Danny Javier had one last gift for his fans.

The OPM industry mourned the loss of one of its icons, singer-songwriter and APO Hiking Society member Danny Javier, who passed away last October 31, 2022.

He was 75 years old and passed away from complications due to his prolonged illness.

It was in 2020 when Danny himself shared about his illness on his Facebook page. He admitted to having “underlying health concerns with [his] heart, lungs, and kidneys.”

Jim Paredes and Boboy Garovillo, the two other members of the APO trio, both mourned the passing of not only a long-time friend and colleague but someone they already considered as family.

“You know Boboy, Danny and I, we’re family," Jim shared. “I’ll remember him even when he's gone, I will probably have a continuing dialogue with him for the rest of my life,” he added.

“Just feeling the loss of an old friend who knew what love is although sometimes it just doesn’t show,” said Boboy. “My friend lives on in his music,” he added.

The songs of APO Hiking Society served as the soundtrack of many people’s lives. Hits such as “Panalangin,” “When I Met You,” “Yakap sa Dilim,” and “Blue Jeans" have inspired and entertained generations of listeners even decades after they were written.

READ: Danny Javier ng APO Hiking Society, pumanaw na

His daughter, Justine Javier Long, gave tribute to her father and his passion for his craft.

“In life, as in his death, our Pop never stopped fighting for what he loved, what he believed in, and what he was passionate about,” she said.

“He left this world with his passion and his strength of will intact and we know he would not have it any other way,” she said.

Truly, Danny shared his talent and passion up until the end. Before his passing, Danny had one last song to offer. It tells of death and cherishing life.

“The man who coined Original Pilipino Music (OPM) left us with this song, ‘Lahat Tayo,” revealed composer-arranger Lorrie Ilustre when he released Danny’s final gift to OPM last November 1.

“Danny left a special gift for all of you,” he declared. “He wanted to share this with all of you — family, friends, and loyal fans,” he added.

In his Facebook post, Lorrie relayed the story behind the music. “Last year he called me and said he was sick. I visited him right away,” Lorrie recalled.

“We were together the whole day talking about everything from our past to the present. He kept a positive outlook on life even though he was suffering from several medical conditions,” he added.

Danny had already sung the song on his Facebook page before. Lorrie decided to arrange and record it using Danny's original vocals.

“I know Danny’s writing style and ideas so I just had to make this music arrangement for him to bring along to his journey home,” Lorrie explained.

READ: OPM industry, nagluksa sa pagpanaw ni Danny Javier

“I took his vocals from his FB post and recorded. His video I synced to audio. I just tweaked a note and rearranged the song structure but I kept everything the way he would have wanted it,” he added.

Even while he was sick, Danny was still involved in the production process.

“The nurse played the music to Danny and he would nod to acknowledge that it was ok.,” Lorrie recalled. “That’s good enough for me.”

Up until the end, Danny’s passion for music allowed him to leave behind one last legacy.

“Danny Javier, a man fully aware of his mortality expressed himself in music with lyrics infused with humor. He sang in a way that only he could deliver, singing his own sendoff ahead of its time,” shared Lorrie.

Danny’s final gift, “Lahat Tayo,” is available via YouTube.