MANILA, Philippines - Ed was on his way to a meeting with Swatch president Virgie Ramos when he was rushed to the ICU. Virgie, who loved Ed dearly, was in tears upon hearing the news.
What made Virgie shed more tears was the story told her by his staff. While in the ICU the night before he passed away, Ed was so concerned about the meeting that he told his staff: â€Please send Tita Virgie my apologies for not being able to attend our meeting.â€
In the short span of time that she had known him, Virgie had become so fond of Ed and his cooking. A hard-to-please gourmet, Virgie says: “Ed was a gracious chef who could whip up a dish the instant you fancied having it...and he would always produce something beyond your expectation.†For the birthday of Virgie’s dear friend Martin Nievera, for instance, Ed prepared not only his signature turkey dish that Virgie asked Ed to send Martin — he sent his famous paella as well.
Once, Virgie arranged a dinner prepared by chef Ed for the Block Rosary, which her mother-in-law, Socorro Ramos, would host for her fellow Marian devotees in the their neighborhood. The guests loved the feast so much that after the prayers, they asked who in heaven’s name prepared such a divine feast!