Danny Javier, an APO said goodbye
Back in the early ‘70s when the young singing trio that would become the Apo Hiking Society was rising to heartthrob status, the swooning girl fans had a way of describing the members.
They said that Jim Paredes was handsome but seemed serious. Boboy Garrovillo was cute and funny. Lead singer Danny Javier was flirty and sexy and the best singer.
Danny was indeed. Truth to tell, had he decided to go the solo route, his vocal chops and rakish charm would have given Rico J. Puno formidable competition. But no, he chose instead to go with the soft harmonies, think Lettermen, Chad and Jeremy, etc., that the Apo became famous for and which built a now legendary music catalogue.
The Apo Hiking Society was a singing group born at the Ateneo Campus in Quezon City and which built its following by performing in other schools. They originally called themselves the Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, because the initials stood for Ateneo de Manila High School. Naughty boys. They did so while knowing full well that the Filipino hero never did any hiking while he was alive.
Criticized for what was termed a desecration of an esteemed personage, they shortened the name to the Apolinario Hiking Society and which later became just the Apo Hiking Society and in later times the famous brand APO Hiking Society with the capital letters.
Jim, Danny and Boboy were ready to say goodbye to performing when Vicor Music Corporation, then the hot label for Filipino artists, convinced them to release the recording of their packed “farewell” concert held at the Meralco Theater in 1973.
The result was the live album In Concert#$%*!?, released in 1974. Included are pop hits like Come Saturday Morning and Your Mother Should Know, gag numbers like Sitsiritsit Alibangbang and the now iconic Otis Elevator.
This was followed by the group’s first studio album, Collector’s Item. These recordings sealed the fates of Jim, Danny and Boboy. From then on, they resigned themselves to careers in show business. It was a decision that they never regretted.
After recording nearly 30 live and studio albums and countless hit songs, doing concerts, hosting several TV shows, they even acted in the movies, and becoming one of the most successful acts in local pop music history, the APO sadly disbanded.
The trio performed together for the last time at the inauguration of Pres. Benigno Aquino Jr. on June 30, 2010. It was around this time when Danny announced he was retiring and thus ending a fruitful collaboration that had lasted for nearly 50 years.
Danny was born Daniel Morales Javier on Aug. 6, 1947. He was already dabbling in performing solo and with other groups when he enrolled at the Ateneo University for college and soon joined the Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society.
Although he was a latecomer to the group, remember the members had been together since high school and in some cases, even grade school, Danny instantly became the lead vocalist.
Now, Jim, Danny and Boboy often shared the solo chores during their shows, but it was Danny’s vocals that became the trademark of the APO. He also wrote songs, a lot of them distinguished by his wry sense of humor.
Among his enduring works are the big sellers Di Na Natuto, Awit ng Barkada, Pumapatak Na Naman ang Ulan, Kabilugan ng Buwan, Kaibigan, Doobidoo Bidoo, Just a Smile Away, Lumang Tugtugin, Show Me a Smile, Blue Jeans and Isang Dangkal.
Aside from singing, writing songs, producing records, advocating for the welfare of the Filipino artist, hosting shows and occasionally acting, Danny Javier was also a writer and businessman.
His most interesting venture was Pidro, a character he created that later became a sort of everyman symbol of the naif trying to survive in the big city. Danny went into merchandising to put Pidro’s likeness on T-shirts, mugs, etc.
Danny struggled with various health issues these past few years and passed away last Oct. 31 at the age of 75. It is a cliché but so true in this case. Danny’s death is the end of an era. He is survived by his children Justine, Jobim, Jama and Julienne.
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