Dr. Ofelia Alialy
Dr. Ofelia Alialy

Obituary of Dr. Ofelia Battad Alialy

Please share a memory of Dr. Ofelia to include in a keepsake book for family and friends.

Celebrating the Life of Dr. Ofelia “Ofie” Battad Alialy

With love and remembrance, we announce the peaceful passing of Dr. Ofelia Battad Alialy on February 2, 2025, at the age of 91, surrounded by her family at her home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Ofelia, otherwise known to family and friends as Ofie, was born in San Marcelino, Zambales, Philippines on September 20, 1933 to Carmen Colorado Battad and Hermogenes Battad. Ofie is the third child out of the nine children. Her siblings are Resurreccion, Rodolfo, Hermogenes Jr., Francisco and Eleanor. Sadly, three of her other siblings passed away at a young age. She was married to the love of her life, Leonardo Alialy, the former vice mayor of Victoria Oriental Mindoro, with whom she had three beloved children: Leonandro Jose, Leah Marie, and Leo John.

Dr. Ofelia is a dedicated physician who studied at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila and Southwestern University in Cebu. She worked with the Department of Health, embarking on medical missions to rural areas across the Philippines, including Cebu, Zamboanga, Samar, Leyte, and other regions in Visayas and Mindanao. In 1980, she had the opportunity to attend the 15th Joint Conference on Parasitic Disease at the University of Tsukuba in Japan. After achieving significant success as a doctor, Dr. Ofelia was appointed Medical Director II of the Schistosomiasis Department within the Department of Health in the Philippines. Overall, she dedicated 37 years of service to her profession. Throughout her career, her unwavering focus was always on helping others, particularly within the realm of public health.

Dr. Ofelia wasn’t just a medical doctor—she was a woman whose life was deeply rooted in her faith. Her unwavering devotion to Christ was the cornerstone of everything she did. This relationship with God shone through in how she treated everyone around her, with boundless kindness, compassion, and a selfless desire to serve others. She often said that if she hadn’t become a physician, she would have chosen to become a nun, reflecting the depth of her commitment to a life of service and devotion.

Dr. Ofelia was a natural born pianist, playing music her entire life. She had an incredible ability to play by ear, effortlessly bringing her favorite songs to life just by listening to them. Her love for music spanned the classics, with a particular fondness for the 50s and 60s era. She adored artists like Nat King Cole, Matt Monro, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Patti Page, Mantovani, and many others. Raul Sunico, the renowned pianist in the Philippines, even visited our family home to play the piano. Music was another way she expressed her heart and joy, and it was something she cherished deeply.

Lastly, Dr. Ofelia was a devoted and loyal supporter of the Marcos family. She often spoke highly of Ferdinand Marcos, passionately sharing how she believed he changed the Philippines for the better. If anyone disagreed, she was quick to voice her perspective and defend her views. Her political views were a significant part of who she was, and she didn’t hesitate to share them with those around her.

She is survived by her children, Leonandro Jose, Leah Marie, and Leo John; her grandchildren, Angelica, Kiara, Kyle, and Darnil; her in-laws, Raquel, Edna, and Nilo; her cousin, Felicidad Aquisap; and her great-granddogs, Noah, Theo, Chieko, and Onyx.
Ofie’s love for her family was a reflection of God’s love for all of us. Her faith, her love for God, and her devotion to family will continue to live on in each of us. Lola, thank you for teaching us how to love and how to live with faith.

You are forever and ever so much loved by your husband, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins, pets, families and friends. You are Godsend for being in our lives. We will miss you dearly, but we take comfort in knowing that we’ll see you again one day. Until then, we carry your legacy with us, and we’ll hold you close in our hearts.