15/07/2026
๐๐ซ. ๐๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ซ๐ ๐, ๐.๐.
(๐๐ข๐น๐ช๐ฎ๐ข ๐๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต๐ข ๐๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ฐ)
๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐. ๐น๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐
๐๐๐, ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐
Born on May 11, 1939, in Igbaras, Iloilo, Sr. Maxima Eugenia de la Sainte Vierge, R.A., known before entering religious life as Maxima Estoesta Emboltorio, dedicated her life to God through the Religious of the Assumption. For many decades, she faithfully served the Church through Catholic education, catechetical ministry, and pastoral work, leaving a lasting mark on countless children and families, especially in the Municipality of Sibalom, Antique.
Sr. Maxima made her First Profession of Vows as a Religious of the Assumption on February 11, 1966, in Herran, Manila. Engraved on her profession ring is the Latin verse from John 21:17: ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐, ๐ป๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ป๐ ("๐ณ๐๐๐
, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."). Throughout her religious life, these words became a constant reminder of her love for Christ and her commitment to serve Him faithfully.
In 1964, while still a junior sister, Sr. Maxima was sent to Antique together with Sr. Caridad, R.A., from Manila. She fondly recalled that their airplane ticket to Antique cost only โฑ37, a small but memorable detail that reflected the simplicity of missionary life during those years. Upon their arrival, they stayed in San Jose, Antique, for about a year while the convent of the Assumption Sisters in Sibalom was still under construction.
Sr. Maxima is remembered as one of the four pioneering Assumption Sisters who laid the foundations of Sta. Rita Academy in Sibalom, Antique. Together with Sr. Leone Yusay, R.A., Sr. Carmela Montelibano, R.A., the Superior of the Sibalom community and the first Principal of Sta. Rita Academy, and Sr. Agueda Goarnes, R.A., who later replaced Sr. Estafania Alcoran, R.A., they formed the first Assumption community entrusted with establishing the school and strengthening the educational mission of the Church in Sibalom.
The arrival of the Assumption Sisters was warmly welcomed by the people of Sibalom. They were delighted to have a Catholic school where their children could receive preschool education while being formed in the Christian faith. During those early years, the religious were affectionately called "Mothers," a title that was later changed to "Sisters" following the liturgical and pastoral reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
As one of the pioneer missionaries in Sibalom, Sr. Maxima personally witnessed the beginnings of the Assumption Sisters' mission in the parish. She recalled being present when Fr. Pamer, with the support of Bishop Cornelius De Wit, M.H.M., D.D., appealed to Superior General Mother Helene Marie to send Assumption Sisters to Sibalom. The request was made during the Mother General's visit to the community and eventually led to the establishment of the Assumption mission in the municipality, opening a new chapter in the educational and pastoral history of Sibalom.
After serving in Sibalom for about five years, Sr. Maxima was transferred to Iloilo because she had not yet completed her college education. Recognizing the growing need for qualified Catholic educators, the congregation sent her to San Agustin University to pursue additional units in Education. She later continued her studies at West Visayas State University, where she specialized in Preschool Education and successfully completed her academic formation.
After completing her studies, Sr. Maxima returned to Antique and was assigned to the Assumption community in San Jose de Buenavista, while continuing to assist in the educational apostolate in Sibalom. During her years at Sta. Rita Academy, she patiently taught preschool pupils with dedication and compassion. Among her former pupils was Gideon Javier, son of the late Governor Evelio B. Javier.
As a preschool teacher, Sr. Maxima believed that education begins not only with academic learning but also with the formation of character. She taught her pupils their first prayers, good manners and right conduct, silence and attentiveness, obedience, respect for others, and love for God. She also patiently instructed them in simple but important daily habits, such as practicing proper hygiene, flushing the toilet after use, and being mindful of their actions. Through these simple lessons, she helped form children who were not only academically prepared but also morally and spiritually grounded.
