FASO Excellence in Music Award - APO Hiking Society

APO Hiking Society or APO (named after Philippine revolutionary hero Apolinario Mabini) is a trio of singer-songwriters: Jim Paredes, Boboy Garovillo and the late Danny Javier, who collectively produced a legacy of popular hits that spans five decades and 22 albums, uniquely blending folk, pop, jazz, and rock. 

APO rose to prominence in the 1970’s, with Javier often credited for coining the term Original Pilipino Music (OPM). The group went on to expand the Filipino pop music genre, composing and performing some of the most enduring pop songs still popular today. The band recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a wildly successful anniversary concert featuring some of the band’s iconic hits and showcasing the timeless appeal of their music to various audiences.

Almost fifty years after APO first toured the United States as an emerging band, FASO welcomes APO back to Los Angeles with the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra’s Excellence in Music Award to spotlight APO’s music to a new generation of listeners and recognize their significant contributions to the Filipino music industry. 

Selected by a distinguished panel of judges, the FASO Excellence in Music Award is given to musicians who excel in their respective musical fields and aims to inspire young and upcoming artists to excel in the field of music. Previous winners include actor, singer, and radio star Sylvia La Torre, Opera singer Kit Navarro, and iconic pop singer Jose Mari Chan.