Melody Gersbach

Melody Adelheid Manuel Gersbach (November 18, 1985 – August 21, 2010) was a Filipino-German model and beauty queen.

Personal life

Born in Daraga, Albay to a German father (Wolfgang Gersbach) and a Filipina mother (Marina Manuel) and raised in Angeles City, Pampanga, Gersbach was the second of three siblings. She was a management graduate of the University of Asia and the Pacific and had been managing a family German restaurant business in Bicol.

Pageantry

Gersbach, then aged 23, was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2009 on March 7, 2009. She was the second Bicolana beauty to hold a Binibining Pilipinas International 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 Semi-Finalists. 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."

Death and memorial

Gersbach died in a car accident around 11 a.m. on August 21, 2010, when the Toyota Innova she was traveling in collided head-on with a Raymond passenger bus in Barangay Pawili in Bula, Camarines Sur. 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, and several bus passengers were injured. The only car 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.

Her remains were brought to the Heritage Park in Taguig City, Metro Manila, for a week. She was buried at the Holy Mary Memorial Park in Angeles City, Pampanga, where she grew up, following a funeral mass.