'Melody's smile one in a million'

While cheering for Maria Venus Raj as she competes for the Miss Universe crown with more than 80 other beauties in Las Vegas Aug. 23 (Aug. 24 Manila Time, aired live on ABS-CBN starting at 9:30 a.m.), the country is at the same time mourning the untimely death of 2009 Bb. Pilipinas-International Melody Gersbach in a car accident Saturday morning in Camarines Sur.

Melody’s last public appearance was first week of August during the send-off presscon for Venus, her fellow Bicolana, to whom Melody gave this advice: “Just enjoy the pageant.” It was Melody who pushed Venus into joining the Bb. Pilipinas contest.

There was no premonition at all that at 24 (Nov. 18, 1985), Melody would be gone so soon.

“She called between 7 and 8 o’clock Saturday morning to tell me that she was going to Naga,” Melody’s mother Marina Gersbach told Funfare Update. “She said that her Tito Ramoning lent her a car.”

At 11:40, that car, a Toyota Innova van, collided head-on with a speeding RS Guevarra passenger bus in Barangay Pawili in Bula town, Camarines Sur. Melody was dead on the spot, and so were her discoverer (fashion designer Alden Orense) and the Innova driver. One companion was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. The car was a total wreck. The LTFRB reportedly suspended the license of the bus company for one month.

“Two weekends ago, we were at my cousin’s birthday in Pampanga,” continued Marina between sobs while on her way to Camarines Sur Saturday night from Manila where she was minding the family-owned Gasthof restaurant (with outlets in Makati Avenue, Boracay, Legazpi City and Naga City). “Melody didn’t usually enjoy parties na mas matatanda sa kanya ang guests but that day, ang saya-saya niya, tawa siya nang tawa. I told her, ‘Himala! Nag-i-enjoy ka!’ She simply smiled.”

And then Marina broke into near-hysterical sobs, saying again and again, “Hindi ako makapaniwala na wala na siya, hindi ko matanggap!”

Melody was the middle of three children. Her older brother is coming home from Egypt. Her younger sister, Magnolia, is training as flight attendant for Philippine Airlines (PAL). Marina is a nurse. Her husband, Wolfgang Gersbach, is German.

Melody went home to Legazpi to grace the opening of Gasthof Friday night. She and company were rushing to Naga where Melody would have sat as one of the judges in the 2010 Miss Bicolandia contest.

The wake will be held in Barangay Culiat, Daraga, Albay, until Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, Melody’s remains will be transferred to The Heritage in Taguig City, and then to the Holy Mary Memorial Chapel in Angeles City on Friday. Burial will be on Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Holy Mary Memorial Park, also in Angeles City. This afternoon at 3 o’clock, the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) will sponsor as requiem mass for Melody at the Gateway Suites in Gateway Mall, Cubao, Quezon City.

“Melody was one of the friendliest Binibinis,” said a BPCI staffer.

2009 Bb. Pilipinas-World Marie Ann Umali, Melody’s batchmate, said that she will remember Melody for her smile.

“It’s one in a million,” said Marie Ann on the brink of tears. “It can light up a whole city. She’s one of my precious friends. I can share all my secrets with her. She’s very good in giving advice. I’ll treasure all the memories I have with her. I’m starting to miss her so much.”

Marie Ann was talking in the present tense because she said that she couldn’t believe that Melody was gone.

“She’s so young, so beautiful, with so much ahead of her,” said Hair Asia publisher Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz who featured Melody on the cover of the magazine’s latest issue. “Sayang na saying siya.”

2009 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Bianca Manalo who is now a Kapamilya (seen last Saturday night on Charo Santos-Concio’s ABS-CBN drama series Maalaala Mo Kaya with Rayver Cruz) sent Funfare Update the following message: I truly miss Melody. It hurts when I think about it. Knowing that we’ll never see her again. Knowing that the IUW of 2009 will never be complete again. Melody left a mark in our hearts as being a strong and confident person who loves her family so much and will do everything to keep them happy. We will truly miss you, Melody. We love you!

According to another friend, “Melody so loved her family that she would spend on anything for them. Pero sa sarili niya kuripot siya.”

Not many people know that Melody would have joined showbiz. She backed out as co-star of Aga Muhlach and Ai-Ai delas Alas in the ABS-CBN sitcom M3 (Malay Mo Ma-develop) and was replaced by Megan Young.

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