Maria Vilma Villaflores Mataac

Vilma was born in Manila, Philippines, on February 2, 1946 to Juan Villaflores and Bienvenida Zubiri Villaflores. She attended Colegio de Jesús Maria for elementary school and graduated from St. Paul’s College of Quezon City in 1961. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Statistics/Mathematics, magna cum laude, from the University of the Philippines in 1965.

She began her career at the University of the Philippines Population Institute and worked with the RAND Corporation and USAID before immigrating to the United States in 1969. There, Vilma built a distinguished career at the World Bank, where she served as Budget Director, contributing to global development initiatives through her analytical expertise and dedication.

On July 11, 1970, Vilma married her beloved husband, Celso T. Mataac, Jr., at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Together, they built a life rich in friendship, service, and community, forging deep connections across the Filipino-American community in the Washington, D.C. area and around the world.

Vilma was a tireless organizer and a central figure in the lives of those around her. She had a special gift for bringing people together—whether through family gatherings or community events—and became a trusted source of connection and information for extended family and the broader Filipino-American community. An early adopter of technology, she was a skilled computer user long before it became commonplace.

Her commitment to service extended far beyond her immediate circle. As an officer and past president of Lubang Looc International, and an officer of the Marinduqueño Association of the Capital Area, Vilma helped coordinate medical missions and establish scholarship programs that have impacted many lives. In her later years, she played a key role working with her husband to build schools in the Philippines, including the Celso M. Mataac Sr. Elementary School and the Romeo Mataac National High School.

Vilma confronted life’s challenges with remarkable resilience and grace. She recovered from a stroke in 2003, beat breast cancer in 2007, and experienced the devastating loss of her daughter, Liza, in 2015. Even in these difficult circumstances, Vilma remained positive, energetic, and dedicated to her family, community and charitable causes.

Vilma found solace and joy in, and was immensely proud of, her four grandchildren: JR, Maria, Milena, and Maddy. She loved to celebrate their achievements, both small and large, and treasured the time she spent with each of them.

Vilma is survived by her husband, Celso T. Mataac, Jr.; her son, Francis; her grandchildren, Maria and Milena (children of Francis), and JR and Maddy (children of her late daughter Liza); her sister, Mila; her brother, Boyet; her cousin, Ludy, whom she loved as a sister; her lifelong helper and dear friend, Angie; and her siblings-in-law, Eddie, Manny, Arturo, Amy, Dante, and Rosine.

She also leaves behind a wide circle of relatives and loved ones in the United States and the Philippines—many of whom knew her affectionately as Lola, Ninang, Auntie, Tita, or Ate.

Vilma’s life was one of purpose, connection, and generosity. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Liza Mataac Dodson scholarship fund: https://lcmataacdodsonfund.com/

Please join us for the visitation and service via Zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87484846795?pwd=qf02bKirHUtuaxobN8eoq7zzH4SKUQ.1

Meeting ID: 874 8484 6795

Passcode: Vilma