To honor the life of our beloved colleague, Rex Fontanoza, we've created this padlet.

Please feel free to use this to share your messages, memories, anything else you want to share about Rex--how he touched your life, the impact he made, any fond memories, etc.

We will be sharing this with his family and everyone in the company.

Thank you.

You were a remarkable colleague, someone who welcomed me dearly and stood by me with genuine support from day one. You brought wisdom, calm, and quiet strength into every interaction. Your presence made a real difference to those lucky enough to work with you.

Thank you for the memories that meant more than words can say. You’ll be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Rest easy!

Even though we were only able to work together for a short time, in that short period, you showed me what a great person you were. You were one of the few people who really made an effort to welcome me into the team and for that I'm forever grateful.

I remember joking with you that you expressed more understanding towards me than my own father and that still holds true. Thank you for always being supportive and encouraging. I will always remember the kind words you said to me after the first time I presented for X with a potential client. I wish I was able to spend more time with you and work with you on all sorts of projects. You showed a great deal of knowledge and passion for what you did and I will forever admire that.

Thank you, Father Rex. I'll miss you!!!

I am deeply hurt. Everyone of us. 😔

Thank you so much for the real friendship.

Thank you for comforting me when I was also grieving back in July.

Thank you for welcoming me back in my first day of office coming from my unfortunate leave.

Thank you for everything!😔

I'll defo miss your Millenial references and putting big smiles on everyone of us.

You are such a good soul that heaven was too excited to get you back. One thing is for sure, you'll be with your Kuya na. Enjoy heaven, ok?

Tell to God to look after your loving family. Ease their pain.

We will never move on but we will move with it.

We love you so much from the bottom of our hearts!!! ❤️

Thank you for all your advice and guidance for every small chat we had. The team will miss you so much sir!

One of the things I’ll never forget is how you were the first to welcome me on my very first day at MediaDonuts back in 2022. When I resigned and later planned to come back, you told me you’d be the first to welcome me again on my first day.

I will miss you, Father. :'(

Really cherish the time spent with you in-person & wish you were still around to spread the joy, happiness and love which you always did 😢

Rest in peace, Brother 🙏

I steal this pic on your IG because I miss your happy smile.

Miss you!

To me, you were always such a kind and uplifting soul, someone who could light up any room and lift everyone’s spirits.

I still remember the day we shared together at the Twitter Summit in Singapore — how intense it was, how we got through it together, and that warm hug afterward. I never thought it would be the last one.

You were always thoughtful and caring — like the time you were the first to message me when Thailand had an earthquake, just to check if I was okay.

You will be deeply missed,

This isn’t goodbye, just farewell for now.
Until next time, Rex.

He was a fan of thriller/crime series on Netflix, like me. When he would chance upon a good one, he'd say, "Lei maganda yung (series), naisip kita. Panoorin mo." He was thoughtful that way.

When news that Miss Saigon would be staged in Manila, we both screamed in anticipation on my FB post. When we'd see each other on the corridor, we'd each sing a line or two from "The Heat is On in Saigon" and finish with a duet, with him saying he can do a better Gigi than the actress who played the role (I agree). He was funny, and creative, and could send the entire room in stitches with his antics. And though we only spoke occasionally, his love for life always shone through each time we met.

I'm grateful to have known you, Rex. Thank you for being the one who says hello.

You will be terribly missed. Rest now in God's loving arms.

Thank you for the meaningful partnership and for the generous support you’ve extended to Dentsu throughout the years. Your presence during media days brought a sense of warmth, camaraderie, and professionalism that we will deeply miss in the office.

As we reflect on the moments shared, we are reminded of your kindness, dedication, and the positive impact you’ve had on all of us. You will always be remembered with gratitude and respect.

May your soul rest in love and peace.

With deepest sympathy,
Your Dentsu Philippines family

Please allow me, one last time, to make you my “Diary” again. I need to… Pasensya ka na… It pains me so much… I’m crying… I’m sorry… Mahal kita…

Rex, last night was something I can’t even explain. When I heard Ron call Kring over the phone and say, “Wala na ang father nyo,” it felt like the universe was playing a cruel joke on me and it wasn’t funny at all.

When we rushed to you in the hospital and I held your cold hands on your deathbed, I broke. I screamed, I cried, and every single memory the good ones, the hard ones came crashing back all at once. I kept telling myself, “This can’t be real. This can’t be happening.” But it was… and it hurts more than I can ever put into words. Soooooo unfair. Why of all people... why????

That was the hardest I have ever cried. I felt like the universe betrayed me, betrayed all of us. It’s so unfair. This is too much for us.

But as Kring and I were driving home, I kept remembering our talks, the way you told me that life is not ours to keep, that it’s only borrowed and one day we have to give it back.

You said what matters is how we love, how we forgive, and how we live with courage and grace. And now those words hit me harder than ever, because you’re gone and I have to live by them... every single day.

I love you, Rexy. I promise you, I will do my best to make you proud. I will stand strong. I will help my brothers and sisters in the office, and I will keep going even when it feels impossible. I’ll live the way you wanted me to with kindness, with strength, and with faith.

Wherever you are, alam ko na you are happy and at peace. You had a good life, and you will always be the best FATHER tRex ever.

