Profile
Birth name Melody Adelaide Manuel Gersbach
Birth date November 18, 1985
Birth place Daraga, Philippines
Died August 21, 2010
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight 117 lb (53 kg)
Measurements 33-24-35in
Hair color Black
Eye color Brown
Title(s) Binibining Pilipinas (International 2009)
Miss Bicolandia 2008
Mutya ng Magayon Festival 2008
Major competition(s) Miss International 2009 (top 15)
Biography
Melody Adelaide Manuel Gersbach was best known as a beauty pageant contestant from the Philippines.
Gersbach was born in Daraga, Albay but was raised in Angeles City, Pampanga. Her father is of German nationality (Wolfgang Gersbach) and her mother is a Filipina (Marina Manuel). She is the second of three siblings: Marlon and Maggie. Her older brother, Mars Gersbach, works in Egypt while her sister, Maggie, works as a flight attendant for Philippine Airlines. She was a management graduate of the University of Asia and the Pacific and had been managing a family business (a restaurant named Gasthof) in Bicol.
At the time of her death, Ms. Gersbach was set to appear on a TV show opposite Philippine Movie Idol Aga Muhlach at ABS-CBN. Reportedly, she was also on the initial phase working on her dream to establish her own Training Center for aspiring Bicolana beauty queens.
Gersbach, then age 23, was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2009 on March 7, 2009. She was the second Bicolana beauty to hold a Binibining Pilipinas Interional title, the other one being the fellow Albayanon Georgina Anne de la Paz Sandico in 1999. Gersbach represented the Philippines in the 49th Miss International 2009 pageant on November 2009 in Macau, China, where she placed among the top 15 semifinalists. Gersbach was also one of the pageant coaches along with Stella Marquez-Araneta who help choose the wardrobe for Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010, Venus Raj. Shortly before her death, Gersbach said she told Raj “to relax and enjoy the Miss Universe pageant.’’
Gersbach died in a car incident around 11 a.m. August 21, 2010, when the Toyota Innova she was traveling in collided head on with a passenger bus in Barangay Pawili in Bula. Police said, "the bus was trying to avoid a tricycle when it collided with a Toyota Innova." Gersbach, her makeup artist Alden Orense, and her driver, Santos Ramos Jr., were all killed in the accident. The only passenger to survive was Ronald Lita, a friend of Gersbach's. Gersbach was supposed to attend Ms. Bicolandia Executive Committee meeting for Ms. Bicolandia 2010 at the Avenue Hotel in Naga City. Several of the passengers of the bus were also reported injured. Stella Marquez-Araneta, Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) chairperson, stated: "Our sincerest condolences and prayers go out to her family and friends. Her death, unfortunate and untimely, has left everyone at Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. deeply saddened. Her passing will not only leave a void in our lives, but also in the hearts of everyone who knew her. Melody’s memory will always remain deep within our hearts."
Her remains were brought to the Heritage Park in Taguig City, Metro Manila, for a week. Gersbach’s mother has reportedly informed the BPCI that the casket of Gersbach will be closed because the injuries she sustained were severe. Gersbach was buried in Angeles City, Pampanga where she grew up. Her friends and relatives, including Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj, attended a funeral mass at 9 a.m. Blue balloons were released into the air after the burial.
Wilson Fontillas, the Bus Driver who lost control of the passenger bus is under the custody of the Bula Police pending the filing of the case against him . (Source Wikipedia)
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