Remembering the achievers we lost in 2010

In 2010, the Philippines said goodbye to a number of public personalities who helped define their eras--including respected public servants like Emilia Boncodin and Cerge Remonde; celebrities and entertainers like Redford White, Palito, Charlie Davao, and Fred Panopio; and leading intellectuals like Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta and Leonard Co. They may have come from different fields, but each will be remembered for their character and contribution to the country. Cerge Remonde, former Press Secretary 1958 - January 19, 2010 (aged 51)
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s then press secretary Cerge Remonde passed away last January 19 after suffering from a heart attack. Though he had the difficult job of facing the Philippine press on behalf of the often embattled Arroyo administration, Remonde was remembered for being compassionate, friendly, and dedicated to his profession, even at times when lesser men may have chosen to walk away. Emilia Boncodin, former Budget Secretary 1954 - May 15, 2010 (aged 55)
Emilia Boncodin, known to her friends and colleagues as “Emy" died last May from renal failure. The soft-spoken Boncodin was a rare breed of government professional who was known for her integrity and loyalty to public service. After joining the Department of Budget and Management in 1978, Boncodin rose steadily through the ranks, to eventually become the secreratary in 2001. She was among the 10 cabinet officials who resigned in 2005 to protest then President Arroyo’s involvement in the “Hello Garci" scandal. Palito, comedian & musician September 4, 1934 - April 12, 2010 (aged 76)
Veteran comedian Reynaldo Hipolito, more popularly known as “Palito," became famous for often playing zombies or corpses in Philippine movies. But his friends and family knew that he was also a simple man who found the most joy in making other people laugh. “Gusto niya kasi 'yong nakakapagpasaya siya lagi ng tao," remembered his son Jhun. Palito died from lung failure last April. Fred Panopio, folk singer 1939 - April 22, 2010 (aged 71)
Filipino folk singer Fred Panopio became known as the “king of novelty songs" during the 1960s with such hits as Pitong Gatang, Markado and Tatlong Baraha. He died from an liver affliction last April not long before he was scheduled to have a comeback concert. Josie Lichauco, former DOTC Secretary 1934 - February 14, 2010 (aged 75) When Josie Lichauco passed away after a stroke last February, her friend Renato Reyes, who is also the spokesperson of Bayan, described the former Transportation and Communications Secretary as “a feisty lawyer who crusaded for truth and justice" and as a woman who “stood up for her principles and was not afraid to object to the wrongs of the status quo." Both Reyes and Bayan chairperson Carol Araullo said that Lichauco actively participated in numerous demonstrations versus corruption in the Estrada and Arroyo administrations. Armando Sanchez, former Batangas Governor August 15, 1952 – April 27, 2010 (aged 57)
Former Batangas governor Armando Sanchez passed away from a brain hemorrhage just a few weeks before the May 10 elections. Sanchez was campaigning at the time to win back the Batangas gubernatorial post from incumbent Vilma Santos-Recto, who had defeated him in 2007. Following her husband’s sudden death, Sanchez’ wife took his place in the gubernatorial race, but was eventually defeated. Florencio Campomanes, Filipino chess player 1927 - May 3, 2010 (aged 83) Florencio Campomanes, known to friends as “Pocamps," was the first Asian and Pinoy to become the head of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Before becoming the FIDE president in 1982, Campomanes produced the country and Asia’s first grandmaster, Eugene Torre, in 1973. He also staged the 1978 World Chess Championship between Anatoly Karpov and Victor Korchnoi. Campomanes died in Baguio City of prostate cancer. Francisco F. Claver, bishop and martial law activist 1928 - July 1, 2010 (aged 81) Retired Catholic bishop Francisco Claver was a vocal defender of civil rights under Martial Law and succumbed to pulmonary embolism last July at the age of 81. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines called Claver "one of the strongest defenders of civil rights among the bishops at the height of strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos’ Martial Law." Redford White, comedian & actor 1955 - July 25, 2010 (aged 54)
