Another legendary OPM singer, Hajji Alejandro, has passed away at the age of 70 after a long battle with colon cancer.
So far, no official announcement has been made by the family about the news. However, social media has shown signs of mourning; on Monday, Barni Alejandro, his daughter, simply changed her Facebook cover photo, resulting in tributes and condoling messages from fans, friends, and colleagues.
Known as the “Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala,” or “Heartthrob of College Girls,” Alejandro became famous in the Philippine music world in the 1970s and became one of the most revered voices in Original Pilipino Music (OPM). His songs “Panakip Butas” and “Tag-Araw… Tag-Ulan” became defining hits that characterized an era in Filipino pop music.
Earlier this year, during a trip to Vigan, the singer was said to have developed colon cancer after a medical calamity struck him during the trip. After suffering severe bloating and difficulty in breathing, a CT scan revealed the disease, which led to him undergoing an emergency surgery in February.
Many complications arose for Alejandro after his surgery, including seizures and a life-threatening infection that required him to be in intensive care. He proved to be a fighter, however. Slowly but surely, he recovered and returned home, undergoing rehab to restore his ability to speak and sing.
In early April, Rachel Alejandro, his daughter and a singer, announced that her father was “doing better” and looking forward to returning to the concert stage.
Hajji Alejandro’s endeavor as one of OPM’s trailblazers and one of the few musicians who touched several generations of music lovers will always be remembered.
