OPM classics, dad jokes galore at joint concert at Newport Theater

The concerts last weekend featuring members of two OPM male singing groups were a long time coming considering how they’ve been in the industry for decades now. Boboy Garovillo and Jim Paredes of The Apo Hiking Society shared the stage at Newport Perfoming Arts Theater with Nonoy Zuñiga, Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison and Rey Valera—collectively known as The Hitmakers—in “The Hit Society,” the sold-out, two-night concert.The six singers came out onstage and proceeded to introduce themselves, at one point talking all at once until one of them announced the order in which each of them would perform. That’s when the jokes really began to flow.

Audiences in stitches

For this group of men in their late 60s and early 70s, nothing was sacred or off limits. They teased Nonoy who has long walked with the aid of a cane for being a slowpoke. Jim and Boboy were treated with exaggerated deference because they looked the oldest with their snowy white hair. Hajji was mocked for dyeing his hair black, while Rey was told he was the least handsome of the group.

The teasing and zingers had the audience—most of whom were also in their 60s—in stitches. It was quite refreshing given how some quarters now are so eager to call out or cancel people for cracking jokes.

It was Rey who was the revelation. How could someone who wrote such heartfelt love songs like “Maging Sino Ka Man,” “Tayong Dalawa” and “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko” also make jokes about penis size and how women’s underwear has shrunk since the ’70s? He cracked the most number of “dad jokes” and got everyone laughing—you just had to be there.

Marco escaped the teasing relatively unscathed and was the first to perform. He sang his hits, including “Si Aida, o Si Lorna, o Si Fe” before introducing Nonoy. The two then shared the stage with Nonoy singing “Never Ever Say Goodbye” and Marco crooning “My Love Will See You Through.” It was a duet with two different songs with a similar tune performed by two different singers.

This would continue throughout the night with one performer singing the tracks he popularized, then introducing the next guy and singing onstage with him before exiting stage left. It reminded one of a Venn diagram with a row of intersecting circles, which gave the program a nice and orderly flow. During the two-hour show, the audience alternately hummed or sang along with Nonoy (“Doon Lang”), Jim and Boboy (Apo medley), Hajji (“Tag-araw, Tag-Ulan,” “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Panakip-butas”) and Rey (“Kung Kailangan Mo Ako,” “Malayo Pa Ang Umaga,” “Walang Kapalit”).The six were ably accompanied throughout by two keyboard players, two guitarists and two backup singers.

Before the concert ended, Boboy and Jim paid tribute to the third Apo Hiking Society member, Danny Javier, who passed away in October 2022. Nonoy, Marco, Hajji and Rey did the same for singer Rico J. Puno—the fifth Hitmaker—who died in October 2018.

“We’ve known each other for decades, but this is the first time we’re sharing the stage together,” Jim said that evening. It won’t be The Hit Society’s last as they plan to take the concert on tour in the United States, he added, although no dates have been announced. INQ