IN MEMORIAM

S. MARIA DULCE ALQUIROS DE LA CALZADA, RVM

(March 05, 1928 – June 07, 2021)

Sister Maria Dulce Alquiros de la Calzada from Mauban, Quezon was born on March 05, 1928 to Vicente and Paz Trinidad. She was the eldest and the only daughter among three children. She was baptized with the name Dulce Consuelo on March 08, 1928 by Rev. Fr. Eulogio Pelejo. She received the sacrament of confirmation in 1930 officiated by Msgr. Jose N. Jovellanos at Tayuman Catholic Church in Tondo.

Her parents who were both pharmacists by profession finished their degrees at the University of Sto. Tomas and the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. They were both Catholics, who had deep faith in God, were loving, hardworking, understanding, and very dedicated to the family.

Dulce was only seven years old when her father died from a car accident. One of her memorable experiences with her father was when she had her first communion witnessed by both her parents. After the death of her father, her mother solely took care of her and her younger brothers. She looked up with much appreciation to her mother’s strength, courage, deep faith, and love for God. In their young age, her mother taught them religious practices and household chores.

She spent her primary years at National University and her intermediate education at Our Lady of Loretto Academy, Legarda, Manila. She finished her High School and College Education at St. Mary’s College, Quezon City where she had a degree in Bachelor of Science in Music major in Piano and Voice. She also had special studies on Gregorian Chant at St. Paul’s College, Manila and Organ lesson at the University of the Philippines.

In 1941, when the Second World War broke out, she was in first year high school then, she thought of entering religious life. S. Maria Dulce recounted that when she was four (4) or five (5) years old, her mother told her that she expressed to God in prayer her desire to offer her first child to God upon conception. S. Maria Dulce likened the seed of her vocation to the formation of a pearl in a shell where it is pierced by the sand, tossed by the waves of the sea, and slowly formed itself into a bright, crystal, and beautiful pearl. This image inspired her to answer God’s call.

She was accepted to postulancy on February 01, 1946. She entered Noviceship on August 15, 1946, made her first vows on August 15, 1948, and perpetual vows on August 15, 1953. She celebrated with joy her silver jubilee on August 15, 1973, golden jubilee on August 15, 1998, and diamond jubilee on August 15, 2008.

Sister Dulce narrated that when she started her journey to religious life, the sea was calm, and she was sailing smoothly. As she grew in years, she described the sailing in community living becoming rough, the winds becoming stronger, and the blue sky turning into gray and black. The beautiful and shining pearl had to shield itself. However, her faith and trust in the presence of God made her stand still. She accepted that conflicts were natural and necessary for a strong and deep spiritual life. She claimed that the grace of God and His love took complete possession of her, although she sometimes doubted and felt underserving because of her failures.

One of the precious gifts God had bestowed S. Maria Dulce is music. She said that music penetrated her soul for it gave joy to her heart and reflected the beauty of God. Music was one of her saving graces as she persevered in religious life. Most of her time as Religious of the Virgin Mary was dedicated as music and piano teacher. She found fulfillment in teaching music to students, novices, young juniors, and tertians. She was able to help them unfold and develop their love for music. For S. Maria Dulce, music was her link to her Creator and her effective means to touch the God dwelling in her students. Through it, she was able to teach how to live a Christian life, to be well-mannered, to be sensitive to the needs of others, and to be more aware of God’s love, goodness, and mercy. Through it, she also learned from her students’ faith-life experiences. It is through, and with music that she touched lives.

One young Sister, who had the privilege of being a student of S. Maria Dulce, recounted that the one or two-hour session on the piano were always filled with lessons that went beyond Music. She quotes, “S. Maria Dulce could always seem to feel how we felt while we were playing the piano. No matter how gracefully our fingers tickled the piano keys, what seemed of greater importance to her was the emotion that we were able to convey. She would know if we were sad, tired, or happy. She taught us that Music is an expression of the heart and soul.”

S. Maria Dulce acknowledged that she was a very strict and disciplinarian music teacher, but behind the rigorousness was her desire to bring out the best in her students. She wrote this message for all those whom she handled: “To the novices, juniors, and tertians during those years when I was given the trust to handle the choir in the Motherhouse Compound, who patiently and perseveringly entrusted themselves to my strict training, who in spite of hard work they went through were strong, courageous, and remained faithful to all the instructions I gave them, responsive and cooperative just to be able to give their best to the Lord. They sang with their hearts, full of vigor, enthusiasm, and religious fervor. To all the children whom I taught in all the schools where I was assigned, the Glee Club and choir who participated in all the concerts and recitals – kudos to you all!”

S. Maria Dulce recognized with humility and faith the work of God in her life and how she meekly submitted to His providence. She said, “God held me in the palm of his hands.” With the grace of God, she recalled how she was faithful in all community exercises and observances since postulancy and how every night she made the way of the cross ending with a holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament in her most difficult days. She acknowledged how her love and devotion for the Mother of God had been her shield throughout her life.

S. Maria Dulce joined the bosom of the Father, with whom she sang with all her heart “Glory to God in the Highest” on June 07, 2021 at 5:00 in the morning due to acute myocardial infarction.

Thank you, S. Maria Dulce, for living life for 93 years and 72 years of which as Religious of the Virgin Mary. May Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, all the Saints, and Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo envelop you with everlasting joy and peace. May all the angels in heaven and your music students who are now in heaven, as you had visualized, all together play harps, stringed instruments, and sing songs of praise and glory to the God of Life. May they welcome you with songs of praise and an Alleluia for a life well-lived. Rest assured of our prayers. Please pray for us as well, as we continue to battle with the threat of covid-19 pandemic. So long, S. Maria Dulce! Thank you for the life lived in God’s harmony. Bring with you our love and gratitude.

Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Dulce, O Lord, 

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.