Another sad chapter has been written in the world of showbiz after the passing of OPM legend Hajji Alejandro. At his funeral, loved ones, friends, and fans could not hold back their tears as they paid tribute to a life dedicated to music and the arts.

The most poignant moment of the night was when his daughter Rachel Alejandro stood up to give a eulogy. Amidst sobs, she struggled to form her words — a final offering of love and gratitude for her father who inspired not only her but the entire industry.

“I learned from Papa to love music, family, and the country,” Rachel said, her voice trembling. “He taught me to be true, even when it hurts, and to always take every note, every song to heart.”

Even the speakers at the funeral — Hajji’s showbiz colleagues, friends, and former Circus Band members — spoke of the memories and good deeds the singer had done. Some could not help but sob as they recalled the happy days of performances, the grueling rehearsals, and Hajji’s quiet but deep charisma.

The evening was filled with music — the musicians sang some of Hajji’s most famous songs like “Panakip Butas” and “Nakapagtataka” — songs that are now even more poignant due to the loss of the person who gave them life.

His remains were laid to rest in a simple chapel but the emotions of those present were intense — not just because of a death, but because of a huge gap left in the hearts of OPM.

As the day of the funeral approaches, the outpouring of condolences from the public continues. Online and on social media, thousands of fans are expressing their grief, gratitude, and respect for one of the pillars of Filipino music.

At the end of the night, a simple message from Rachel resonated with everyone: “Papa, thank you for the music. In your heart that is always ready to love. In your last song, we will sing for you.”

Hajji Alejandro, OPM legend and balladeer, is dead at the age of 70
Hajji Alejandro died of complications due to his stage 4 colon cancer, according to his family which confirmed the death of the OPM legend.

He died at the age of 70.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Dad and Son, Angelito ‘Hajji’ T. Alejandro. At this time, we kindly ask for privacy as our family grieves this tremendous loss. We appreciate your understanding and support during this difficult time,” said Girlie Rodis, a family friend and long-time manager of Hajji’s daughter, Rachel Alejandro, in a statement.

He left behind his 3 children namely singer-actress Rachel Alejandro, Chef Barni and Mojofly drummer Ali Diaz Alejandro.
On his Instagram, Chef Barni, offered or popularized a song in his “Daddywaps.”

“I love you, Daddywaps… I’m gonna miss you forever,” he said when he sang the lyrics from Alejandro’s hit song “Ang Lahat Ng Ito’y Para Sa’Yo.”

“All this is for you. Tears and success, all brought to you. All tunes and songs, all thoughts and feelings, I offer them all, I offer them all to you.”

The struggle of the OPM singer against his colon cancer was made public by his long-time girlfriend Alynna Velasquez in her interview with broadcast journalist Julius Babao in March 2024. She revealed that she underwent surgery and has been fighting the infection since Hajji returned.

Velasquez revealed in the interview that he was the one who blamed the family of the Alejandros for going public with Hajji’s health condition, even though he pointed out the OPM singer’s “critical condition, he created a greeting that he wanted to confide in one person.
“We had conflicting opinions… I apologize for whatever I said but I just got hurt, and I feel like Hajji has been my partner for 27 years, I think that I know him best,” he said.

Hajji’s death happened after the deaths of showbiz greats Superstar and national artist Nora Aunor on April 16 and Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales on April 12.

Alejandro, the original heartthrob among college females, launched his entertainment career in the 1970s. He made a fortune and was known as the “horror of the people.” kolehiyala (college crush)” and it is because of his captivating charm and swoon-worthy vocals. He has been active in the OPM scene for more than four decades.

The singer opened up in his interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer in February 2020 about maintaining his voice.

He said that he has a habit of “constantly humming,” even though he is conditioning himself one performance at a time.

“I’m constantly humming; that’s already a form of vocalization… But of course, when I have a scheduled performance, I start conditioning myself weeks before it. I avoid ice-cold drinks and going to crowded areas,” he said.

Talking about his longevity in the industry, Alejandro said that “playing” in music is one of the things he stands for when it comes to maintaining his “long-decorated career” in singing.

“My mindset is that you don’t work for music — you play it. And thus, I have been playing all this time. From Day 1, it was all about the music. Sometimes, you find yourself asking if now’s the right time to stop, especially as you get older. But at the same time, I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he said.

Hajji Alejandro is known for his songs “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Nakagatata,” “Sunday, Rainy Day,” “Panakip-Butas,” “If I Were Man Enough,” and “May Minamahal.” These are just a few of Alejandro’s famous songs.