ANGELES CITY, Philippines ? Binibining Pilipinas-International 2009 Melody Gersbach, who died in a road accident in Camarines Sur last week, was laid to rest at the Holy Mary Memorial Park in this city on Saturday morning.
Gersbach, one of the 16 semi-finalists in the Miss International pageant in China last year, died on August 21 when a bus collided head-on with her car. Her driver, Santos Ramos Jr., and fashion designer Alden Orense were also killed by the collision.
Gersbach's group was on its way to Naga City for the screening of Miss Bicolandia, where the 24-year-old beauty titlist sat as chair of the organizing committee.
Miss Philippines Venus Raj, 2010 Miss Universe fourth runner-up, was among friends and family members who brought Gersbach to her final resting place at 10:30 a.m., following a 9 a.m. funeral Mass and rites.
Gersbach was the daughter of Wolfgang Gersbach, a German chef, and Marina Manuel, who traces her roots to this city.
Gersbach earned a management degree from the University of Asia and the Pacific and was managing a family-owned restaurant in Bicol at the time of her death.