The Ayala matriarch was a pillar of the influential family and a dedicated philanthropist.
Ayala Corporation has confirmed that Beatriz Zobel de Ayala, also known as Doña Bea, died on Monday, September 23.
Born in Madrid, Spain, on February 29, 1936, the matriarch behind one of the Philippines’ most influential families was 88 years old upon her passing.
She was married to Ayala chair emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala and is survived by her husband and seven children.
The family, requesting for privacy during this difficult time, has not disclosed the cause of death.
Family and friends are invited to the memorial service on Friday morning, September 27, at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish at Forbes Park in Makati City.
Lasting Legacy
Paying homage to her philanthropic work, the Zobel de Ayala family has requested donations to Doña Bea’s favorite charities instead of sending flowers.
The first is Elsie Gaches Village, located in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. It is a residential care facility for those living with mental impairments, specifically individuals who have been abandoned or neglected by their families or communities.
The next is Tuloy Foundation which is affiliated with the Salesians of Don Bosco. The organization supports marginalized youths through character-building, sports and development programs, alternative-learning, and vocational training.
She was also involved in programs for inmates in the New Billibid Prison and patients from Tala Leprosarium.
In 2011, Bea Zobel Jr. wrote about her mother’s compassion for the Iraya Mangyan community, which began when they built their rest house in Mindoro.
“She decided to visit them up in the mountain and, believe me, it was a hard climb. My mother did it many times over until trust was finally established. The rest is history.
“The Iraya Mangyan have land they call home where a school and clinic have been built for them run by the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne. This community, as with many others, has changed my mother’s life as she has changed theirs,” her daughter wrote.
An advocate for society’s most vulnerable, a champion of Filipino culture, and an unwavering supporter of her family, Doña Bea will undoubtedly be remembered with fondness and respect.
Banner image via Facebook @jaimeaugustozobel.
