The iconic comedienne Matutina, or Evelyn Bontogon-Guerrero in real life, passed away last February 14 at the age of 78.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News, her family shared her last moments with them.

“Mama was a CKD (chronic kidney disease) patient, a chronic kidney dialysis patient for nine years,” said Shiela Guerrero, the youngest daughter.

“Meron na siyang heart condition, marami nang pinagdaanan si Mama. In and out siya sa hospital. Na-ICU pa siya 10 years ago. Lahat ‘yun na-survive niya. This one, ayaw na niya. Napagod na po siya.” she added.

Despite her condition, Matutina drew strength from people around her. “Marami po kasing hindi nakakaalam na very matulungin po si Mama. Her priority is to make other people happy — family members, close friends. And because ‘yun ang kanyang priority, kailangan niyang lumaban,” said Shiela.

Her health was okay, as Shiela would describe it. Her husband Henry said she has been under medication since 2016. Her dialysis treatments have been continuous for almost nine years, up until her last session last February 12.

“Tapos na ‘yung dialysis niya then her doctor called me. Sabi niya, ‘Brod Henry, come to the hospital, I have to tell you something about your wife.’ Nagpunta ako doon and in-explain niya, mababa ang sugar, mababa ang BP (blood pressure), she needs to be brought to the ER (emergency room),” Henry recalled.

He continued, “When she heard that, she woke up. ‘No’, sabi niya huwag. Ayaw ko, nahihirapan na ko. Then sabi ko, ‘What do you want?’ Sabi niya, ‘We will go home’. [I said] ‘Doc, she doesn’t want to go to the ER.’ The doctor said, ‘You can go but just in case, bring her back here.’ So we decided we bring her back home.”

Matutina’s grandson Luigi recalled his lola’s remaining days after her last dialysis at the hospital. He noticed that they struggled just to get his “granny” (how he calls his Lola Evelyn) to stand up or go to her bed.

“I remember na she was really tired at that time. It was as if hindi na niya kaya. But the day before that, she was so strong. Nakakausap pa niya ako, she would still ask help to walk,” he said.

The following day, February 13, Luigi decided to skip school and just watch over her Lola. Conincidentally, it was also Matutina’s husband’s birthday.

“Around 3 p.m., ‘yung sinasabi ni Granny sa amin ni Papa, ‘Ayaw ko na, ayaw ko na.’ Paulit-ulit. It just breaks my heart seeing my Granny like that,” he said.

Luigi continued: “Come Friday, I remember it was 9:20 a.m. when I went out of my room and I saw Papa and Mama (Shiela) crying. Tapos nakita ko si Granny nakahiga lang siya, hindi na siya humihinga, but she looked peaceful there.”

“I’m sad because we never had a proper goodbye. Pero I’m thankful na sila talaga ni Papa and nag-alaga sa kids ko,” said Shiela.

Her stepsister Rowena Gementiza, Matutina’s daughter to her first husband, was on her flight back to the Philippines from Chicago, Illinois when she found out about the sudden passing of her mom.

“Pauwi na talaga ako nun. Nag-text siya sa akin, ‘yung last message niya sa akin sabi niya, ‘Owen, malapit na ang uwi mo ng Pilipinas. Ingat ka sa paglalakbay mo.’ ‘Yan ‘yung last message niya, one week bago mangyari ito. Tapos nung nasa airport na ko, doon nga nabalitaan ko na sa Facebook. Tapos ‘yun, wala na nga si Mommy,” shared Rowena.

“Sabi ko, hindi man lang ako hinintay,” she said in tears.

Shiela added: “She passed away Valentine’s Day, when everyone was celebrating. Si Mama naman, nag-stop na ‘yung heart niya.”

While she was best known as Matutina from the iconic “John En Marsha” sitcom, she also did numerous films and other projects.

Rowena recalled years of tagging along with her mom on the set and would also join her in Radyo Veritas where she did and directed a lot of radio dramas.

But for the past few years, Matutina has been a dubbing director for a number of ABS-CBN-acquired series like Asianovelas even anime shows.

“Medyo magka-strikto siya. Sa radyo minsan sinisingit niya ako, tinuturuan niya ako pero talagang hindi ako matuto,” shared Rowena.

Shiela revealed: “Actually siya rin ‘yung nag-train sa akin to be a voice talent. Cousins ko, mga pamangkin ni mama, tinirain niya and they’re directing na ngayon.”

Even Luigi got the chance to be directed by her Lola. “She would sometimes bring me to dubbing and ‘yun ‘yung dahilan bakit ako nakakasalita at nakakaintindi ng Filipino maigi ngayon. Siya ‘yung dahilan kung bakit mahalaga sa akin ‘yung pagiging Filipino.”

Shiela added: “Masaya kaming lahat na maraming napasaya si Mama, especially noong ‘John En Marsha’ days. And that is her legacy — a life filled with love, kindness, laughter, and joy.”

A Philippine flag has been placed on top of the comedienne’s casket — Shiela explained that it was her mom’s colleagues at the Barangay Council who brought it. Matutina served as a barangay council or kagawad for a term from 2007-2010 in Barangay Pag-Asa Quezon City.

Her remains will be cremated on Friday, February 21.