Over a month after the passing of OPM icon Hajji Alejandro, singer Alynna Velasquez revealed that he had proposed marriage to her years before his death.

But Alynna said he did not accept the wedding proposal.

"Sabi ng iba bakit hindi raw ako nag demand ng kasal. He proposed to me years ago. Sabi niya magpakasal daw kami. Pero sabi ko huwag na lang baka magkaroon ng complication sa. mga anak niya. So sabi ko huwag na lang. (Some people said why didn't I demand marriage? He proposed to me years ago. He said we should get married. But I said, 'Don't, there might be complications with his children.' So I said don't)," said Alynna during an interview after her concert at Viva Cafe in Araneta City recently.

Alynna regretted not accepting the wedding proposal, but she said it was for his good.

"Sayang talaga. There was a chance but I decided (not to accept it) for his family. Hindi ko naman alam na mangyayari sa kanya ito. (Sadly, there was a chance, but I decided not to accept it for his family. I didn't know this would happen to him)," she said.

During the show, Alynna expressed that she couldn't help but feel emotional about her performance.

"Nagpractice naman ako na hindi iiyak eh but it's hard kapag bumabalik talaga yung nakaraan. To this day hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na wala na si Hajji. (I've practiced not to cry, but it's hard when the past really comes back. To this day, I still can't believe that Hajji is gone), she said. 

Hajji passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 70. His family confirmed the news through his manager, Girlie Rodis, on April 22, 2025. Hajji had been fighting stage 4 colon cancer since early in the year.

Asked what she misses about Hajji, Alynna said: "Yung pagka-suplado niya. And then nag-aayos siya kapag may show siya. Patay na patay ako sa kanya kapag naka-suit siya. It's like seeing him for the first time, and we've been together for 27 years, but it's always like the first time, kapag napapanood ko siya. (His being snobbish. And then he gets ready for his show. I'm so in love with him when he's in a suit. It's like seeing him for the first time, and we've been together for 27 years, but it's always like the first time when I watch him.)

Alynna added: "Hajji is an introvert. He's a very private person. He's intelligent. He loves watching movies all the time. Pero magkaiba kami ng mga hilig na movies. Napakalalim niya and loving. "(Hajji is an introvert. He's a very private person. He's intelligent. He loves watching movies all the time. But we have different tastes for film. He's deep and loving.)"

She recalled how difficult it was during Hajji's final days."Kailangan naming ipakita sa kanya na hindi kami naaawa. But I'm sure naaawa rin siya sa sarili niya. Knowing Hajji, medyo perfectionist siya. So kapag kaharap ko siya, nagpapatawa rin ako sa kanya pero kapag nakatalikod na kami, umiiyak kami ni Rachel (Alejandro). "(We have to show him that we don't feel sorry for him. But I'm sure he feels sorry for himself too. Knowing Hajji, he's a bit of a perfectionist. So when I'm in front of him, I make him laugh, but when we're apart, Rachel (Alejandro) and I cry)," Alynna said.

Alynna did not attend Hajji's wake. She explained on social media why she couldn't be there. The singer also appealed to fans to refrain from criticizing Hajji's family.

"Dear friends and followers, please don't attack or blame the family. There are some members who respect me and those who hate my existence. It's just my destiny and predetermined path. And I am also defective at times. For these, I apologize.

"My biggest regret is that I let some people interfere with our lives. So many wasted time. Life is just so short," she said.