Inalay ni Rachel Alejandro sa kanyang amang may sakit na si Hajji Alejandro ang napalunang best supporting actress award sa katatapos na Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) na ginanap sa Los Angeles, California.

Nagwagi ang singer para sa kanyang pagganap sa musical film na “The Song of The Fireflies.”

Sa Instagram post ni Rachel ay sinabi niyang hindi siya nakapag-prepare ng speech dahil hindi niya naisip na mananalo siya

“When Tia Carrere announced ‘The Best Supporting Actress is… Rachel Alejandro for Song of the Fireflies’, my heart leapt for joy but my mind started racing. Shucks. I did not have a speech prepared cuz tbh, I hadn’t given our film winning anything much thought,” aniya.

Ikinuwento rin niyang nahirapan siyang umakyat ng stage dahil sa suot niyang high heels.

“I didn’t want to leave anyone out that needed to be acknowledged. I struggled to get to the stage in high heels and when I got there, managed to rattle on thanks to the team,” tsika niya.

Pero kahit na hindi siya nakaprepare ng speech, naisip daw niya ang kanyang ama.

“In the end, all I could think of was my Dad. I dedicated the win to DAD. Then I felt a surge of gratitude and awe for the miracles that have been transpiring in our lives the last few days,” aniya.

Kwento pa niya, muntik na raw siyang madapa dahil napatid siya sa stand ng microphone.

“Then I trampled on the mic stand and nearly fell onto the steps,” aniya.

“Now, I can more calmly thank everyone again,” patuloy niya at nagpasalamat sa mga nais niyang pasalamatan partikular na ang mga taong naging bahagi ng pelikula.

Big winner ang “The Song of the Fireflies” sa MIFF dahil wagi rin itong best picture, best actress for Morisette at best supporting actor para kay Noel Comia Jr.

Samantala, noong nakaraang linggo ay kumalat ang malungkot na balitang nasa ICU (intensive care unit) si Hajji at nakikipaglaban umano sa sakit na stage 4 colon cancer.