Comedian Redford White, whose real name was Cipriano Cermeño II, rose to fame in the 1990s with his television sitcom “Buddy en Sol" and movies "Haba-baba-doo! Puti-puti-poo," "Tong Tatlong Tatay Kong Pakitong-kitong," and "Tik Tak Toys: My Kolokotoys." But his family and colleagues say they will remember him more for his kindness, generosity, and loyalty to friends. “"Redford White was a mentor, a man who had tremendous respect for his craft and was perhaps the most generous man I knew," tweeted friend and fellow actor Gabe Mercado after news broke of White’s death. White passed away from complications caused by brain and lung cancer last July. Charlie Davao, actor 1934 - August 8, 2010 (aged 75)
Charlie Davao, the father of actor Ricky Davao, passed away from colon cancer last August. In 1959, Davao signed on with Sampaguita Pictures and starred in several films including “Trudis Liit" and “Isinumpa." His first leading role was in “Pitong Matahari," a Filipino version of James Bond in which he played the lead role of “009." Melody Gersbach, Bb. Pilipinas International 2009 November 18, 1986 - August 21, 2010 (aged 23)
Former Bb. Pilipinas International 2009 Melody Gersbach and two others were killed in a tragic road accident last August in Bicol. Gersbach was a native of Bicol and was at the time on her way from Legazpi to a beauty pageant in Naga when a bus collided with the vehicle she and her companions were riding. Abraham Sarmiento, former Supreme Court Associate Justice October 8, 1921 - October 3, 2010 (aged 88) During the Marcos regime, Abraham Sarmiento used his knowledge of the law to found and support several organizations for the protection of civil liberties and human rights, including United Nationalists Democratic Organizations (UNIDO) and Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN), two organizations which also backed Cory Aquino’s campaign against Marcos. When Aquino became president, she appointed Sarmiento as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a position he held from 1987 to 1991 and which he used to help restore civil freedoms that had been lost during martial law. Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta, poet and scholar June 16, 1932 -- November 4, 2010 (aged 78) Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta was one of the country’s foremost poets and English writers. At the time of her death, she was a professor of literature and creative writing at the University of Santo Tomas and a writer-in-residence at the UST Graduate School. Known as the “love poet," Dimalanta wrote such definitive poetry collections as "The Time Factor and other Poems" (1983), "Lady Polyester: Poems Past and Present" (1993), and "Love Woman" (1998). She succumbed to a stroke last November. Leonardo Co, leading Filipino botanist December 29, 1953 -November 15, 2010 (aged 56)
Top Philippine botanist Leonard Co and two of his colleagues were conducting research in the mountains of Leyte when they were killed in an alleged crossfire between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the elements of the New People’s Army. Co’s fellow scientists later said however that it was actually the AFP’s bullets that killed Co and his colleagues. The Justice Department has launched an investigation of the incident. Meanwhile, friends and colleagues mourn the loss of Co, who was well-loved in the scientific community but also an unparallelled expert on Philippine flora. Wyngard Tracy, talent manager & TV personality 1952 - November 16, 2010 (aged 58)
The showbiz industry suffered a huge loss last November when veteran talent manager and personality Wyngard Tracy passed away after suffering complications from a heart surgery. Known as “Tito Wyn" to some of the country’s top stars, Tracy had managed artists Basil Valdez, Maricel Soriano, Aiko Melendez, Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, and Wendell Ramos. He was known for his strictness and professionalism as a manager, but also for his warm nature. Before his death, Tracy requested his friends and families to celebrate his life by holding a party, rather than a wake. Hortensia Starke, former Negros Occidental lawmaker 1921 - December 1, 2010 (aged 89) Hortensia Starke served as congresswoman for Negros Occidental from 1987 to 1995. During the Marcos era she was a fierce critic of the dictatorship and also fought for reforms in the sugar industry. But during the Cory Aquino administration, she became a well-coiffed symbol of the landlord bloc in Congress at a time when land reform was a hyper-heated and occasionally deadly issue. She died at home in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. - GMANews.TV