In the early dawn of October 9, 1929, the third child, S. Maria Virginia Mabao Aboy was born to Daniel Amboy Aboy and Paula Badiola Mabao, at their residence in Borongan, Eastern Samar. Due to her frail condition at birth, she was taken to a Catholic church just four days later by her grandaunt to be baptized. Fr. Adolfo Cuadrado, a Franciscan priest, performed the baptism. Her confirmation took place on July 7, 1932.
Her father was a farmer and sometimes worked as a clerk in the municipal hall. He had studied agriculture up to his second year of college at an agricultural school in Catarman, Northern Samar. Her mother was a housewife who had completed only Grade Seven, having been orphaned while still in grade school. She occasionally washed clothes for prominent families, government officials, and the Bishop. She also did occasional sewing of men’s wear.
S. Maria Virginia had five siblings: two older brothers, a younger brother and two sisters. Sadly, the second youngest sister passed away at two years old. Her brothers became very protective of S. Maria Virginia and served as her playmates. They climbed mountains and trees together. They were inseparable.
Even before her formal schooling, she was already drawn to religious life. Her mother recalled that when two nuns from the Daughters of Charity came to Borongan to beg from house to house, she clung to the Sisters' habits and went with them. She was about five years old then. Her mother had to follow them and coax her away when it was almost lunchtime.
As a teenager, S. Maria Virginia had a passion for dancing. Whenever she attended social gatherings, her mother would gently remind her that she had been dedicated to the Lord from birth. Despite her enjoyment of life, she never neglected her spiritual duties, such as attending Holy Mass, praying the rosary, Angelus, and novenas daily. The spiritual atmosphere at home was so deeply ingrained that they were not even allowed to pound rice or sweep their surroundings on Sundays and holy days of obligation. Instead, Sundays were spent at home singing hymns, reading the Bible and attending Mass.
Having decided to enter the RVM Congregation after high school, she applied as a working student at St. Joseph's College during her fourth year. She graduated with honors. Following her high school graduation, the Sisters allowed her to pursue a two-year Elementary Teacher's Certificate (ETC) while simultaneously teaching Spanish and Religion in the high school.
When she was informed that she, together with two other aspirants, would be accepted into postulancy after a triduum she went home, which was only two blocks away from St. Joseph's College, to inform her parents. Her mother cried aloud when she heard the news and fainted. Upon hearing this, her brother threatened to scold her wherever he saw her. However, this did not happen, as Mother Candelaria requested a girl to guard and keep watch over her.
Years later, as a perpetually professed Sister, she asked her mother, shortly before she died of cancer, why she had initially opposed her entering the convent. Her mother explained that she had been concerned about her daughter's frail health and felt pity for her.
She was accepted into postulancy on February 2, 1952. Her mother came and embraced her after Mass that day, overjoyed to see her in a postulant's uniform.
She was brought to Manila and was invested to Noviceship on August 14, 1952. Those years were filled with spiritual joy and growth. Two years later, she made her first profession of vows on August 15, 1954. After serving as a Junior Sister in the mission for five years, she was called for tertianship and pronounced her perpetual vows on August 15, 1960. She celebrated her silver jubilee on August 15, 1979, and her golden jubilee on August 15, 2004.
Throughout her active life, S. Maria Virginia selflessly served in various regions of the Philippines, including Northern Mindanao, Visayas, Southern Mindanao, and Luzon. Her primary dedication was to the education ministry, where she taught a wide range of subjects such as Christian Living, Spanish, Music, Math, and History. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she held numerous positions, among which are Principal, Local Superior, Procurator, Librarian, Econome, Finance Officer, and Land Development in-charge. Always driven by her unwavering faith, she diligently fulfilled her duties, even at the cost of her own health. While at the Cathedral School of Technology, she furthered her education by earning an associate degree in Agriculture.
She was also grateful for the opportunity to be assigned to the Seminario de Jesus Nazareno in Borongan, Eastern Samar, from 2001 to 2007. She found great joy in nurturing future priests, offering prayers for their spiritual growth and success.
Despite the physical and emotional challenges she faced in following the Lord, S. Maria Virginia remained steadfast in her commitment to her vocation. Her health issues, coupled with the demands of community living and ministerial work, tested her faith. Yet, through deep reliance on God's grace, she found the strength to endure these trials with courage. Her resilience grew stronger, even as her physical health declined, demonstrating the power of faith to sustain her through adversity.
S. Maria Virginia ended her journal entry with these lines: “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? A word of thanks would not suffice to pay the debt I owe Him. Only by living my commitment to Him can I repay and be consumed in His love… Whatever and whomever I have wronged, I ask forgiveness. Please pray for me, for my soul, that I may fly to Him in haste. Deo gratias! Alleluia!”
She peacefully entered God's presence in the middle of the night on September 21, 2024, succumbing to the combined effects of decompensated heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Farewell, S. Maria Virginia. Your seventy years of service to the Congregation have been an inspiration to us all. Your life, a testament to unwavering faith, selfless dedication, and unwavering commitment, has left an indelible mark in our hearts. May the Lord, whom you have loved and served with such devotion, purify you and now reveal Himself fully to you. May you bask in His eternal love and live in His presence forevermore. May you be raised into a new life with Him, eternally united in His love.