Emotions ran high last night, August 26, at the first night of the wake of Bb. Pilipinas-2009 International Melody Gersbach held at Heritage Park, Taguig City.
Melody, 24, died on the morning of August 21 in Camarines Sur, after a passenger bus collided head-on with the car she was riding in. (CLICK HERE to read related story)
Present at the wake were Melody's family and close friends, including some of her beauty-queen friends.
Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2009 Pamela Bianca Manalo, Melody's batchmate in the pageant, was among the many who shed tears upon entering Heritage Park's Chapel 1, where Melody's wake is being held.
"Kanina ho nung papasok, hindi ko ho talaga kaya. Sobrang nanlamig yung kamay ko, tapos lumapit ako sa ka-batch namin, si Marie-Ann [Umali]. Sabi niya tingnan ko raw. Yun na. Breakdown. Siyempre, typical. Kasi naalala ko yung mga pinagsamahan namin," she told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an interview.
Karla Henry, Miss Earth 2008 winner, expressed the same grief.
"Mel, I'm sorry for the lost time that we had as friends. I'm sorry that we didn't have as much memories as we could have had in the years that nawala ang barkada. And I hope that she's happy where she is in, and she's at peace, and we will miss you. We will miss her talaga," said Karla, who said she had been friends with Melody since high school.
Other beauty queens spotted in the wake included Bb. Pilipinas-World 2009 Marie-Ann Umali, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2007 Anna Theresa Licaros, and Bb. Pilipinas 2007 runner-up Abby Cruz. Melody's best friend Maria Venus Raj, who won 4th runner-up in the recent Miss Universe 2010 pageant held in the U.S., is expected to visit later today.
Melody's family showed strength despite the tragedy that befell them. Marina Gersbach, Melody's mother, entertained the guests with smiles and joyful stories about her daughter.
Marina told PEP, however, that she still feels sad when she's alone. She also thinks life would be "empty" without Melody.
"How's life without Melody in the future? Empty. As in. Low-batt," she said.
Jimmy Gersbach, Melody's father, seems to have accepted that his daughter has passed away.
"Melody is no more with us. I think now she has a better life," he said.
Melody's funeral will be on Saturday, August 28, in Angeles, Pampanga.