Ang ganda ng tribute ni Rachel Alejandro sa pumanaw na amang si Hajji Alejandro.

Ayon sa post ng singer-actress sa socmed, itinuturing niyang “brightest star” sa kanilang pamilya ang ama kaya naman hindi nila alam ang gagawin ngayong nawala na ang nagbibigay sa kanila ng liwanag.

“He never got old. What happens when the brightest star in a galaxy dies? My Dad was our sun and we were the planets, orbiting around him, basking in his warmth and light,” ani Rachel.

Ginunita rin ng anak ni Hajji ang panahong mga bata pa sila ng mga kapatid at sumasama-sama sa mga lakad ni Hajji. She even remembered na nakakatulog pa sila sa bahay ni late Comedy King Dolphy kapag nakikipaglaro ng poker ang daddy niya.

“As kids, we tagged along to all his activities, be it shows, rehearsals, basketball games — it didn’t matter what it was. We would fall asleep at Dolphy’s house if he was there for an all-night poker game. There was nowhere else we would rather be than by his side because every minute in his presence was fun,” aniya.

Gustong-gusto raw nilang kasama ang kanilang ama kahit lumaki na sila at magkaroon ng asawa.

“Even as adults, we craved his company even as we got married and went about our own lives. I hung on to his every word about politics, financial investments or the latest joke he planned on including in his next concert with the Hitmakers. He loved to make people laugh as much as he loved to sing and dance,” pagbabahagi ng singer-actress.

Isa pang ikinahanga ni Rachel sa ama ay never itong nag-cancel ng show kahit pa masama ang pakiramdam. She revealed na bago magpaopera si Hajji ay nag-perform pa ito sa dalawang events.

“My Dad was a happy, optimistic man who valued having a good, comfortable life, yes, but more importantly, he prioritized providing for his partner, mother and children. And his way of doing that from the time he had me at the young age of 19, was through his golden singing voice, which is why regardless of how he was feeling, he never cancelled shows.

“Even when he was already in considerable pain, he performed in 2 more events before he was admitted into the hospital for surgery. For Dad, every show is a blessing and performing for you all is our highest calling as singers,” aniya.

Ayon pa kay Rachel, kahit dalawang buwan niyang nakasama ang ama bago ito nawala, hindi pa rin siya ready when his final hour came.

“2 months of hospital stays and spending time with him at his home and I was still not prepared as I helplessly watched him breathe his final breath,” ani Rachel.

Hindi raw niya alam ang gagawin ngayong wala na ang daddy niya, “But I intend to make him proud in everything I do, to live by his code of honor and goodness, to perform for you all with everything I’ve got and leave it all on the stage every single time.

“I will now just be singing and dancing with Dad in my dreams…,” pagtatapos ni Rachel.

MABILIS MAG-HEAL

Mabilis ang naging road to recovery ni “Lolong” lead actor Ruru Madrid mula sa natamong hamstring injury. Ilang araw lang matapos maospital, balik-taping na agad si Ruru para sa serye.

Kahit pa nga willing mag-adjust ang programa para makapagpahinga siya, talagang pursigido ang Kapuso actor na gumaling agad at makabalik sa serye.

Halos normal na nga ang trabaho nito sa set. Nakakalakad na siya nang maayos at hindi na kailangan ng wheelchair o saklay.

Ikinatuwa naman ito ng kanyang doctor.

“Nagulat din po siya, actually, na sobrang bilis po ng healing. But siyempre, sabi niya huwag ka pa rin magsa-stunts na magiging delikado at posibleng bumalik ‘yung injuries. Sabi niya, at least ipahinga mo itong linggo na ‘to tapos, try natin mag-MRI ulit. Kung healed na siya, mabibigyan ako ng clearance,” say ni Ruru sa isang panayam.

Samantala, patuloy na napapanood ang aktor sa “Lolong: Pangil ng Maynila” mula Lunes hanggang Biyernes, 8 p.m., sa GMA Prime.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Vinia Vivar