Cebu mourns Cerge's death

CEBU, Philippines - His last post on his Facebook page could have been premonition.

“Lord, thank you for your infinite love that meets our every need and provides all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in life. Release our hearts and minds from fear and worry. Fill us with your peace as we learn to fully trust in your providence. Help us to do all that we are capable of and the rest we entrust unto you. Amen.”

This was Press Secretary Cerge Remonde’s last message posted on his Facebook account hours before he died.

Remonde’s death has shocked not only the people close to him and the Cebuano community, but the whole nation.

Nobody expected his sudden demise as he did not show any signs of illness when he was in Cebu last weekend for the Sinulog celebration.

In fact, Remonde even went on air to do a report for radio station dyLA while aboard the Galleon Trinidad during the fluvial procession last Saturday.

With his strong devotion to the Santo Niño, Remonde also joined the solemn procession last Saturday as one of those who steered the wheeled-cart where the image of the Holy Child was carried around the city streets.

Dr. Jose “Dodong” Jose R. Gullas, chairman of The FREEMAN and executive vice president of the University of the Visayas, from where Remonde graduated magna cum laude, said: “It is very tragic to lose not just a friend, but someone who was like my own brother. The power he wielded because of his work with Malacañang did not change the man. He was a true example of what my old man, Papa Inting, used to say of what a true Visayanian should be — he may have worn the crown but he remained very humble to the end. He was once a part of The Freeman family and will always remain to be. I am very proud of him. With my wife Nena and my family, my prayers go to his wife Marit and their families. May the Lord take Cerge into His mercy and love.”

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas joined the nation in mourning the death of Remonde.

He described Remonde as “a true friend, a scholar throughout his University of Visayas student days, our Most Outstanding Alumnus for years 2008 and 2009. A Cebuano proud of his humble roots.”

“I, Mingming, Didi and my brother Dodong, Sister Inday Cering and the entire Gullas family join our fellow Cebuanos in mourning the death of Secretary Cerge Remonde. We pray God will receive him in his loving bossom,” Gullas added.

Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos said that during his last meeting with Remonde more than a month ago, the latter shared to him that he had diabetes.

The Argao mayor said Remonde’s death is a great loss to their town, because the late Cabinet official had helped him in his projects. In fact, it was Remonde who facilitated the construction of the Diosdado Macapagal Cultural Center in their town.

 Galeos said they also have a pending project, the Argao Mall, which might be affected because of Remonde’s death.

His friends in the Cebu media are also grieving.

The Freeman and Banat News publisher Juanito Jabat was saddened to learn that his student and friend had passed away.

Remonde considered Jabat as his mentor when he was still starting as a reporter.

Remonde started in The Freeman as a journalist shortly after turning 18 years old in the 1970s.

“Resourceful gyud kaayo si Cerge, kugihan unya di mobalibad unsay ipatrabahong balita. Mangutana pa to siya kaniadto kung pila pa ang kulang na istorya kay iya gyung pangitaan,” Jabat said.

The Freeman editor-in-chief Jerry Tundag said, “I am deeply shocked and greatly saddened by his sudden passing. Away from the public eye, we called each other brothers. He was responsible for my joining the media. I owe a lot of where I am now to what he taught me early on.”

Sun Star Cebu editor-in-chief Pachico Seares, one of Remonde’s closest friends in the media, said the latter never took advantage of their friendship to ask him to support President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In his press statement, Seares said that Remonde never influenced the media to support his boss.

“He recognized the choices journalists must make freely without pressure from others with vested interests, including friends,” Seares said.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she was shocked and deeply saddened the untimely death of Remonde.

Garcia said Remonde is not just a personal friend, but also a truly Garbo sa Sugbo.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that “Cebu was blessed to have had him among us.”

“He struggled through a treacherous political landscape to overtake all of his political peers. Through the years Cerge learned how to polish off his rough edges to emerge as a jewel or if I may now suggest, a statesman,” Osmeña said.

Senator Loren Legarda said, “While he had a most difficult job as spokesman of the administration, he had performed his task with flair, eloquence and dedication, providing the public with a clear and concise articulation of the viewpoints, positions and pronouncements of the administration.” 

Legarda said that Remonde was a loyal and capable spokesman of the government. 

ANAD partylist Rep. Pastor Alcover also expressed his deepest sympathy.

Choy Torralba, one of Remonde’s closest friends said that Remonde is not only a great loss to him but also to government and media.

“As a friend, he was genuine. As a government functionary, he was honest, dedicated and hardworking. As a media practitioner he was very professional and as person, he was one of a kind,” Torralba said.

Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of Cebu City Police Office, said that Remonde was his “very articulate” College instructor when he took up Political Science back in the 1980s.

“His passing is a great loss not just to the Cebuanos, but to our country as well. Hinuon, dili man na (his death) pagboot nato but pagboot man na sa Kahitas-an,” Comendador said.

The Embassy of the United States also expressed its sympathy and deep sorrow at the untimely passing of Secretary Remonde. 

“Cerge Remonde was a respected journalist, a dedicated public servant, and a personal friend,” said U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney. 

“I am honored to have known him and worked with him. On behalf of myself and the Embassy, I offer heartfelt condolences to Cerge’s colleagues, family members, and loved ones.”

Secretary Remonde and his wife Marit have been long-time friends of the U.S. Embassy as participants in exchange programs promoting international understanding and closer bilateral ties. – Fred P. Languido, Jessica Ann Pareja, Pepe Sollano, Mitchelle Palaubsanon, Flor Perolina, Garry Lao and Niña Sumacot/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)