that some people may think I was overreacting and all, but that was really how I felt. It actually took me a day or two to recover from the sadness I felt.

I was only 12 years old when I became aware of the Apo and their music, and I remember already liking them then. I remember singing Batang-Bata Ka Pa in my freshman year in High School. And, that's actually when my love affair with the group officially started. From that time on, they became my favorite singing group. When one's that young, s/he only has the most popular and "in" singers as favorites, but it wasn't like that for me. As early as that time, I was already into them and they weren't even that popular among my age group. That was 1993-ish. And, I have continued to love them until today and will probably continue to love them until I die.

Another thing that will always make the Apo special to me is the fact that they will always be a part of my Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) experience. Their song, Ewan, has been the "national anthem" of many batches of Philippine delegation for years, up until now. In fact, even our foreigner counterparts know the song by heart. It's actually the most popular Filipino song in SSEAYP history. And, as for our batch, most of the Tagalog songs we sang while in the program were Apo songs. And, I couldn't be happier then.

The Apo will remain in every Filipino heart they touched with their wonderful music. They may never perform their songs together again, but the performances that made them one of the Philippines' greatest and finest, will always be very clear and fresh in our minds and hearts. The Apo has made Original Pilipino Music richer and more colorful. I thank them with all my heart for their music and for everything that is the Apo experience.

Maraming-maraming salamat po, Sirs Jim, Boboy and Danny! You are living inspirations for all of us! :)