BUSINESS leader and lawyer Domingo "Domeng" Duerme succumbed to liver cancer Monday, February 18.
He was 71.
Duerme was president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce Incorporated (DCCCII) in 2007. He served the chamber as an officer for 10 years. He was a retired executive of Philippine Airlines, having served as vice president for Mindanao, and was also a president of Planters Products Incorporated.
In a Facebook post, Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Duerme worked as a cargo boy in the Cotabato airport while he studied at night. He became a lawyer and rose to become PAL branch manager and later PAL vice president for Mindanao.
Duerme was a distant cousin of Piñol's father.
Duerme's life was celebrated by many whose lives he had touched, including Rowena Adlaon of the Durian Industry Association of Davao.
Commenting on Piñol's post about Duerme's passing, Adlaon stated: "Knew him Sec when he's a VP in PAL. His approval on the request of the Durian Industry Association of Davao for granting a discounted airfreight rate for the shipment of durian and other fruits during the conduct of the durian festival in Manila was of big help for the durian farmers. My condolences to his family."
Mary Anne Abundo, former DCCCII executive director, also posted on Duerme's Facebook Wall, stating how he inspired her.
"He brings charisma to the office in such a way that no matter how difficult the situation is he can always move people to find a solution. When we refer matters for decision to him, he would say 'ikaw na ang bahala, I trust your judgment on that'. And when difficult things happen in that decision, you can always count on him. He is there to back you up, even owning your mistakes," Abundo's post read.
Major Cossid Gomez also shared how Duerme inspired him, commenting on Abundo's post, “I’m teary-eyed. I agree, one of the few bosses I served sa DCCCII na walang problems and always got our backs. Yes, I remember him as someone who would always stand by us and discuss with us solutions to problems or challenges rather than get mad at us or insult us, always smiling, with his hands on his pockets, always smiling."
Former DCCCII executive director Maan Doromal said it was a pleasant experience to work with Duerme. Though Doromal was not the executive director of DCCCII during Duerme's time, she worked with Duerme at the chamber's committee on elections during the 2015 election of the chamber. Duerme sat as the chair of the committee during that time. She said Duerme was a professional at work and stayed focus on the task at hand.
Arturo M. Millan, current DCCCII president, said in a text message that Duerme helped promote investments in Davao despite the bombings in the region, promoted tourism in Mindanao and pushed through the Davao Agri Trade Expo event when it’s challenging to gather sponsors and exhibitors due to the global financial crisis. He was still very active supporting the activities of the Davao Chamber. (CEA)