The singer Hajji Alejandro died of colon cancer early this week but in the snapshots posted by his daughter Rachel Alejandro on Instagram, he does not at all project the image of an ailing man before and after his diagnosis. 

In photos of concerts last December, in which he appeared as her special guest and performed bouncy numbers with her, he is far from looking like a terminal case. In pictures of the family’s holiday get-togethers, he is shown enjoying happy, fun times; his 70th birthday comes across as a celebration of life.

“Some of us are blessed with youthful good looks. Some are lucky to have an abundance of talent and a lucrative career while others have lasting good health,” is Rachel’s memorable caption to photos of the birthday boy, with emojis of a happy face, ice cream, and cake.

She adds: “At 70 years young today, my Dad @hajjialejandro.official has all that and more. I, together with his family, partner, and close friends, will all gather for a simple, intimate celebration tonight. His biggest blessing is that he is very much loved by us and his fans.”

In the early days of 2025, Hajji is all smiles in photos of family birthdays and other special occasions.  

He appears to be losing weight, but the smiles that always include his eyes conceal the slimming down. And then his love partner of 26 years, the chanteuse Alynna Velasquez, officially announced last March that he had cancer.

Still, his photos convey Hajji with the sunny disposition and the signature sweet smile. 

When Rachel was awarded last month Best Supporting Actress for the film “Song of the Fireflies,” as announced by Filipino American actress Tia Carrere at the 2nd Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles, she was optimistic that her Dad would survive his illness.

Excerpts from her digital post: “I struggled to get to the stage in high heels…In the end, all I could think of was my Dad. I dedicated the win to DAD. Then I felt a surge of gratitude and awe for the miracles that have been transpiring in our lives the last few days. Then I trampled on the mic stand and nearly fell onto the steps.” 

Final hours

On Hajji’s last day on earth, Alynna wrote on Instagram: “In your final hours, you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and His promise of eternal life in His Presence.” 

Alynna, a former member of The New Minstrels, intimated in her social media spaces that Hajji passed on a day before their 27th anniversary as a couple.

But she was in a manner happy that during his brief battle with cancer, she and Hajji shared exclusive moments: “We listened to our favorite songs and we both had tears in our eyes. Your precious voice had been impaired because CA had constricted your respiratory system as well. But I felt your love even without words. And despite the pain, restlessness, and hallucinations, you tried to hold my hand…” 

She shared a poignant scene from real time: “I whispered in your ear. ‘Go with God. I love you so much. See you in my dreams.’”

As though to comfort herself, she declared: “No more pain, love. Just pure bliss with our Heavenly Father.”

Alynna also shared that her beloved had bravely confronted his fate in the last two months of his life: “You refused another trip to the hospital and chose palliative care instead, in the comforts of your home, in the company of people you love. You knew you were leaving us soon…

“We spent the last 8 days of your life together. I am grateful to your kids Ali and Rachel for reaching out to me. I have been waiting. I think of you every hour of every day.”

Although Hajji was already in his final moments on Easter Monday, Alynna publicly broke the tragic news on Tuesday. 

The obit reads: “Angelito Toledo ‘Hajji’ Alejandro. December 26, 1954–April 22, 2025.”

Campus figure

Angelito, the “little angel,” was educated at San Beda College on Mendiola, Manila. He was the good-looking guy who could carry a tune or two in the mellow, distinct voice that set him apart from his classmates.

Boy C. de Guia, the still missing TV host, entertainment journalist, talent manager, star builder, and predecessor of Boy Abunda, could tell more stories about his former student were he so inclined.

“Hajji was already a campus figure in high school because of his singing voice,” De Guia told his protégés, the Special People—composed of Danny T. Vibas, Lhar Santiago, Pilar Mateo, Ronald Mendoza and myself—one evening in the 1980s as we enjoyed a nightcap after another gruelling day of showbiz work. At the time, Hajji was dating the late beauty queen Rio Diaz.

“He was also a standout in his academic performance,” De Guia said. 

Whenever De Guia and Hajji saw each other in showbiz events, they would hug, and the student would always address the mentor as “Sir.”

Original Pilipino Music

Hajji was a stalwart of OPM, or Original Pilipino Music. He was also the so-called “killer” of exclusive-school girls—the “Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala”—because of not only his looks but, more so, his musical talent. 

He was part of the popular Circus Band in the 1970s, with fellow singers Basil Valdez, Pat Castillo, Tillie Moreno, Boy Katindig, Pabs Dadivas, Atek Jacinto, the late Jacqui Magno, Richard Tann and Walter Calinawan, among others.

He began his solo stint at the very first Metro Manila Pop Music Festival, better known as Metropop, in 1978. He interpreted the now cult song “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” composed by now National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, the same song that won them the Grand Prix at the International Music Festival held in Seoul in the same year.

Soon there was no turning back for Hajji. He scored hit after hit in the singles “Panakip-Butas,” “Nakapagtataka,” “May Minamahal,” “Ang Lahat nang Ito’y Para Sa ‘Yo,” “Tag-Ulan, Tag-Araw,” and many more.

At the height of the regroupings of solo artists to make up new configurations—as thought of by music biz honcho Vic del Rosario—Hajji became part of the Hitmakers along with fellow balladeers Rey Valera, Marco Sison, Nonoy Zuñiga and the late Rico J. Puno, who had performed here and abroad.

Too bad my connection with him was just a writer-subject relationship. But it was always a smooth, friendly one.  

Admiration

Hajji is now singing with the angels in heaven, according to his friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry. They have admiration for and fond memories of him.

Said Frank G. Rivera, film, TV and theater artist: “They come in threes. Pilita, Nora, and Hajji. Top musical stars. So sad for Music and the Industry.”

The writer and comedienne Bibeth Orteza said she is “proud to have worked with the OG Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala in ‘Batibot,’ directed by Behn Cervantes, at the Metropolitan Theater of Manila.”

The stage creative and thespian Audie Gemora posted a photo of Hajji taken while they were doing “Contra Mundum, Ang Larawan the Concert” at the MET two years ago. 

“He wanted to do a retrospective concert and asked me to direct it,” Gemora wrote. “What a celebration of an OPM icon and one of the nicest guys in the music industry it would have been. Hajji will live on through his many hits. Condolences to Alynna, Rachel, and the rest of the family.”