Alynna hindi nasaksihan ang burol at libing ni Hajji
HAJJI Alejandro would have had celebrated his 27th anniversary with his longtime partner, ang singer na si Alynna Velasquez last Tuesday, April 22, 2025. But a day before their anniversary ay binawian ng buhay ang singer (na ama ng singer-songwriter at actress na si Rachel Alejandro) after his two months battle with stage 4 colon cancer.
Ngayong wala na si Hajji, bukod sa kanyang pamilya at malalapit na kaibigan, mag-isa itong ipinagdadamhati ni Alynna dahil hindi siya nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na masaksihan ang lamay ng taong minahal niya nang husto. Ang kanyang pagluluksa ay idinaan niya sa pagdarasal at pag-alay ng bulaklak at kandila sa Star ni Hajji sa Walk of Fame in Eastwood City, Quezon city, ang sinimulang proyekto ng yumaong Master Showman na si German `Kuya Germs’ Moreno sa pakikipagtulungan sa management ng East Wood.
Hajji passed on at age 70 nung nakaraang Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, same day ng pagyao ng well-loved na si Pope Francis ng Vatican at age 88.
Samantala, hindi rin matatawaran ang mga naiambag ni Hajji sa larangan ng musika at entertainment hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa ibang bahagi ng mundo sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga timeless hit songs and memorable performances both as a solo artist at bilang bahagi ng over two decades’ old group na OPM Hitmakers na kinabilangan din ng yumaong si Rico J. Puno kasama sina Rey Valera, Marco Sison at Nonoy Zuniga.
Sa isang gabi ng lamay ni Hajji (he was already creamated) sa Heritage Park in Taguig City last Wednesday, April 23, nag-alay ng awitin ang kanyang mga kaibigan, kapwa music icons at kasamahan sa OPM Hitmakers na sina Rey Valera, Marco Sison at Nonoy Zuniga. Kinanta nila ang favorite song ni Hajji (ni Rey Valera) na parati nilang ginagawang finale song when they perform, ang “Kung Maputi na ang Buhok Ko”. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala ang tatlo na wala na ang kanilang kaibigan at kasamahan at hindi na rin nila ito makakasama sa kanilang mga upcoming shows and concerts.
Bukod kina Rey, Marco at Nonoy, dumating din sina Pops Fernandez, Eva Eugenio, Jim Paredes and Buboy Garovillo ng APO Hiking Society, Carlo Orosa, Hajji’s family minus Rachel Alejandro na parating pa lamang umano galing Amerika, his 92-year-old mother na si Gng. Nena Alejandro, Hajji’s only son (sa namayapa na ring dating beauty queen and politician na si Rio Diaz) na si Ali Alejandro and his family, his nephew Nino Alejandro, Hajji’s close friends (from Ateneo) at iba pang malalapit na mga kaibigan both in and outside showbiz.
Losing two music icons na sina Rico J. Puno at Hajji sa grupong OPM Hitmakers was a big blow and loss sa grupo at sa industriya ng musikang Pilipino in general.
Ayon kay Nonoy Zuniga (who sacrificed his medical career in favor of music), sobrang malaking kawalan sa kanilang grupo ang unang pagkawala ni Rico J. na sinundan ni Hajji.
Nung mawala si Rico J., a lot of adjustments had to be made at malaking tulong sa grupo si Hajji who would write the script for the group whenever they have shows or concerts pati ang distribution ng jokes (including green jokes na kanilang minana kay Rico J.).
The last time na magkakasama ang OPM Hitmakers ay nung February 13, 2023 sa isang show in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Doon pa lamang ay nakita na nila may ibang nararamdaman si Hajji. He was bloated and in pain at hindi umano makakain but just like any other professional trouper, he was able to perform with the group kahit hirap siya. But the next day, binigyan lamang siya ng pain reliever ni Nonoy at dun lamang siya kumalma.
Hajji had another corporate show (as solo artist) nung February 15, 2025. He was supposed to perform seven songs. Because he was in pain, nakiusap itong gawin na lamang four songs. The next day ay saka siya dinala sa hospital at doon lamang na-diagnose that he had 4th stage colon cancer.
Hindi na muli nagkita-kita ang grupo until Hajji passed on.
Hindi naman makakalimutan ng Concert Queen at concert producer na si Pops Fernandez si Hajji na maraming beses din niyang nakasama sa shows and concerts bukod pa sa grupong Hitmakers.
On the Hitmakers’ 20th anniversary concert, it was Pops who thought of producing them a concert sa pamamagitan ng kanyang sariling DSL Productions and Entertainment in cooperation with Flor Santos’ Dreamwings Entertainment. Isang sold-out concert ang ginanap sa The Theater at Solaire nung December 1, 2023 billed as “Hitmakers: XXCeptional 20th Anniversary Concert”.
Ayon kay Nonoy, sobra nilang mami-miss si Hajji dahil sa ipinakita nitong discipline at professionalism nung ito’y nabubuhay pa bukod pa sa kakaiba nitong sense of humor.
“Suplado lang tingnan si Hajji, but he’s fun to be with,” pahayag ni Nonoy.
“Matagal na kaming magkaibigan ni Hajji kahit hindi pa kami magkakasama sa Hitmakers. Iba siya makisama,” paglalahad ni Nonoy.
Kahit tatlo na lamang sila sa Hitmakers ay ipagpapatuloy umano nila ang grupo na binuo ng big boss ng Viva na si Boss Vic del Rosario, Jr. nung 2001 na sinimulan nina Rico J. at Hajji, the following year ay idinagdag si Rey Valera and in 2023, isinama naman sa grupo nina Marco Sison at Nonoy Zuniga at nagkaroon sila ng sold-out concert sa Araneta Coliseum nung April 2003 na nagkaroon ng repeat the following month.
“Ipagpapatuloy pa rin namin ang Hitmakers na dala-dala namin ang magagandang alaala nina Rico J. and Hajji,” pahayag ni Nonoy.
Mga yumaong personalidad pararangalan sa Malacanang
SA darating na May 4, 2025 ay nakatakdang gawaran ni Pres. Ferdinand `Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. sa Malacanang Palace ng posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit ang mga yumaong Queen of Philippine Cinema na si Gloria Romero, Asia’s Queen of Songs na si Pilita Corrales, ang superstar at National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts na si Nora Aunor at ang 2016 Asia’s Best Female Chef na si Margarita Fores na sumakabilang-buhay in Hong Kong nung nakaraang February 11, 2025. Ito’y may kinalaman sa magkakahiwalay na naiambag ng apat sa sining at kultura ng ating bansa.
Fun interview with The Hitmakers
PLEASE watch our exclusive and fun interview with The Hitmakers (Hajji Alejandro, Rey Valera, Nonoy Zuniga and Marco Sison) together with Concert Queen and concert producer Pops Fernandez on “TicTALK with Aster Amoyo” on my YouTube channel a year ago.
SUBSCRIBE, watch, SHARE and press the bell icon of “TicTALK with Aster Amoyo” on my YouTube channel. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook@asteramoyo and X@aster_amoyo.
