Hajji Alejandro is the screen name of Angelito Toledo Alejandro, born on December 26, 1954 and is a popular Filipino singer and actor in Philippine entertainment. He was famous in the 1970’s to 1980’s and he is a member of the prominent band “Circus Band.” A colleague Basil Valdez, also came from the same band. Hajji was the first grand winner of the 1977 “Metro Pop Song Festival.” He had been singing since he was in high school and pursued a Management course at the Ateneo de Manila University.
He had a partner, beauty queen, actress and model former Rio Diaz, the sister of Miss Universe and actress Gloria Diaz. They lived in Los Angeles, USA for a while where they had a small restaurant along Melrose Avenue. They were blessed with a son whom they named Ali Alejandro. Rio died in 2004 due to colon cancer. Hajji is the father of popular Filipino singer Rachel Alejandro, on his first wife.
Hajji was originally dubbed as the “Kilabot ng Mga Kolehiyala (College Girl’s Hearthrob), and had numerous popular songs such as “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika,” “Panakip Butas,” and “Nakapagtataka.” He promoted his album and toured in different colleges and universities to enhance his audience. The campus tours became successful and later he focused on mature audiences, performing in different clubs, hotels and other big venues.
Hajji had also an interest in stage acting, and he joined the cast of “Batibot,” directed by former Behn Cervantes. He also joined the cast of “Kapinangan,” and some other musicals at the Metropolitan Theater, and was also included in the Broadway musicals entitled “The Wiz” and the “Fantastics.” He then guested in the rock opera ballet “Tales of the Manuvu,” in 1977.
When he was still a young boy, he dreamt to be an athlete, in any sport as long as he excels at it. He had that competitive nature and the joy of winning is something different he says. He shares the joy of being a singer and the VIP treatments that one gets to enjoy as a famous celebrity. His concerts had brought him to so many places without spending a centavo. It’s like having an all-expense-paid vacation while being paid.
On his 50th birthday, his son Ali gave him a large painting for his living room. That was a portrait of him singing at the Folk Arts Theater when he won the Grand Prize at the First Metropop pin 1978. It was the best gift he had received in his lifetime. Today, he is just so thankful and every night before he sleeps, he tries to recall everything that transpired during the day and thank God for all of them. He still continues to pray for guidance and wisdom that he finished whatever is it that God had told him to do.
There’s nothing he can ask for, but he is just returning all the glory to his creator, and thankful of the God-given talent that he has been bestowed.
