Performing for People Power

The APO will forever be endeared to the Filipino people for their contributions to the birth of the People Power Revolutions in 1986 and 2001. Even before the first revolution when it was dangerous to speak one's mind under the dictatorship, Jim, Danny and Boboy composed and sang songs about freedom, poked the eye of the powers-that-were with their irreverence and satirical wit. One could count on one hand how many artists were willing to stick their necks out to regain back the freedoms lost under the Marcos regime. At the risk of persecution, they continued their sacred tasks as artists to expose the foibles of the government through concerts, recordings and rallies until victory was won.

In the interim between EDSA 1 and 2, the group not only endorsed and made songs but actually joined causes and movements that promoted the issues of peace, care for the environment, free and credible elections, universal healthcare, among others. Like in 1986, it was not unusual to listen to APO include issues of governance in their concerts.

During the recent People Power mass action, the APO held the fort by keeping the crowds entertained, informed and enlightened on stage at EDSA for most of the 5 days it took to drive President Estrada out of office. Consistently true to their calling as artists of the people, Jim, Danny and Boboy were one with their countrymen in expressing outrage at the failure of the institutions of government, and pursuing their desire for better governance by installing a new government.

The APO leaves no one sacred when they pan society - their humor has evolved from jokes on the drug culture of their younger days to the absurdity of life in the new millennium. Despite the political flavor of their previous shows, however, the APO members insist that they are nonpolitical. Their brand of satire, they explain, merely exploits the current foibles and troubles of society and its main players. With these criteria, therefore, everyone is fair game. They point out that the bulk of APO's songs and concert material is still about those enduring commodities, love and humor. In the final analysis, it is their indigenous Filipino songs, sweet, sad, bitter, joyous, funny, that have made Danny, Jim and Boboy three of the more enduring perennials of the Philippine entertainment. §

Previous: Promoting Original Pilipino Music