A candy vendor cries on knowing Cerge's passing

CANDY VENDOR. While still a student at the University of the Visayas, the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde would buy some candy from a sidewalk vendor near the UV gate before proceeding to his class. The candy vendor, who now works at the Carbon market, told The Ear that Cerge would not eat the candies but would give them away to streetchildren. The vendor said: “Intawon si Sir Cerge. Bata pa namatay.” She shed a few tears.

LITTLE KNOWN. There’s a little known fact about Cerge Remonde. The Ear learned that his first government job was not with Malacañang but with a local office of a national government bureau. It was a lowly job, The Ear source said, but it helped boost his income as a journalist upstart.