RIP Jaime Picornell of Cebu Philippines

 

 l-r: Chinggay Utzurrum, Jaime Picornell, Cecilia Brainard

I am sharing pictures that include my friend Jaime Picornell who unfortunately died of Cardiac arrest (Covid related) on Monday August 16, 2021, 2 p.m., Cebu Philippine time. His family and friends and I are very, very sad over this loss.

I knew Jaime all my life, because Cebu in the 1950s-1960s was small and families knew one another. I spent more time with him during my teenage years. He was close to my brother and his wife (Jess and Teresita Manguerra), and was also very close to my sister Ana Manguerra and cousin Chickie Feraren. He was also Mama's dear friend. He used to visit us for merienda or dinner and regale us (in the most animated way) with stories about the personalities of Cebu. He was a great storyteller, writer, teacher, businessman, and he also served as the Consul of the Spanish Consulate in Cebu.

He was a steadfast friend, whom we could call on at any time to chat or go out with, or to cry on his shoulder.

When he was young, he used to send us into hysterics laughing at this stories. He mellowed out as he got older but he always had stories. He loved stories, especially about Cebu. He wrote about Cebu and the people of Cebu in his columns. He was in fact a kind of historian for Cebu, and if you needed any information about Cebuano history or personality, he could give it to you.

I have many stories about Jaime, and I'll have to write something longer later on. All I want to say now is that I am heartbroken as his family and friends are. We will miss him. Rest in Christ's peace, Jaime.

PS: The pictures date from 2019 to as early as 1969.

 Seated l-r: Terry Manguerra, Cecilia Brainard, Jaime Picornell; 

Standing l-r; Louie Nacorda, Gavin Bagares, Guest, Jobers Bersales

clockwise from l: Nina Briones Blanco, Cecilia Brainard, Chinggay Utzurrum, Terry Manguerra, Tina Escano Unchuan, Chona Bernad, Cecilia Picornell, Jaime Picornell, Marilou Chiongbian

seated l-r: Chinggay Utzurrum, Terry Manguerra, Inday Blanco;

standing l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Jaime Picornell, Chona Bernad

l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Jaime Picornell, Karina Bolasco

l-r: Jaime Picornell, Cecilia Brainard, Helen Misa, Ed Misa

1969 photo, l-r: Bing Velasco- Jacala, Cecilia Brainard, Ana Manguerra, Manny Gonzalez, Noe Elano; standing: Guests, Standing far right is Jaime Picornell

Read also: The Jolly Spaniard in Cebu - Cecilia Brainard's article remembering Jaime Picornell

Tags: Cebu. Cebuano, Philippines, society, Cebuano, Cebu history, Cebu personalities, Cebu society