NAGLABAS ng official statement ang pamilya ang OPM icon na si Hajji Alejandro na may kinalaman sa kanyang maagang pagpanaw on Easter Monday, April 21, the same day na pumanaw ang well-loved Pope na si Pope Francis ng Vatican.

Hajji was 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.

“To God be the glory.

‘Alejandro Family”

Sa FB page ng isa sa mga anak ni Hajji na si Barni Alejandro ay nag-alay ito ng awiting “Ang Lahat ng Ito’y Para sa `yo,” isa sa mga classic hits ng kanyang ama at nag-iwan siya ng mensahe: “I can’t fathom a life without you. My heart is broken into a million pieces. You were my first love, my hero, my idol. Forever your Yabs! (with three broken hearts emojis).”

It was last month nang mag-circulate ang balita that Hajji was diagnosed of 4th stage colon cancer, the same ailment na ikinamatay ang kanyang late ex-wife, ang dating beauty queen, host at politician na si Rio Diaz na sumakabilang-buhay nung October 4, 2004. Ang dating mag-asawa ay nagkaroon ng isang anak na si Ali Alejandro.

Born as Angelito Toledo Alejandro, si Hajji ay isinilang sa Alaminos, Pangasinan isang araw after Christmas nung December 26, 1954. He would have been 71 on December 26, 2025.

Si Hajji ay nasa college noon ng Ateneo University de Manila when he was recruited by Atek Jacinto who founded and managed The Circus Band nung 1969 na kinabilangan din nina Basil Valdez, Tillie Moreno, Pat Castillo, Pabs Dadivas and the late Richard Tan and Jacqui Magno. Sumikat nang husto ang Circus Band nung dekada `70 hanggang isa-isang kumalas ang mga miyembro to lead a solo career.

In fairness sa mga dating miyembro ng Circus Band, all of them landed in their respective successful solo careers after they left the band.

Taong 1977 nang magsimulang pumaimbulong ang solo singing career ni Hajji matapos itong maghatid ng sunud-sunod na hit songs tulad ng “Panakip-Butas,” “May Minamahal,” “Tag-araw, Tag-ulan,” at “Ang Lahat ng Ito’y Para sa `Yo” na sinundan ng awiting “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” na kinompos ng National Artist for Music na si Maestro Ryan Cayabyab. Ang nasabing awitin was interpreted by Hajji sa kauna-unahang Metro Manila Popular Music Festival and became the grand prize winner maging sa Seoul Song Festival in Seoul, Korea.

Ang mga naunang hits ni Hajji ay nasundan ng iba pa tulad ng “Nakapagtataka” (na kinompos ni Jim Paredes ng APO Hiking Society), “Ikaw at ang Gabi,” “If I Were Man Enough,” “Pamamaalam,” “Isang Araw” at iba pa.

When he was at the peak of his singing career, he was dubbed as the original `Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala” (college girls’ heartthrob). Pinasok din noon ni Hajji ang pag-aartista at kasama sa mga pelikulang ginawa niya ay ang “Love to Love” at “Panakip-Butas” which co-starred him with superstar and National Artist Nora Aunor kasama sina Trixia Gomez at Sandy Garcia na pinamahalaan ni Romy Suzara nung 1977.

Hajji had two daughters sa kanyang unang wife na si Myrna Demauro, ang magkapatid na Rachel at Barni Alejandro who are both good singers like their father pero si Rachel lamang ang nag-focus sa kanyang singing career. When Hajji remarried the late former beauty queen, host and politician na si Rio Diaz, nagkaroon din sila ng isang anak, ang drummer na ngayon na si Ali Alejandro. He also had a daughter na si Michelle Alejandro from a previous partner.

Nung nabubuhay pa ang “Total Entertainer” na si Rico J. Puno, siya ang nakaisip na buuin ang “OPM Hitmakers” kung saan niya isinama sina Hajji, Rey Valera at Marco Sison at sa kalaunan ay isinama rin nila si Nonoy Zuniga. They’re all music icons and hitmakers maving waves hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa ibang bansa.

Kay Rico J. nagmula ang mga `green jokes’ during their shows and concerts na sinundan ng interaction ng kanyang mga kasama.

Although they were still active sa kanilang respective solo careers, naisisingit pa rin nila ang “OPM Hitmakers” shows and concerts and everyone was enjoying it.

When Rico J. passed on (October 30, 2018), nagpatuloy ang OPM Hitmakers with Hajji, Rey, Marco at Nonoy (who sacrificed his medical career for music). Ngayong wala na rin si Hajji, mag-uusap-usap muna sina Rey, Marco at Nonoy kung ipagpapatuloy pa nila ang grupo ng binuo ni Rico J. in his memory gayundin kay Hajji ngayon.

Tulad nina Rico J., Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales and National Artist and superstar Nora Aunor, Hajji was also a music icon.

What is unusual here, the three music icons all passed on sa loob lamang ng siyam na araw. Pilita bid goodbye nung April 12, 2025 sa edad na 87, namaalam si Nora nung April 16, 2025 at age 71 habang si Hajji nitong nakaraang Lunes, April 21, 2025 sa edad na 70. Ang tatlong industry icons ay pare-parehong naging bahagi ng `golden era’ na tila imposibleng maulit pa sa susunod na henerasyon.

Pope Francis mahirap makalimutan

OUR love, prayers and respect sa mga yumaong music and cinema icons gayundin kay Pope Francis who passed on at age 88. Hinding-hindi namin makakalimutan nang bisitahin niya ang Tacloban City at mag-hold ng misa nung January 2015 sa gitna ng bagyo na aming dinaluhan at nasaksihan. Hindi siya nagpatinag gayundin ang mga taong nag-vigil, naglakad nang malayo nang basang-basa na matiyagang naghintay at nag-abang sa kanyang pagdating.

Tunay kang nasa puso ng bawat Filipino at ng buong mundo, mahal na Pope Francis.

Paalam!

AUTHOR PROFILE

Aster Amoyo