The passing of Hajji Alejandro marks a heartbreaking moment for the Philippine music industry. As one of the iconic voices of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), he helped define a generation with his timeless songs and undeniable talent. 

But beyond his musical legacy, his death also brought deep sorrow to his fellow legends and close friends Rey Valera, Marco Sison, and Nonoy Zuñiga. Together with the late Rico J. Puno, they formed the OPM Hitmakers, a powerhouse group of artists whose friendship was built on decades of music, shared laughter, countless tours, and mutual respect.

READ: Honoring the Philippines’ ‘Kilabot ng Mga Kolehiyala’: The music of Hajji Alejandro

Here’s a look back at the harmonic friendship of the OPM Hitmakers through the years.

The birth of the OPM Hitmakers 

Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Hajji, Rico, Rey, Marco, and Nonoy each carved out individual success in the Philippine music scene. With distinct styles, ranging from soulful ballads to pop charm, they eventually came together, forming what would become the iconic group OPM Hitmakers.

In a past interview with Manila Bulletin, Hajji shared that the group began with a back-to-back concert between him and Rico. The overwhelming success of their shows inspired Viva to add singer, songwriter and composer Rey Valera to the mix, leading to sold-out concerts.

“Noong una, na first time kaming mag-sama sama, historically, kaming dalawa talaga ni Rico J ang nag-umpisa n'yan. na back-to-back. Tapos nakailang repeat yung concert namin. Eventually, idea ng Viva, sinama nila si Rey. So naging tatlo na kami.” Hajji said in the interview.

Eventually, Nonoy and Marco joined the lineup, and the group began touring internationally.

“We decided to hold another concert for two nights. This time kinarga sa amin si Marco. Then we toured the US and Europe. Kung saan-saan na kami dinala,” he added.

The chemistry of the OPM Hitmakers 

Beyond their on-stage performances, the OPM Hitmakers shared a strong bond rooted in humor and shared experiences. In the same Manila Bulletin article, Hajji shared how their friendship developed through teasing and light-hearted banter.

“Noong una pakiramdaman lang talaga kami. Nakikita nyo siguro kami paano naglalaitan. Ang tunay na magkaibigan hindi naman nagpupurian yan eh. Naglalaitan yan. So ganun kami. Sabi nga ni Rey kung kailan kami nagka-edad, doon kami naging tunay na magkakaibigan,” Hajji said.

“Pati off-stage magkakasama na rin kami. Lalo na nakasama namin si Pops (Fernandez). Na-solidify yung aming barkada."

Rey Valera also credited Hajji for contributing much of the group’s comedic material on stage.

“Sa umpisa hindi ko alam ang biruan nila. Naninibago ako. Na-realize ko meron silang routine. Yung mga script na ginagawa ko galing kay Hajji yun. Si Hajji ang creatives behind the Hitmakers. Kami naman implementation lang. Diyan nag-evolve yung career namin," he said.

Their bond extended offstage, especially during out-of-town and overseas tours. 

The misunderstandings and their strong friendship 

Despite being competitors early in their careers, the five singers became close friends. In an interview with PEP, Rey Valera expressed how being together for two decades solidify the relationship they have.

“‘Pag nagkikita kami, para kaming magkakapatid. Actually magkakumpare kami lahat,” Rey said. “Tapos na yung times na competitor mo sila. After that, naging colleague mo sila. Twenty years na kaming magkakasama. Friends na yon, di ba? Dahil marami na kayong shared experiences.”

The “Kung Kailangan Mo Ako” singer also noted on how their friendship shifted to being more supportive of one another.

Marco Sison also admitted that, like any barkada, they had their share of misunderstandings, often caused by their playful teasing or tardiness during tours.

“Nagkakapikunan sila. Ako, nanonood ako. Ito naman, matagal na ito,” Marco recalled. “Ito yung buhay pa si Rico Puno. Si Rico Puno itong intrigero sa lahat, sa totoo lang. So ako, taga-awat. Minsan napipikon sila, minsan hindi. Halimbawa, may schedule, 9 o’clock ng umaga. So, merong nale-late, merong ano. So ang nangyayari, nagre-react yung nauna. Nagpapa-late siya. So hanggang kanya-kanyang takasan na lang, kanya-kanyang dahilan.”

Rey also recalled a memorable rift between Hajji and Rico, who were polar opposites. Hajji was known for being highly organized, while Rico was famously carefree and messy.

“Ang talagang magkakontrapelo, si Hajji at si Rico Puno. Totoo lang,” Rey recalled. “Dahil si Hajji, talagang ang personality niya, pag napunta ka sa kuwarto niya, halimbawa napunta kayo sa Amerika, napasok ka sa kuwarto noon magugulat ka, yung mga isusuot niya bukas, nakasunud-sunod yun. Ganun siya ka-order. Totoo yan.”

