Rachel Alejandro remembers her father, Hajji Alejandro: A daughter’s tribute to a true star

What happens when a star as brilliant as Hajji Alejandro fades from the sky?

For acclaimed singer and actress Rachel Alejandro, the answer remains elusive. In a deeply moving tribute posted after the passing of her father, Rachel likened the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icon to the sun — the center of her universe, around whom their family revolved.

“My Dad was our sun,” she wrote. “We were planets, orbiting around him, basking in his warmth and light.”

From childhood, Rachel and her siblings lived in the glow of Hajji’s charisma, often accompanying him to rehearsals, concerts, and even all-night poker games at the home of comedy legend Dolphy. “There was nowhere else we would rather be than by his side,” she recalled. “Every minute in his presence was fun.”

Even as they grew into adulthood, that gravitational pull never waned. Rachel cherished his insights — whether about politics, investments, or the punchlines he was testing out for his next show with the Hitmakers. Hajji, known as much for his humor and joyful spirit as for his golden voice, remained an anchor in their lives.

Though Hajji never chased fame through media hype or heavy PR, his career was a testament to pure artistry. “He was a bonafide star,” Rachel noted, “and his success was purely because of talent, hard work, and charisma.”

That same quiet dignity carried over into his final days. Despite his illness, Hajji chose to keep his condition private. “He was fully prepared to get well and get back to work,” Rachel explained, adding that he continued to perform in two shows while already in considerable pain, refusing to let down the people who came to hear him sing.

“To him, every show was a blessing,” Rachel wrote. “Performing for you all is our highest calling as singers.”

But after two months of hospital stays and cherished time at home with him, Rachel was left heartbroken, unready to say goodbye. “I was still not prepared as I helplessly watched him breathe his final breath.”

Now, she faces a universe without her Daddwaps — their affectionate name for the man who was not only her father, but her mentor, her constant, and her biggest cheerleader.

“I intend to make him proud in everything I do,” she vowed, “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.”

And though the stage may be dimmer without Hajji Alejandro’s voice, Rachel finds solace in memory — and in dreams. “I will now just be singing and dancing with Dad in my dreams…”

As the music world mourns the loss of one of its most beloved voices, it is through tributes like Rachel’s that Hajji’s legacy — of music, laughter, and love — will continue to shine.