Cover Bea Zobel de Ayala, a known philanthropist and mother of the Ayala clan (Photo courtesy of Anton San Diego, edited by Marienne Hilahan)
Bea Zobel de Ayala, a known philanthropist and mother of the Ayala clan (Photo courtesy of Anton San Diego, edited by Marienne Hilahan)
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On September 23, 2024, Doña Bea Zobel de Ayala passed away at 88
Born in Madrid, Spain on February 29, 1936, Beatriz Zobel de Ayala—wife to Jaime Zobel de Ayala; mother to Jaime Augusto, Fernando, Beatriz, Patricia, Cristina, Monica, and Sofia—is one the most prominent philanthropists the Philippines has seen. While she took an indirect approach in her contributions to the conglomerate, she made a difference through charity work that focused on helping prisoners, the sick, and the disadvantaged.
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Above Elsie Gaches Village (Photo: Congregation of Sisters of Charity of Sta Ana)
Elsie Gaches Village (Photo: Congregation of Sisters of Charity of Sta Ana)
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Over the years, Doña Bea has supported multiple charitable projects. She would often take a personal interest in advocating for those in need—visiting individuals with intellectual disabilities at the Elsie Gaches Village, launching initiatives to help in the rehabilitation of inmates in the New Bilibid Prison, and supporting patients who are afflicted by leprosy in the Tala Leprosarium among others.
‘‘Today, we celebrate the incredible life of Bea, a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Her commitment to philanthropy, deep love for the country and generous spirit will forever be fondly remembered. We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of love and support that we have received over the last few days as we celebrate her memory,’’ said the family in a statement.
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Above The Iraya-Mangyan Program started by Beatriz Zobel de Ayala (Photo: Ayala Foundation)
The Iraya-Mangyan Program started by Beatriz Zobel de Ayala (Photo: Ayala Foundation)
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In 1991, Doña Bea partnered with the Ayala Foundation to start the Iraya-Mangyan Program—an initiative that aims to preserve the culture and traditions of the indigenous people living in Northern Mindoro by building schools and clinics to improve their living conditions.
Apart from her philanthropic nature, Doña Bea is also a stalwart defender of the arts—supporting initiatives that bolstered Filipino creativity.
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Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
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A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
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