He later emphasized, “Kapag pumasok kayo sa kwarto ni Hajji Alejandro sa mga hotel, (kasi) nakasama ko ito sa mga biyahe eh. Pag pasok mo sa kwarto, yung kama niya, nakaayos na agad yung medyas, nakaayos na kung anong isusuot niya sa susunod na araw. Organized.”

“Pagpasok mo kay Rico Puno, talaga namang nagkalat lahat hanggang sa sahig. Hanggang sa CR, pagpasok mo, nagkalat ang kung anu-ano dun na pinamili, lahat ng bag na ano.”

“Magkaibang-magkaiba yung dalawang yon. Hindi ko alam, papaano kami nagtagal during that time. Pero there was a time na talagang hindi na sila magkasundo ni Rico saka ni Hajji. Nagkaroon ng split-up, oo. Ngayon matagal-tagal din yun, ano? Tapos nung… nawala na si Rico, nagkaunti-unti na naman kaming nagkasama-sama.”

READ: The Hitmakers celebrate nearly 5 decades of music

Eventually, the friends reconciled and resumed performing together, proving that their bond could withstand even the most heated disagreements.

The First Heartbreak: Rico Puno’s Passing

Rico Puno’s death in 2018 was the first major blow to the group. To honor him, the remaining Hitmakers continued performing his songs in concerts, often dedicating an entire segment to his memory.

During the last night of Rico’s wake, the four icons performed “Kapalaran” as their tribute for their good friend. They also started roasting and teasing Rico, just like how they bonded in the past years. 

Despite their first loss, Hajji, Rey, Marco and Nonoy decided to continue doing their shows together as a way to carry on the legacy of their late friend and the group they cherished.

"I think Rico would have wanted us to go on with this Hitmakers. Na-miss namin siya. In fact, yung concerts namin sa America before the pandemic laging we make sure na kinakanta pa rin namin [ang songs niya]. There's a 50-minute [segment], mahaba yun, ha, where we pay tribute to Rico by singing his songs. 'Tapos, lumalabas din siya sa big screen to sing with us,” Hajji shared.

“Natural lang na ma-miss namin si Corics kasi ang tagal naming kasama yun, since 2003,” Marco revealed. “Kayo rin nami-miss n'yo si Rico Puno, mas lalo kami. Sa totoo lang, up to now, 'yung mga jokes niya, ginagawa pa po namin.”

Remembering Hajji: The ‘Scriptwriter’ of the Hitmakers

In a previous guest appearance on Magandang Buhay, Rey Valera and Marco Sison fondly recalled Hajji Alejandro’s unique role in the OPM Hitmakers, not just as a performer, but as the creative mind behind many of their most memorable concert routines.

“Iyong mga binibitawan namin na joke, itong mga joke, sa show, galing ho kay Hajji iyon. Siya ang scriptwriter namin. Yung mga hindi niya kayang ibato at sabihin, binibigay niya kay Rico Puno kasi bastos talaga iyon,” Rey shared.

“Si Hajji ho talaga kasi ang dahilan bakit kami masaya sa entablado at siya ho talaga malaki utang na loob namin sa kaniya.”

At first glance, Rey said, Hajji might have seemed serious and aloof.

“Si Hajji, ang unang impression ko sa kaniya, ano siya, suplado. Ang totoo niyan, totoo iyon,” Rey quipped. “Ang totoo ho nito, kapag matagal mo na siyang nakasama, kamukha namin na nakasama ko siya kasi halos 10 years na kami magkakasama, marerealize mo na napakasarap niya na kaibigan, puro biro iyan, walang tigil.”

Marco echoed the sentiment and praised Hajji’s attention to detail.

“Marami siya nagagawa sa amin. Actually, siya na iyong pinaka-well arranged siya, gusto niya maganda yung sound system, gusto niya ganitong oras, sound check,” he remarked.

Despite that professionalism, Hajji was also the most nervous before every show.

“Napapansin namin, ng barkada, siya medyo perfectionist siya na may kaunting nerbiyos na halo so ako bago magshow, wala na ako nerbiyos kasi yung nerbiyos ko nasa kaniya na lahat,” Marco revealed.

Rey also recalled how Hajji’s constant worrying made him the usual target of teasing, especially from his fellow performers.

“Sa aming grupo, siya yung worrier. ‘Pare, yung sound system natin ayusin niyo, ayusin,’ ganoon siya. Madalas tuloy napagdidiskitahan siya ng mga musikero dahil naibubuga niya yung kaniyang tension sa mga musikero,” Rey recalled.

Hajji Alejandro passed away on April 21 after a battle with colon cancer. The singer was 70.