WHILE performing before a crowd of oldies but goodies and original Pilipino music fans a couple of years ago, the sexagenarian Jim Paredes quipped: “I used to smell marijuana from the audience every time the Apo Hiking Society performed during our younger years. Now I smell Salonpas!”
In some cultures it is impolite to ask about one’s age but this brings us to this running joke among followers of original Pinoy musicals: If “Sa Wakas” is for hipsters and millennials, or those in their late teens up to mid-30s, and the ongoing “Rak of Aegis” and “Ang Huling El Bimbo” are for titos and titas, or those in their mid-30s to late-40s, then could “Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!” be for the lolos and lolas of Manila?
“The songs of Apo have been covered by Parokya ni Edgar, Ely Buendia, Gary Valenciano, Rachel and Hajji Alejandro, and many others,” noted Jonjon Martin, dramaturg and co-writer of ““Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!” which opens at Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Bonifacio Global City on Friday.
The iconic group composed of Paredes, Boboy Garrovillo and Danny Javier has recorded around 220 songs and released 27 albums in a span of four decades in the music industry. The Apo Hiking Society is credited as among the originators of OPM, at a time when local performers were chasing audiences by being versions of foreign artists.
While music artists at the time were aiming to become the local Bee Gees, the Filipino Matt Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and so on, they were composing songs that mirror the Filipino experience. Apo has influenced musicians from the 1980s up to the present to become their better selves.
The trio called it quits in the middle of 2010 after being together for a total of 41 years. They haven’t been performing together as a group since then.
On some occasions, Paredes would perform solo or with Garrovillo but Javier took the word “retirement” seriously and was never seen on stage with the other two. Javier plays golf with Garrovillo and would sing a tune or two if there were requests from friends but never for the public. Since 2010, Javier has never performed once again with Paredes.
Intriguingly, Martin told us the three would come to rehearsals but on separate days, with one member never with the same schedule and crossing paths with another member. But not being in the same room together is the least among the concerns of the creative team. What matters is that they are all there to support the musical in their own capacity.
Now the million-dollar question. For those who followed the lives of the Apo members after retirement, it is spoken in hush-hush tones in cafes and bars that Paredes and Javier aren’t on speaking terms for years because of their political beliefs. But we gambled in asking if there’s a possibility that the musical will pave the way for their reconciliation.
“I honestly hope so although it’s not that known a fact. Honestly, I’d rather not comment,” Robbie Guevara, writer and director, said.
Santi Santamaria, managing director and executive producer, is also hands-off. He said: “I’m not privy to their personal matters so I really cannot comment on that. The one thing definite is that all three Apo members will watch the show, and we’re all excited for that.”
But what if this musical will prove to be positive in all aspects, like the reunion of the three members on stage for a major concert?
“Absolutely! I think everyone does. I don’t just want to see it when it happens,” Santamaria said and without a pause, he laid down the winning cards. “If given the chance, I want to produce it or at least be part of it!”
The smell of Salonpas cannot be far behind. (ABS-CBN News)
