APO endorses Gawad Kalinga

APO endorses Gawad Kalinga

By Mavic Ignacio Palanca

TORONTO–After 17 years, APO staged a comeback to Toronto via a concert at the International Centre in Mississauga. The crowd was a mix of young and old, mostly Filipinos with a sprinkling of other cultures who came to see and hear the well-known trio render their unique and creative music style. Local talents from Toronto graced the show. Adding warmth to the show was Ms. Geneva Cruz, doing her own rendition of songs like “Hot Stuff”, “Funky Town” and a Ryan Cayabyab piece “Kailan.” It was like a homecoming for the crowd who sang along with the APO as they did take the audience down memory lane with songs so close to the Filipino heart: “Pumapatak na Naman ang Ulan,” “Ewan,” “Tuyo Na’ng Damdamin,” “Mahirap Magmahal ng Syota ng Iba.”

Boasting of 37 years of friendship and a great chemistry, the APO wowed the audience with their re-creation and contemporarisation of songs like “Magtanim ay Di Biro.” “Santa Clara.” “Ave Maria.” “Sitsiritsit” and other balitaw and kundiman songs in a comical effort to perpetuate Filipino culture.
The show was undeniably a showcase of the trio’s humor evidenced by their jokes on anything and everything including themselves when each one tried to outdo the other, especially Buboy who got the brunt of it from Danny and Jim. And definitely it was a night of music that ranged from songs of unrequited love, kundiman, youthfulness, friendship and hope. And it was their rendition with Geneva, of “Umagang Kay Ganda” that segued into their message of hope.

Danny Javier spoke of a project that is going on in the Philippines: Gawad Kalinga. He said in Tagalog that the Philippines face a beautiful tomorrow because of Gawad Kalinga which endeavors to build houses for poor Filipinos, that Gawad Kalinga is about giving dignity to a person who has nothing to show.

The group went on to say that with the little that one can do, matched by the little that another can do, everyone can help the Philippines out of its misery condition. APO encouraged the crowd to read the brochure distributed by ANCOP International Canada, Inc, sponsor of Gawad Kalinga project in the Philippines. For those who did not receive the brochure, and need more information, they are asked to call 905-564-1937 or 905-564-8539.