BY ROBERT REQUINTINA
AT A GLANCE
Hajji, 70, has passed away after a battle with colon cancer. As of April 24 at 3:30 a.m., the family has not released any details regarding Hajji's wake and funeral.
Rachel Alejandro paid tribute to her father OPM icon Hajji Alejandro in a social media post as wake and interment details for the singer remains private.
On Instagram, Rachel described Hajji "a happy, optimistic man who valued having a good, comfortable life, yes, but more importantly, he prioritized providing for his partner, mother and children."
Rachel also said his father was a professional entertainer who performed at two more events before he was admitted to the hospital for surgery.
"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," she wrote on April 23.
Hajji, 70, has passed away after a battle with colon cancer. As of April 24 at 3:30 a.m., the family has not released any details regarding Hajji's wake and funeral.
Beloved dad and son
Hajji's demise was confirmed by Girlie Rodis, the talent management for the Alejandro family, on April 22. The full statement:
"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."
'We craved his company'
Rachel's full post about Hajji on Instagram:
"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. 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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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…"
