CEBU – His lifelong ambition was to be a journalist but fate had different plans for Cerge Remonde – he not only wrote the news, he eventually became news.

The late Press Secretary Remonde, who left an indelible mark in the media and government, has returned to his hometown Argao, Cebu, and will be buried Sunday.

His widow, Marit Stinus Remonde, expressed gratitude for the outpouring love and support and hopes his army of friends and colleagues would cherish the “good times” with him.

Marit recalled that her husband, newly appointed Press undersecretary, marked his first day in government on January 22, 2001 and became a top news story when listening devices or wiretaps were discovered in his new office.

The bugs were supposedly left by the previous administration to spy on the newly installed Arroyo government.

Nine years later, Marit said Cerge left the Palace one last time, sadly in a coffin, last January 22 and his remains flown to his home province.

In Argao, Cebu, white ribbons tied around shoulders, streamers hanging on trees and walls, and a long line of grieving residents greeted the arrival of the body of Remonde.

Streamers printed with “Welcome Home Cerge. We Love You” and “We Will Miss You” were hung on trees and walls lined the national road in Argao; students and local residents also carried placards expressing grief over the untimely demise of one of Argao’s own.

“He made headlines and that was unfortunately the way he left Malacañang, breaking headlines. That’s how we remember Cerge, he never just faded into night. He always made an impact wherever he went, whatever he did,” Marit said during the necrological rites at Malacañang sa Sugbu last Friday night.

“We should remember all the good times and we should be grateful that we had a chance to know Cerge and I'm grateful that I knew him. I was his wife for almost 18 years. I was privileged. Thank you so much,” she added.

The province of Cebu is still in sorrow over the sudden death of their beloved son, Remonde, who was among the outstanding Visayans in recent years.

Remonde, a journalist before working in government, died of heart attack last Tuesday. He was 51.

Close friends and colleagues of Remonde gathered at the Malacañang sa Sugbu here Friday night to remember the beloved journalist and public servant.

Former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada also separately visited Remonde’s wake last Friday.

Marit told the crowd gathered at the Palace that Remonde had planned to return to his first love, journalism, and work for a national newspaper after President Arroyo steps down in June 2010.

Despite his hectic schedule at the Office of the Press Secretary, she also said her husband also “ventured in new kinds of journalism,” such as keeping his account on Facebook, a social networking website. She said Remonde was “excited” about Facebook and new camera, making time to upload pictures and chat with friends.

Apart from his newfound hobby Facebook, she said Remonde also had fun with dancing, especially with the reporters covering Malacañang.

Maribel Dario, assistant secretary at the OPS, said the weekly dancing lesson with the Palace press corps may be discontinued since it will not be the same without Remonde.

Remonde's friends in the Cebu media also remembered him as a cheerful big brother and a mentor with a strong faith in the Lord.

Bobby Nazario of GMA network here said Remonde never asked his media friends to tone down attacks against government even though he was press secretary.

“He never asked favors from us not to attack the President. He valued the independence of the media,” he said, adding Remonde knew the work of journalists because he came from the same ranks.

The Cebu-based journalists were saddened that they lost a friend, a special connection and hotline to Malacañang.

“We will surely miss him,” said 62-year-old Rizalina Coronado. He has been very helpful and very approachable even if he was already in Malacañang,” said Coronado, who waited hours to catch a glimpse of Remonde’s remains.

Meanwhile, one of the many who paid their last respects to the former Press Secretary at the Malacañang sa Sugbu Friday evening was former President Joseph Estrada who called Remonde a “humble friend to everyone regardless of political affiliation.”

Estrada visited Remonde’s remains and extended his condolences to the latter’s widow, Marit Stinus-Remonde.

The former Philippine President, who had earlier participated in a Forum along with other Presidential bets at the Cebu Convention Center, said Remonde was a “great loss” to government as well as to Philippine media. He said Remonde, a broadcast journalist before joining the Arroyo government in 2001, was a “friend to everybody.”

Estrada also underscored to reporters during his quick visit at Remonde’s wake that “the good thing (about Remonde) is that even when he was in the administration, he did not change. He was the same lovable guy. That’s why I’m here because I value his friendship; he did not care whether you were in the opposition or with the administration. He was a man not only of intelligence but a man with a heart.”

He recalled how “very accommodating” Remonde was when he (Estrada) attended last week’s National Security Council (NSC) meeting in Malacañang.

“He was a guy who is a friend to everybody. Just like me, I’m in the opposition but you can see the warmth when he received me just the other week when I was in Malacañang. He was the one who accompanied me inside, made me feel good while I was there,” Estrada related. (With a report from Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)