(SPOT.ph) When late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was laid to rest during a surprise burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 18, one of the trending hashtags was #SalamatApo, courtesy of his followers. It was even used by Imee Marcos when a same-day-edit video was posted on her Facebook page. Apo Lakay was a nickname for the former president, especially among Ilocanos who supported his dictatorship.
41 years of quality OPM will always be better than 21 years of dictatrship. #SalamatAPO#SuperficialGazette #MarcosMagnanakaw pic.twitter.com/tORXQxvfRY
— #SuperficialGazette (@SuperficialGZT) December 5, 2016
I can name five of their albums. #SalamatAPO pic.twitter.com/1JMFraqNqp
— TEMPERAMENTAL BRA (@thysz) December 5, 2016
Hashtag #SalamatAPO as i understand it came from Imee to thank her father. But ppl are using it to thank APO Hiking Society. LOL..
— Jim (@Jimparedes) December 5, 2016
Recently, however, a call to hijack the Marcoses’ #SalamatApo started on social media. Instead of patronizing Apo Lakay, the hashtag is now being used to show appreciation for the Apo Hiking Society (a.k.a. Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society), a Filipino music group that became popular in the 1970s. Some of their well-known songs are "Awit ng Barkada," "Batang-Bata Ka Pa," and "Pumapatak ang Ulan."
People on the Internet heeded the call and used the hashtag #SalamatApo, and had a bit of fun. They even infused their own anti-Marcos protest lines with the group's famous lyrics.
Panalangin ko sa habang buhay
— adsinojo (@adsinojo) December 5, 2016
Makulong ka na Magnanakaw ka
Yan ang panalangin ko #SalamatAPO
Martial law, martial law, hindi ito bola
— adsinojo (@adsinojo) December 5, 2016
Lumaban ka kay Marcos ika'y nasa langit na #SalamatAPO
Andyan ka na naman, tinutukso tukso ang aming pondo.. mga Pinoy "di na natuto" #SalamatAPO for the music. #MarcosNOTaHero @leloyclaudio
— HazQueen (@TitaHazQueen) December 5, 2016
Batang bata ka pa at baon ka na sa utang. #SalamatApo #Marcosmagnanakaw
— Leloy Claudio (@leloyclaudio) December 5, 2016
???? Panalangin ko sa habang buhay...
— Nathania Chua (@PilosopoTanya) December 5, 2016
ay mabalik na ng mga Marcos ang lahat ng ninakaw nila, with interest #SalamatAPO