Now in their 40th year as a trio, the Apo Hiking Society will perform in a grand concert on Sept. 25 and 26 at the Skydome, SM North Edsa. As expected of their style, the concert, entitled “Apo Kayang Kaya Pa,” will be full of witticism, humor, comedy, engaging and intelligent!

The Apo Hiking Society is composed of Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Boboy Garrovillo.

Jim said that a performer must engage the audience, and unless he can do it, no matter what he sings, the artist will just remain a flop.

The Apo Hiking Society has always been very particular of “engaging the audience,” and this principle has catapulted them to the height of their singing career, and we can safely call them icons of the Filipino music industry.

“We only sing original Filipino music,” Jim stressed. “That’s also our trademark in all of our concerts!”

The Apo Hiking Society has always been among the most-sought entertainers in the Philippines, that most often they were performing abroad more than in the Philippines.

The trio first made its mark during the early ’70s. They were schoolmates at the Ateneo University from where they performed regularly in campus shows where their singing and flair for comedy earned them a loyal following which grew and grew in the ensuing years.

They later went into recording, and among their long series of enduring hits were: “Yakap Sa Dilim,” “Prinsesa,” “When I Met You,” “Tuyo Na’ng Damdamin,” “Salawikain,” “Pumapatak Ang Ulan,” “Panalangin,” “Nakapagtataka,” “Mahirap Magmahal Ng Syota Ng Iba,” “Kaibigan,” “Kabilugan ng Buwan,” “Ewan,” “Doobidoo,” “Batang-bata Ka Pa,” “Awit ng Barkada,” “Di Na Natuto,” among others which have become classics and kept the Apo on top of the local charts.

The Apo Hiking Society also wrote and composed practically all their songs. An Apo show is an enjoyable mix of music and laughter and “Apo Kayang Kaya Pa” is a must-see!

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GMA Network announces promotion of two officers

From the pigeonhole:

The Board of Directors of GMA Network recently announced the promotions of Ida Henares to Vice President for Talent Development and Management (TDM); and Joseph Francia to Vice President for International.

The promotion of Henares came as GMA Network Chairman, President and CEO Felipe L. Gozon announced the upgrading of the GMA Artist Center from divisional to departmental level (TDM) to more effectively train, develop, and promote in-house talents, who will be sourced to provide the needs GMA and QTV programs, and other Network subsidiaries. TDM now operates directly under the Office of the President.

Henares heads the talent-production team, which has over 100 artists in its roster including the country’s biggest stars such as Rhian Ramos, Iza Calzado, Mark Herras, Aljur Abrenica, Kris Bernal, among others.

Henares underwent trainings for various artistic disciplines. She honed her talent for classical and modern ballet, jazz, maui, swing, hula and a variety of styles under the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Dance Company and the Penthouse 7 Dance Program. She was one of the few who attended the Martha Graham dance clinic.

She recently marked another milestone in her career by being the first ever Filipino judge in the most recent Asian Supermodel Competition held in China. Henares and her Philippine team likewise participated in the Korean Modeling Association International Festival Awards. She is a member (the first Philippine representative, in fact) of the Asia Model Association.

Francia, on the other hand, is in charge of GMA Network’s International channels – GMA Pinoy TV (GPTV) and GMA Life TV (GLTV). Subscribers for both GPTV and GLTV continue to grow, with GPTV having 217,000 paying subscribers and GLTV with 112,000 as of the second quarter of 2009.

Under Francia’s leadership, GMA International has now become the second-largest income-distributor to GMA Network, after the main terrestrial/free-to-air broadcasting business of the company. Francia remains as Head of Operations GMA International alongside his new concurrent position.

Francia won first place in Excellence in Multicultural Marketing Awards (EMMA) for the Marketing Tactic Category held in 2006 in New York. At present, he contributes media industry write-ups to TV Asia, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting, and Asia Image.

Prior to joining GMA Network, Francia was affiliated to Beanstalk Media, Inc. (a management consulting company that specializes in business advisory and project management services), Entertainment Network, Ltd. (a media management, content acquisition and distribution, and electronic media services), and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, among others. He holds a Kellog-Post Master Degree in Business Administration from Northwestern University.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Sept. 16 go to Irene Marcos-Araneta, singer Janno Gibbs, Tommy Abuel, Lito Legaspi, Rica Bagatsing, Janet Bordon, Rex Paul M. Cruz, Belinda Mejia, Norma Cabarrubias, of Phil. Banking Corp., Makati branch, Beth Lugtu, Emeelee Mercado, Gemma Cruz of Yves/Vincent Video, Elma Fadri of Care Giver Training Center, Millie Reyes, Betty Malong, Joel Mejia, Arlene Silan-Vigilla, Romy Posadas and Lee Soliman. Belated b-day greetings to MB’s Rene Javellana and Aileen Casis (Sept. 15).