I’d like to give space first to e-mails I received from Press Secretary Cerge Remonde’s friends abroad who happen to be also my friends.
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From Fernando P. Bernardino (Maryland, USA); “Dear Sir Nitz Jabat. Ever since, your columns make my day. Reading your column this time brought me to memory lane with sadness and nostalgia. Devastated, I am too, by Cerge Remonde’s death. I wish my tribute to Cerge finds space in TF.”
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Nanding Bernardino’s tribute to Cerge, who used to work with him in BFAR in Cebu (a revelation to me), was published in TF last Monday, Jan. 25. It reveals some facets in Cerge’s life never yet been published.
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From Salvador “Badong” Montero (New York): “Dear Sir Nito. Like you, I was devastated by Cerge Remonde’s untimely passing. I hope you still remember me. I was the one who taught Cerge how to drive ... I met him last in New York a few months before his death ... He put his hand on my shoulder as he introduced me to his fellow officials from Manila ... God bless his soul.
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From Bundy Alivio (Houston, Texas): “Dear Mr. Jabat. Please extend my condolences to Cerge Remonde’s wife and family ... I could not find a way to reach them until I thought of your column.”
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From Max Encomienda (Australia): “Nitz, first of all, allow me to wish you and your family a prosperous new year ... The news about our good friend Cerge Remonde’s death has just reached me and it pains me. Please extend my condolences through your column to Marit and his family.”
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From Mert Palacio (Jeddah, KSA); “Dear Sir Jabat. Na-shock gyud ko sa balita nga namatay si Sir Cerge Remonde. Nagkita pa mi sa Manila mga duha ka semana nga buhi pa siya. Nakahilak gyud ko. Siya nitabang nako nga makatrabaho sa Saudi.”
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From Bert Tenoso (Vancouver, Canada): “Dear Sir Jabat. Through your column, please pass on to Marit and Cerge’s family in Argao my condolences on the death of Cerge. He was my classmate in high school and my idol in Malacañang. He helped me land a job in Canada.”
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From Reuben Briones (USA): “Kumusta Noy Nito. I have read lots of articles about Cerge but nobody ever mentioned his real name as Glicerio ... I remember it was you who explained why Cerge starts with C and not S ... That was some years ago. You even called him ‘Iyok’ in one of your columns long ago.”
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Reuben is one of the sons of Nang Conching Briones, one of the stalwarts of journalism in Cebu during her time. She wrote a society column in TF.
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Even in faraway places, Cerge Remonde is remembered by friends and beneficiaries of his kindness.
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Email: nitzjab@yahoo.com