Noble chieftain, rescuer, artist, loyal father, friend

Lawyer and business leader Domingo Duerme worked as a cargo boy at the airport, while he studied at night, the Davao Sun Star reported.

Duerme, with the firm sunburnt face of an Indian tribal chief, the comforting eyes of a saint, succumbed to liver cancer on Feb. 18. He was 71.

The same report said Duerme was president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce, Inc. in 2007.

“He helped provide investments in Davao [despite the bombings], boosted tourism and pushed the Davao Agri Trade Expo through terrible obstacles,” the report added.

Duerme first worked as a branch manager of the Philippine Airlines, rose to become a PAL vice president for Mindanao, a post he held for nearly two decades until his retirement.

He was president and chair of the Planters Products, Inc. at the time of his passing.

It was noted that he always found a solution to problems, no matter how difficult.

It’s known to only a few, but Duerme was also an able and gifted artist, who left an enviable body of work, with their theme of living rustic scenes and poor sun-smelling kids, pure and glowing in their innocence, before street-side fruit stalls and out in the work field.

Duerme was fabled for making silent rescue operations.

Said PPI Director Napoleon Liloc: “Chairman Domeng was appointed by Sec. Manny Piñol in July 2016. When he came on board, PPI was in the RED, with bank loans amounting to P210 million. Today, after only two years at the helm of PPI, company bank loans are down to only P100 Million. P110 Million has been paid, and the balance expected to be paid by next year.”

PPI had been on the brink of bankruptcy.

“The company is now making money and suppliers are very happy that PPI is able to honor all its obligations on time, if not in advance in some cases,” Liloc added.

Duerme was for almost 20 years the chair of the PAL Interclub organizing committee. He did his job with amazing distinction, said veteran sports columnist Al. S. Mendoza.

When he took over at PPI in 2016, he had only one marching order: No corruption, please. The kind-hearted chief had refused to fire a single employee, despite the widespread mess left by his predecessor.

He would not like this reported, but Chairman Duerme was instantly at my bedside last September at the Makati Medical Center, P300,000 in hand, upon learning I had fallen ill and was rushed to the ICU.

He did not leave until I was comfortable and the mounting medical bills in place.

Lawyer Pete Ferrer, PPI legal counsel, said Chairman Duerme refused to take a rest even when he was sinking fast.

He was always trying for solutions and winning programs.

The son of humble farmers from M’lang, North Cotabato, Duerme will be cremated in Davao City on Saturday.