Rachel Alejandro remembers late dad Hajji

Rachel Alejandro opened up about the grief and how she navigated the emotional landscape of loss following the passing of her dad, Hajji Alejandro, earlier this year.

On Thursday’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” Rachel detailed their final conversations together and the difficulties surrounding Hajji’s last decisions.

“In the end, I just wanted him to tell me anong mga bilin mo? Kasi ‘di ba at the end…I wanted him to tell me what he wanted, and of course, a lot of it had to do with kung gusto ba niya to go back to the hospital kasi he decided to stay at home,” she said. “Gusto na lang niya nasa bahay siya, ayaw na niyang magpagamot.”

She admitted that “It was the hardest kasi gusto ko siyang lumaban sana.”

However, her love and respect for her father kept her from challenging him.

“Sobra akong respectful at sobra ko siyang mahal na hindi ko masabi sa kaniya na ‘Oh my God! Lumaban ka!’ Parang ‘OK, dad,’ parang gano’n na lang. I just wanted to respect what he wanted. In a way, minsan I think about it, na parang dapat ba pinilit ko?”

According to Rachel, her husband, Carlos Santamaria, has been her source of strength.

“When my dad passed nga — as they say nga, ‘di ba, nagkakasubukan when the going gets rough. Particularly, no’ng pandemic, I was really down and out then kasi walang work. But he was my rock,” she said.

Carlos continued to provide Rachel the support when Hajji passed, traveling with her back to the Philippines even though he had work.

“He came with me to the Philippines. He came back here. And siya talaga. He was there for me talaga,” Rachel said.

When asked how she is coping, Rachel admitted that mourning can strike unexpectedly.

While walking in the streets of New York, she sometimes finds herself breaking down, triggered by a memory of them performing together or something funny Hajji had said.

“I find myself – parang lagi kong, when I’m with people, I tend to tell them stories of ‘You know, my dad said this. He said this funny thing.’ Na gan’yan, gan’yan. I tell stories upon stories ng mga just funny moments with him,” she said.

During the interview, Rachel was accompanied by her best friend, Geneva Cruz, who also shared warm memories of Hajji.

“Sobrang bait niya talaga. Lagi akong invited sa mga family gatherings nila, so never ko siyang nakita na hindi nakangiti, gano’n,” Geneva said.

Geneva recognized Hajji not just as a kind family man but as an exceptional professional, praising him as a great performer. 

“I’m a fan of his kasi napakagaling talagang performer and on time lagi, napaka-professional, napakagaling pa rin ng boses, ang galing pa rin sumayaw,” she said.

She understood Rachel’s heartache, saying, “It was really tearing her apart. Kasi nga ‘yung dad niya, na isa sa idols niya, nakikita niya he was weak. It was hard for her to watch.”

Hajji passed away in April. He was 70 years old.

Born Angelito Toledo Alejandro, Hajji was a member of the Circus Band and won at the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival with the song "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika."

Among his other hit songs are "Panakip-butas," "Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan," and more. — Carby Basina/LA, GMA Integrated News