Consuelo "Chito" Madrigal-Collantes, matriarch of the Madrigal clan and one of the richest women in the country, died yesterday at the age of 87.

She was the wife of former Foreign Affairs Minister Manuel Collantes. Her niece, Senator Jamby Madrigal, was named after her.

Her long time-friend and confidante, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, said her death was sudden as it was unexpected, as she had not been under treatment for any illness.

The body lies in state at the Collantes residence at 77 Cambridge Circle, in North Forbes Park. A mass will be offered at her residence at 7 p.m. today. Burial is set for Thursday at the Alabang Art Center.

The Madrigal family was prominent in banking and shipping and used to have interests in coal, oil, cement and media. Its business is currently focused on real estate.

The Madrigals owned the Consolidated Bank and Trust Co. or Solid Bank. She held executive positions in Metrobank and Rizal Cement Group of Companies.

She was the chairman of the board of trustees of the Consuelo Madrigal Foundation, a foundation she established to help families out of poverty, especially those living in Bicol.

She was also heavily involved in cultural activities and was known to be a patroness of the arts.