Throughout her years at Sta. Rita Academy, Sr. Maxima became one of the school's most beloved teachers. Generations of pupils fondly remember her as their first teacher, whose gentle presence, motherly care, and unwavering patience introduced them to reading, writing, and the foundations of Christian living.
Beyond the classroom, Sr. Maxima devoted herself to the apostolate of catechesis. Together with her fellow sisters, she regularly conducted home visitations throughout Sibalom, reaching even the remote mountain communities to bring the Gospel closer to the people. She organized and trained catechists, guided them in their ministry, and strengthened the parish's catechetical programs. Her dedication eventually led her to participate in the Catechetical Institute of Mensa Domini, where she received further formation that enriched her work in evangelization.
Her pastoral service also extended to Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish, where she served as a Parish Assistant (P.A.). Working closely with the parish priests, she became actively involved in parish administration and catechetical programs. Together with the parish catechists, she organized, sorted, and bound the important parish records, which had previously been kept without proper arrangement in the priests' quarters. Through her initiative, the parish office became more organized, making its records easier to preserve and access for future generations.
Sr. Maxima likewise became actively involved in the Family Life Apostolate, accompanying families and encouraging them to deepen their Christian faith. Looking back on her years of ministry, she shared that she never considered her work difficult because she sincerely loved the people she served. For her, missionary life meant entering into the lives of others, treating everyone as brothers and sisters, listening to their joys and struggles, and journeying with them in faith.
In between her assignments in Sibalom, Sr. Maxima was also sent to Africa, where she continued her missionary work, and also in Cagayan before eventually returning once again to Sibalom. She fondly recalled that through Sta. Rita Academy, many non-Catholic families embraced the Catholic faith because they appreciated the Christian education and values their children received from the Assumption Sisters.
She also remembered the kindness and generosity of the people of Sibalom. During market days, vendors would often give fruits, vegetables, fish, and other goods to the sisters free of charge. Some families even brought sacks of rice to the convent as an expression of their gratitude and support for the sisters' mission.
Sr. Maxima spent the remaining years of her religious life in the Assumption community in Sibalom, the very place where she had devoted most of her missionary years. On February 11, 2026, she celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of her Religious Profession, marking 60 years as a Religious of the Assumption. The celebration was held in Sibalom together with her community of sisters, former pupils, relatives, friends, and many people whose lives she had touched through her decades of ministry.
After the celebration of the Feast of Sta. Rita de Cascia on May 22, 2026, Sr. Maxima left the Sibalom community and returned to Manila, where she was assigned to another Assumption community and could receive more specialized medical care. Although her body had become frail and walking had become increasingly difficult because of old age, her missionary spirit remained strong, joyful, and unwavering.
After nearly two months in Manila, Sr. Maxima Eugenia de la Sainte Vierge, R.A., peacefully passed away on July 15, 2026, at the age of 87.
For sixty years, she faithfully lived her vocation as a Religious of the Assumption, dedicating her entire life to the service of God through Catholic education, catechesis, and pastoral ministry. During her eighty-seven years on earth, she became a life-giving presence to countless children, families, catechists, and parishioners whose lives were transformed by her humble and faithful service.
Indeed, the words engraved on her profession ring beautifully summarize the life she lived:
"Domine, Tu Omnia Scis, Tu Scis Quia Amo Te."
"Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." (John 21:17)
These words were not merely engraved on a ringโthey were engraved in her heart. They became the guiding prayer of her vocation and the faithful witness of a life wholly offered to God. Having completed her earthly pilgrimage, Sr. Maxima has returned to the Lord whom she loved and served so faithfully throughout her sixty years as a Religious of the Assumption. Her life remains a lasting witness that a vocation faithfully lived is a life wholly given to God and generously shared with His people.
Source: Personal interview by Sem. John Lawrence T. Garrido with Sr. Maxima Eugenia de la Sainte Vierge, R.A. (Maxima Estoesta Emboltorio), conducted on July 11, 2025, at the Convent of the Religious of the Assumption, Sta. Rita Academy, Sibalom, Antique.
