“Even the dryness of the desert, my being was empowered to praise God.”
The Foundations of a Servant’s Heart
S. Maria Matilde Alegarbes Omandac, RVM - affectionately known as “Matty”- was born on March 14, 1949, in Toledo City, Cebu. She was the seventh of thirteen children of Francisco Cabagay Omandac and Felicidad Briones Alegarbes.
The family later settled in Kidapawan, North Cotabato, where they established a hollow blocks factory. Matty’s early life was shaped by a simple, faith-filled upbringing, rooted in honest labor and a deep love for the liturgy. She fondly recalled evenings listening to her father play the guitar or banjo, and Sundays marked by long walks to church for Mass.
While several of her siblings - among them Nasario, a former mayor, and Angela, a leader in the family enterprise - rose to prominence in civic and business life, Matty remained the cherished “pet” of the family. Her elder brothers were her constant companions, protectors, and school-time barkadas, forming the bonds that nurtured her gentle confidence and quiet strength.
Professional Excellence and Selfless Service
Even before her religious vocation, Matty distinguished herself by competence and dedication. She graduated Salutatorian from her Midwifery course in Davao City (1968) and later pursued Pharmacy. At only 18 years old, she began working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kidapawan. For nearly six years, she labored with integrity and generosity - often assuming nursing responsibilities and assisting in the operating room of the modest 30-bed facility.
Her work was more than employment; it was already a ministry of compassion. She served during periods of civil unrest and medical outbreaks with steady courage. At home, together with her brothers, she helped run a “free clinic,” dispensing medicines and offering care to neighbors and relatives in need. From the start, Matty’s knowledge was always placed at the service of others.
The “Hound of Heaven”: A Spiritual Surrender
Though Matty once envisioned herself as a madre-de-pamilya, (mother of the family) she could not escape what she later described as the “unhurrying chase” of God’s call. Night after night, she felt troubled by the gaze of the crucified Christ beside her bed, sensing an insistent question: When will you respond? Her eventual decision to enter religious life brought deep sacrifice - her mother’s silent tears and her father’s quiet resolve as he prepared her suitcase spoke volumes of the cost of her obedience.
In 1978, she left for Manila to join the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM). Her early formation years revealed her resilience and discipline. During her postulancy, she balanced grueling hospital duties with preparations for the Pharmacy Board Examinations, embracing a life of austerity. Choosing hunger over asking financial help from her family, she claimed her new freedom as a radical dependence on Christ alone.
A Global Missionary Journey
S. Maria Matilde’s life unfolded as a courageous and generous “Yes” that carried her beyond borders and comforts.
Ghana, West Africa (1982–1994). For twelve years, she lived in radical simplicity amid political instability and a coup d’état. Drawing on her pharmaceutical expertise, she pioneered the local preparation of chloroquine and paracetamol syrups, even flavoring them with strawberry to ease children’s suffering. She traveled to remote, “no-road” villages to treat Guinea worm infestations. When her father passed away only months after her arrival, she chose to remain in Ghana - an act she described as total surrender to God’s will.
TTaiwan (late 1997–2010). At the St. Joseph Home for Alzheimer’s Disease in Hsinchu, she mentored 28 Filipino nurses, managed complex government-bid projects, and served with quiet competence. She lived humbly in a former military bunkhouse, embodying the simplicity she preached.
A Circle of Loving Care: Later Years
In a providential return to her first love - the care of the elderly - S. Maria Matilde served from 1996 to 1997 as the first Administrator of the Mother Ignacia Home for the Elderly (MIHE) in Calamba, Laguna. Ever hands-on, she was often seen clearing tall talahib grass and planting flowers, transforming the grounds into a place of peace and dignity for its residents.
She later returned to the RVM Motherhouse, where she dedicated her remaining strength to caring for elderly and sick Sisters. With what many lovingly called her “holy hands,” she tended wounds, monitored vital signs, prepared medicines, and offered gentle reassurance - the same hands that had once compounded life-saving drugs, drawn blood, and strummed a guitar for prisoners.
Tributes of Gratitude
“Five years is a short time to have known Sr. Maria Matilde, yet her sudden departure has left me in deep sorrow. Beyond her tireless service, it was her authentic soul - her kindness and warmth - that revealed the Divine Presence within her. She had spent every ounce of her strength loving others. Now her work is finished, and she rests in God’s eternal love.”
“S. Matty was a woman of remarkable availability. She never refused when asked to accompany or assist, no matter how busy or tired she was. Each morning, she waited faithfully in the clinic, ensuring our medicines were ready. Her punctuality and care were a quiet comfort to us all.”
“Her gentle voice, compassionate smile, and keen professional judgment brought reassurance to everyone she served. To see her make her rounds was to feel confident that all was well. Her generous listening and shared wisdom remain etched in our hearts.”
The Final ‘Yes’
S. Maria Matilde passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, after a courageous struggle with complications from breast cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. She faced her final days with the same quiet strength and surrender that characterized her entire life. Her heart - once felt as ‘divided’ - was made whole in Christ. Even in the dryness of personal struggle, she transformed the desert into a place of praise.
A Heartfelt Farewell
The passing of S. Maria Matilde Alegarbes Omandac, RVM, leaves a profound emptiness in the hearts of her family, her RVM community, and the countless lives she touched across continents. To lose Matty is to lose a steady, gentle light - one who never turned away from a difficult “Yes.”
Yet we give thanks. The flowers she planted continue to bloom; the lives she healed and strengthened stand as living monuments to her love. We surrender her back to the God of all grace, grateful for the gift of her 76 years among us.
“Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.”
Farewell dear S. Matty. We love you and will miss you. Pray for us, even as we pray for the eternal rest of your beautiful soul.