Gerry Quisumbing; 60

MANILA, Philippines—Gerardo “Gerry” F. Quisumbing of Cagayan de Oro City  died on June 26  after a long illness  at The Medical City in Pasig City.

He died peacefully with his wife Annabelle and daughter Laizabel by his side.

Gerry’s son Ralph Gerard “RG” and grandson Yani arrived Thursday night from the United States. RG and wife Ayee Puno live in Connecticut.

From the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Marikina City, his body will be flown to Cebu City today and will lie in state at St. Peter Memorial Homes along New Imus Street.

Burial is scheduled on Sunday at the Golden Haven Memorial Park in Cebu.

Gerry was born Feb. 1, 1952, in Cagayan de Oro, one of nine children of community paper editor and publisher Manuel V. Quisumbing Sr. and educator Gertrudis Fuentes. The late international musician Toti Fuentes was his first cousin.

He retired this year as special assistant to the president of Pryce Gases.

He graduated from Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) in Cagayan de Oro in 1973 and from Xavier University High School in 1969.

Gerry was passionate about his causes and hobbies. In September 2004, the sight of six tattered Philippine flags fluttering forlornly at the Ortigas flyover so incensed the former campus journalist that he fired off letters to the editors and text messages to government agencies protesting the gross disrespect to the flag. The torn flags were taken down after the Inquirer picked up his complaint.

To while away the doldrums driving through daily traffic from his home in Cainta to Makati City and back, Gerry decided to learn one new song every day and ended up with a formidable karaoke repertoire.