Hajji Alejandro

Angelito Toledo "Hajji" Alejandro (Tagalog: [ˈhadʒɪ ɐlɛˈhandɾɔ]; born December 26, 1954) is a Filipino singer and actor from Alaminos, Pangasinan, who was a major pop star in the 1970s and 1980s.^[1] Just like another OPM legend Basil Valdez, he came from the group Circus Band. He was the first winner of the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Toledo and the surname or paternal family name is Alejandro.

Hajji Alejandro
Birth name	Angelito Toledo Alejandro
Born	(1954-12-26) December 26, 1954 (age 70)
Origin	Manila, Philippines
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Musician, actor
Instrument	Singing
Years active	1976–present

Dubbed the "kilabot ng mga kolehiyala" (college girls' heartthrob), Alejandro is best remembered for songs such as "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika", "Panakíp Butas" and "Nakapagtataka".^[2]

Career

Hajji Alejandro began performing in 1976.^{[citation needed]}

Political views

In 1986, Alejandro and his then-partner Rio Diaz campaigned for the reelection of president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 snap election, with the two continuing to support him even after his deposition in the People Power Revolution.^[3][4]

Personal life

In the 1980s, Alejandro operated a small restaurant along Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California with his wife, beauty queen and actress Rio Diaz. They have a son, Delara drummer Ali Alejandro. Rio Diaz died of colorectal cancer in October 2004.^[5]

Alejandro is also the father of singer Rachel Alejandro.

Discography

Albums

• 18 Greatest Hits
• Collection
• Pagbabalik (1992)^[6]
• 25: The Silver Anniversary Album Of Hajji Alejandro

Singles

• "Panakip Butas" (1977; Tagalog cover of "Worst That Could Happen" by The 5th Dimension) - Alejandro re-recorded the song for his Silver Anniversary Album released by Sony BMG Music in 1996
• "May Minamahal" (1977) - Alejandro re-recorded the song for his Silver Anniversary Album released by Sony BMG Music in 1996
• "Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan" (1977; Tagalog cover of "Charade" by the Bee Gees) - Alejandro re-recorded the song for his Silver Anniversary Album in 1996.
• "Ang Lahat Na Ito'y Para sa 'Yo" - Alejandro re-recorded the song for his Silver Anniversary Album released in 1996
• "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika" (1978; original composition by Ryan Cayabyab; Grand Prize Winner, 1st Metro Manila Popular Music Festival & Seoul Song Festival)
• "Nakapagtataka" (1978; original composition by Jim Paredes)

See also

• Rico J. Puno
• Rey Valera
• Freddie Aguilar
• Marco Sison
• Nonoy Zuñiga

References

1. Lockard, Craig A. (1998). Dance of Life: Popular Music and Politics in Southeast Asia. University of Hawaii Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-8248-1918-7.
2. "Hajji and Rachel Alejandro in Tagaytay". Manila Bulletin. 14 February 2003. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
3. "Top advertisers withdraw from movie talk shows". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. March 17, 1987. p. 13. Retrieved May 20, 2021. Marcos loyalist couple Rio Diaz and Hadji Alejandro [sic] were spotted by our staff in Laoag, Ilocos Norte a few days ago.
4. "More stars join KBL campaign". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. January 30, 1986. AS THE Feb. 7 election nears, more and more showbiz personalities have signified their support for the KBL campaign.
5. "Ex-NegOcc solon Cojuangco passes away". Panay News. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
6. Paras, Mina (August 22, 1992). "A much mellowed "kilabot" is back". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 20. Retrieved November 3, 2020. These days, Hajji, whose latest album, "Pagbabalik," has recently been released and hitting the airlanes...