2 weeks ago
8
MANILA, Philippines — As Rachel Alejandro grieves the loss of her father, OPM icon Hajji, the singer penned a heartfelt tribute to 'the brightest star of their galaxy.'
"My Dad was our sun and we were the planets, orbiting around him, basking in his warmth and light. As kids, we tagged along to all his activities... There was nowhere else we would rather be than by his side because every minute in his presence was fun," Rachel wrote across her social media accounts Wednesday evening.
Rachel and Hajji Alejandro PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK/RACHELALEJANDRO8
Rachel paid tribute to Hajji — who shot to fame in the 1970s not only for his singing voice but also for his youthful good looks, which earned him the moniker "Kilabot ng Mga Kolehiyala" — and all his hard work behind the scenes to attain his success.
"My Dad never had a talent manager (except recently when he asked his partner, Alynna [Velasquez], to handle his bookings) rarely posted on social media and never needed to pay for any sort of PR or marketing. He was a bonafide star and his success was purely because talent, hard work and charisma. He was always so entertaining on and off stage and made everyone around him feel special."
She went on to attest that Hajji "loved to make people laugh as much as he loved to sing and dance."
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"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."
Rachel revealed that even when Hajji was already in considerable pain, he still performed in two shows he had booked before he had his surgery.
"For Dad, every show is a blessing and performing for you all is our highest calling as singers."
Rachel explained that it was because of his dad's dedication to work that he wanted to keep his cancer diagnosis from the public.
"He was fully prepared to get well and get back to work, which was why he wanted to avoid word leaking out about his sickness."
In the end, Rachel shared that even while she spent two months with her father in the hospital and at home, nothing prepared her for watching Hajii breathe his final breath.
"What happens to those a star of this magnitude leaves behind? I don't have answers for that yet as I struggle to grasp living in a universe without our Daddwaps. 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," she ended.
