Eva Maamo

{{Short description|Filipino nun and surgeon (1940–2026)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox religious biography | name = Eva Maamo | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | alt = | caption = | title = | birth_name = Eva Fidela C. Maamo<ref>{{cite web |title=Japan donates eye-saving equipment in Parañaque, Metro Manila |url=https://philippinesgraphic.com.ph/2024/11/20/japan-donates-eye-saving-equipment-in-paranaque-metro-manila/ |website=Philippines Graphic |access-date=30 April 2026 |date=20 November 2024}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date|1940|9|17|mf=y}} | birth_place = Liloan, Leyte, Philippine Commonwealth | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|04|15|1940|9|17}} | death_place = Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | nationality = Filipino | mother = | father = | works =  | education = | alma_mater = | known_for = | other_names =  | pen_name = | occupation = Nun, surgeon | relatives = | misc = | honors = Ramon Magsaysay Award (1997) | signature = | religion = Roman Catholicism | denomination = | temple = | order = | institute = Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres | church =  | profession = Surgeon | location = | students =  | rank = | website =  }} '''Eva Fidela C. Maamo''' was a Filipino nun, missionary and surgeon and a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1997.

==Early life and education== Eva Fidela Maamo was born in September 17, 1940, in Liloan, Leyte (now Southern Leyte).<ref>{{cite news |title=Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Eva Fidela Maamo passes away at 85 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/content/983955/ramon-magsaysay-awardee-eva-fidela-maamo-passes-away-at-85/story/ |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=GMA News |date=15 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref> Her father is a politician who was mayor of their town and was Vice Governor of Leyte while her mother is a teacher. She is the fifth eldest child among eleven children.<ref name="rva">{{cite news |last1=Samson |first1=Oliver |title=Ramon Magsaysay awardee nun-surgeon still keen on serving the poor at 82 |url=https://www.rvasia.org/feature-story/ramon-magsaysay-awardee-nun-surgeon-still-keen-serving-poor-82 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=Radio Veritas Asia |date=30 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=poor-a16>{{cite news |first=Volt|last=Contreras|title=Top-rate hospital for poor... |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7Vg1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=iyUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=886%2C18429205 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=11 August 2011 |page=A16}}</ref> Eva Maamo was inspired to become a nun when she was in second grade. Around this time, her family provide shelter to members of the Daughters of St. Paul.<ref name="rva"/>

She studied medicine at Velez College in Cebu City. After graduating she practiced medicine at a family clinic back in Liloan. Her family, especially her father was opposed to her aspiration to become a nun. They sent her to the United States to discourage her where she studied general surgery at the University of California Hospital.<ref name="rva"/>

==Work== ===Early years=== Maamo became a nun and a missionary upon her return to the Philippines, joining the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres in 1974. Her first mission as a physician-nun was the Santa Cruz Mission in Lake Sebu in Mindanao, treating indigenous patients in a bamboo infirmary using improvised medical tools. She started her "barefoot doctor" training in Lake Sebu. This involved providing informal education to members of the indigenous communities on ways to treat common diseases.<ref>{{cite news |title=Applause: How Sr. Eva emulates the living saint |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w40mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1woEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3607%2C2527321 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=Manila Standard |date=16 January 1993 |page=4}}</ref><ref name="ewtn1">{{cite news |last1=Digal |first1=Santosh |title=Sister Eva Maamo, Philippines’ ‘Healing Nun’ to the poor, dies at 85 |url=https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/asia-pacific/sister-eva-maamo-philippines-healing-nun-to-the-poor-dies-at-85 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=EWTN News |agency=Catholic News Agency |date=28 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ms1">{{cite news |last1=Barcelo |first1=Vito |title=Ramon Magsaysay awardee Sr. Eva Fidela Maamo dies at 85 |url=https://manilastandard.net/news/314728153/ramon-magsaysay-awardee-sr-eva-fidela-maamo-dies-at-85.html |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=Manila Standard |date=17 April 2026}}</ref>

===Mission in Manila=== In 1981, Maamo's superiors summoned her back to Manila.<ref name="rva"/> Maamo along with Jesuit priest James Reuter established the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission in 1984 which provided various services such as free health clinics, livelihood programs, providing shelter to indigent children and abused women.<ref name="ewtn1"/><ref name="sunstar1">{{cite news |last1=Reyes |first1=Ronald |title=Tributes pour in for Filipino nun-surgeon, Magsaysay awardee Eva Maamo, 85 |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/tributes-pour-in-for-filipino-nun-surgeon-magsaysay-awardee-eva-maamo-85 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=SunStar |publisher=SunStar Publishing, Inc. |date=16 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref> In 1992, she helped established the Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque.<ref name="ewtn1"/> The hospital building was inaugurated on August 15, 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hospital for the poor |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=36kVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lQsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1586%2C116284 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=Manila Standard |date=2 May 2003}}</ref>

===Pinatubo eruption and the Aeta community=== Maamo provided help to the resettlement efforts of the Aeta following the aftermath of the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption.<ref name="ms1"/> She helped resettle 146 families with 500 persons. Some later converted to Roman Catholicism.<ref name="ewtn1"/> She claims not to "convert" but she said she has brought a catechist.<ref name="rva"/>

===Continued works=== In 2005, Maamo began inviting indigenous individuals to train as barefoot doctors in Manila.<ref name="rva"/> She reportedly trained 274 barefoot doctors from 110 indigenous communities throughout her life.<ref name="ewtn1"/>

A 2019 ABS-CBN documentary reported that Maamo performs 300 to 400 surgeries per mission.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Laqui |first1=Ian |title=Nun-surgeon, Eva Fidela Maamo, 85 |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/04/15/2521176/nun-surgeon-eva-fidela-maamo-85 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=The Philippine Star |date=15 April 2026}}</ref>

==Death== Maamo died on April 14, 2026 at the Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque. She was aged 85.<ref name="ms1"/>

==Awards and recognition== Maamo was the recipient of the Mother Teresa Award conferred by the Manila Jaycees and the Alfonso Yuchengco Foundation in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |title=Not for priests, nuns alone: Mother Teresa awards now open |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TpUVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3woEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6410%2C2863886 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=Manila Standard |date=19 December 1993 |page=4}}</ref>

The Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership was awarded to Maamo in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |title=RP nun wins Ramon Magsaysay Award |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ypgVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9woEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3435%2C2086277 |access-date=30 April 2026 |work=Manila Standard |date=22 July 1997 |page=A3}}</ref> She was also recogninzed as the Most Outstanding Physician of the Philippines Award in 1994, the International Peace Prize in 2003, and the Outstanding Woman of the 21st Century in 2003.<ref name="rva"/>

==References== {{reflist}}{{Ramon Magsaysay Award Winners|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Maamo, Eva}} Category:1940 births Category:2026 deaths Category:21st-century Filipino Roman Catholic nuns Category:People from Southern Leyte Category:Filipino surgeons Category:20th-century Filipino Roman Catholic nuns Category:Ramon Magsaysay Award winners