But God, it hurts. It hurts so bad to let you go. I don’t know how to picture life without you now, but I’ll carry you in everything I do. I love you so much, Rex. Yesterday, Today, Always and Forever. Be at peace in God’s embrace. Pahinga ka na :'(

I’ve only ever heard wonderful things about you as a leader and mentor, and it’s clear how much respect and love you earned from your team. You weren’t just admired - you were genuinely cherished.

Thank you, Rex, for your kindness and for the light you shared so effortlessly. Rest well, you will always be remembered.

I will always remember your genuine and generous heart. I can't emphasize enough how kind you are. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for always extending help even if you don't need to.

It's still not sinking in :( Hinahanap nga kita for the past few days, kasi di kita nakikita sa office... I didn't expect that this would be the next news we'd receive.. I'm so sorry Rex for the pain you have gone through or endured alone. I hope you're now in a better place.

Rest in peace, Rex. We love you!

I'll pray for you and your family. - Thea C.

Thank you for your kindness that radiates! Will always remember how we were often among the early birds at that workshop at Abs, and you were the one who reached out with your bright, welcoming smile. That simple gesture made those mornings less daunting. You have a gift for making people feel seen and valued. One of the kindest souls I've met. You will be deeply missed.

Sir Rex!!! I still can’t believe you’re not with us anymore. I am just left in shock and sadness learning the news. I’m really at a loss for words kasi you’re very much alive in my memory.

What I can’t forget about you is your energy, na kahit stressed na tayo sa work, sa benta, your positive energy always keeps the team going. And you are my very first mentor when it comes to all things digital. I owe you a lot on that kasi I didn’t have a hard time learning digital anymore when I moved to the agency life, at a time where we’re more digital-forward now. I’m super thankful to you on that.

I wish I was able to say these all to you when you were still with us, kasi I’m regretting it now that I only got to say these here when we were chatting naman on IG from time to time.

Thank you for always believing in me, and for your patience in guiding me when I was still under your supervision. My ABS-CBN journey wouldn’t have been complete without you.

Thank you for the Kapamilya spirit. Thank you for being a part of my life. I will miss you so much ❤️💚💙 May your soul now rest in peace.

From your forever bunso sa API/CPI/LES team, Tricia Mata 💜

His absence will be deeply felt, but his impact will live on through the people whose lives he touched.

My condolences to his family and colleagues.

Rest in peace, Rex. You will be remembered.

You will now be with your brother in heaven and he will surely welcome you with arms wide open!

I’m happy though, that in my lifetime I met someone who I instantly clicked with. In the industry where you’ll never know who is true; you have been a genuine friend working with several LG & Nike projects decades ago.

You’re always a sunshine! And you’ll surely and sorely be missed.

Love lots!

Donnie G

You were cheerful, articulate, and so genuinely kind. You took such great care of both Samson and me, and it left a lasting impression.

You were our rock star, someone who brought light and joy wherever you went. It feels like God must have loved you a little more than the rest of us… because He called you home too soon.

Fly high with the angels, Rex. Your light may no longer shine here on earth, but it will continue to glow in our hearts, always.

Always remembering you fondly..

Forever a shining ray of light, I will always remember your kindness and infectious energy.

You will be missed.

Love,

Samson Ko

Thank you for all the memories we shared. I’ll never forget any of them, including your stories about your time living in Aceh, Indonesia or even something silly about the best hand-fan brand.

May you rest in peace. I love you, Rex. Until we meet again in the afterlife 🤍

- Bonch

One of the greatest lessons Rex taught me was how to be a better person — the kind of person who reaches out, connects with others, and leaves warmth behind, even in simple ways. Whether it was through his cheerful greetings or his signature “chareng,” Rex always had a way of making people smile.

Rex was the same age as my sisters, and through that, we found so many ways to connect — from ‘90s fashion to music and pop culture. He was a true trendsetter, always ahead of his time. We shared a love for Carly Rae Jepsen, Addison Rae, Katseye, and so much more. I was really hoping we could still dance that “Milkshake” routine in our denim outfits — I promise, Rex, I’ll learn it with Alex. (Kidding aside.)

But on a deeper note, I want to thank Rex for inspiring me to become a better version of myself. I’ve seen how passionate he was at work, how compassionate he was with his team, and how loving he was to his family and friends. Everyone has their own strengths, but one thing I’ve always admired about Rex is how makatao he was as a leader. He prioritized his team — making sure everyone felt seen and heard. He went out of his way to ensure the team stayed connected and achieved their goals, all while recognizing each person’s individuality.

Here at MD, we’ve seen many forms of strength, but this — Rex’s empathy, humility, and humanity — is what will always stay with me. I want to encourage everyone here to remember Rex by carrying the best parts of him with us — his kindness, his lightheartedness, his passion for others — and to continue living our lives in a way that reflects the goodness he shared.

Thank you, Rex, for leaving a mark on all our hearts. We promise to keep your memory alive, to celebrate your life, and to embody the beautiful traits you’ve left behind.

You will be deeply missed, but you will always remain in our hearts.

We love you, Rex. ❤️

You're a one in a million kind of person because of the kindness you share with other people. No one can make the office fall out of their chairs from laughter unlike you. I hope you find peace and serenity up in heaven. No one's gonna update me now about the weather in Tagaytay. Guess I'll have to check the weather app from now on. See you on the next life, Rexie boy.

- Nico boi