A community of the brightest and biggest stars, TV personalities and media executives gathered on January 13 at GMA to pay their last respects to the “Master Showman”, German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, and honor his life of love, loyalty and passion.
Hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Jean Garcia, the necrological service for Kuya Germs was all too often overwhelming with memories and fondness for the beloved showbiz icon.
From his humble beginnings as a janitor in Clover Theatre, to his thriving career in Sampaguita Pictures, up to his groundbreaking variety shows on GMA including Germside, Germspesyal, GMA Supershow, That’s Entertainment and Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman, Kuya Germs became the industry’s star-builder extraordinaire because of his hard work, integrity, perseverance and—most of all—love for his craft. He was a well-loved pillar of the Philippine entertainment industry and throughout his highly celebrated career, he was truly the epitome of a loyal “Kapuso” as he spent almost five decades of his showbiz life at his second home, GMA Network.
The service was graced by GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon and his wife Teresa M. Gozon, former Rep. Gilberto M. Duavit Sr., GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., GMA Board Directors Joel G. Jimenez and Laura J. Westfall, GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Abrogar and Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, together with Kuya Germs’s family, friends, former colleagues in the media and the GMA community and other network officers. Expressing his admiration and testifying to Kuya Germs’s loyalty was Gozon: “Speaking for myself, I cannot imagine a broadcast network without Kuya Germs…but I think Kuya Germs will appreciate more if we keep his legacy alive by loving and nurturing show business with all our hearts and all our minds, and with utmost sincerity.”
“Mahigit na 45 years si Kuya Germs dito sa Kapuso Network. And in most of my dealings with him, in my capacity as CEO, we were often guided only by gentleman’s agreement. Kuya Germs is not a man who needed written contracts. I could not help but admire by how he was driven by trust—trust that people will always be good-hearted and live up to their commitments. Kuya Germs was also all about loyalty. May mga unos man kaming pinagdaanan noon, hinangaan ko ang kanyang pagiging mapagkumbaba at ang kanyang likas na pagmamahal sa GMA. His humility truly made him a person larger than life,” Gozon added.
Proving as well how Kuya Germs was man of humility and generosity were eulogies from his close friends including Gilberto M. Duavit Sr., Joel G. Jimenez, GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV Lilybeth G. Rasonable, First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan, Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda of Sampaguita Pictures, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and Cecilio Pedro of Lamoiyan Corp.
Though in deep sadness, Kuya Germs’s family led by his son Federico, grandchildren Jorell, Francheska, Raffy and Gabby, niece and family matriarch Dr. Vivian Nite de la Cruz, and nephew John Nite also expressed their gratitude to the people who paid tribute to Kuya Germs and shared their fondest memories of their “Papa.”
“I think everybody knows that he is a hardworking person. Monday to Sunday he works and that’s how dedicated my father was, and that’s how he loved his profession because he prayed for it, he asked for it. Every single opportunity that he got, he took care of it, he loved it, he gave his all. He is a generous man. Wala na siyang ibang inisip kung hindi kami: pamilya, kaibigan and his contemporaries. My father is known as a star-builder and I can probably say that most of the stars in the industry came from or started with him. But now I will share to you why he was successful in doing that: because every child has a dream, and my father would be the one to spark that light. He believes that for every child that dreams, they deserve to be given the opportunity to achieve their dreams. That was the secret of my father,” Federico said.
For his valuable contributions and loyalty to the network, the GMA management presented a posthumous plaque of appreciation and recognition to Kuya Germs.
Among the notable names in the industry who came to pay their respects to the Master Showman were Jessica Soho, Marian Rivera, Dennis Trillo, Manilyn Reynes, Alessandra de Rossi, Keempee de Leon, Derrick Monasterio, Thea Tolentino, Jake Vargas, Mikoy Morales, Carmi Martin, Alessandra de Rossi, Eddie Ilarde, Diva Montelaba, Bibeth Orteza, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Louise de los Reyes, Celia Rodriguez, Vina Morales, KC Concepcion, Erik Santos, Bela Padilla, Betong Sumaya, Denice Barbacena, Angeli Pangilinan, Joey Generoso, Ramon Christopher, Maricel Morales, Michael Angelo, Shaina Magdayao, Prince Villanueva, Rochelle Barrameda, Maritoni Fernandez, Lance Raymundo, Shirley Fuentes and many others. Celebrating the colorful life that Kuya Germs led, performances were also delivered by Gary Valenciano, Christian Bautista, The CompanY, Gerphil Flores and Dulce.
A funeral mass was held on the morning of January 14 at GMA before he was laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina. Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid rendered a heartfelt song for the Master showman during the mass. Federico once again thanked all the people who paid tribute and supported his Papa throughout his career.