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S. MARIA SALVACION CORPUS ABASOLO, RVM
(December 18, 1929 – March 2, 2019)
S. Maria Salvacion Corpus Abasolo was born in Iba, Zambales on December 18, 1929 as the fifth in a family of eight children (5 boys and 3 girls). Her parents, Epimaco Abasolo and Modesta Corpus, were public school teachers. They were devout Catholics who put great emphasis on fidelity to prayer and good manners. Steep in discipline, they would see to it that young Salvacion and her siblings had books to read before retiring at night.
Sunday was always a memorable day for Sister Salvacion. During her childhood days, she and her siblings would hold one another’s hands and follow their parents in walking to the church for the Holy Mass. Then, they would have their catechism class with a German SVD priest. Sunday was also a day for family bonding and celebrations. S. Salvacion’s father would bring her and her siblings to the beach where they would enjoy swimming and playing with their cousins. It is in this atmosphere of loving care, peace and serenity that she was brought up. However, when she was six (6) years old, the family experienced loss and pain with the death of her father. From then on, her aunt, the sister of her father, assisted them in their daily needs and education.
Salvacion started schooling at the age of six at Iba Elementary School where she finished her elementary education. She completed her high school education at the University of Manila through the support of her aunt. She took up ETC at the University of the East. She graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Education at St. Mary’s College, Quezon City when she was a Junior Sister. She then took up some units in MA in Administration at the Philippine Women’s University.
When Salvacion took her vacation after high school, she got acquainted with a kind, understanding, and gentle lady who later became her close friend. She encouraged the young Salve who was restless and searching for life’s meaning that time to pray for God’s guidance. She later learned that her friend was a former postulant and this drew them closer to each other. Aside from her friend’s good examples and motivation, her vocation was also nurtured through her aunt who would bring her to Manila for check-up and they would visit a cousin in the RVM convent. There was joy and excitement in her heart every time they visited her. She also learned later that her aunt was a former RVM Novice.
She started asking questions regarding religious life. This continued until such time that she requested her aunt to recommend her to Mother Encarnacion Tomacruz, her aunt’s cousin and the Superior then. She was very persistent to join the Sisters and although small and thin, she endeavored to be lively and healthy. She entrusted her life and health to the Lord before the Blessed Sacrament and was very grateful to be accepted as an aspirant in April 1950 at the Immaculate Conception Ladies’ Hall, España, Manila.
She formally started her postulancy on May 24, 1951 at St. Joseph Novitiate and her noviceship on November 21, 1951. She pronounced her first vows on November 21, 1953. She took her perpetual profession on November 21, 1959. With great jubilation, she celebrated her silver jubilee on November 21, 1978 and golden jubilee on August 15, 2003.
She joyfully served the congregation in the education ministry for twenty-five years as a teacher, school principal, and econome. She taught at the seminary in Laoag City for three(3) years, and she actively involved herself in the dormitory ministry at the Immaculate Conception Ladies’ Hall for ten (10) years. She also spent five years in the Retreat Ministry at Betania Retreat House, Pansol. Later in her life, she was back in the education ministry to help in the food services for another sixteen years, after which, because of her health condition, she had to move to St. Joseph Home, her home of prayer and wellness for six years.
She recounted that among all the ministries, it was in the dormitory ministry that she experienced more fulfilment. She grew to be a more mature and loving religious. The values of patience, understanding, care, compassion, empathy, and sense of responsibility were inscribed in her life through the said ministry. She learned how to listen intently to the dormitory residents and to their parents. While doing her main ministry, she also delighted in reaching out to the poor and giving catechism to children. And doing word search puzzles gave her enjoyment in her leisure time.
Her missionary life became fruitful, enjoyable and light amidst trials because of the re-assuring words of Jesus, “I am with you till the end of time, carrying you on my shoulder.”
S. Maria Salvacion lived a life of prayer, humility, simplicity, and docility to the will of God. She was appreciative of people, seeing the goodness in each one. She could hardly be heard talking against others. Instead, she would defend those who were subject for gossip. She is lovingly remembered by her thoughtfulness and generosity as she had heart for her fellow Sisters and the lay partners. Her beautiful smile radiated goodness, hope and beauty. Although, shy, she went beyond herself for the sake of the mission. All of these, emanated from the marvellous love she experienced from God and her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.
In the early dawn of March 02, 2019 at The Medical City intensive care unit, she finally surrendered her life to the Father. The immediate cause of her death was hypoxic arrest, secondary to acute respiratory distress syndrome from pneumonia high risk.
Our dear S. Maria Salvacion, your life was a journey of faith, hope, and love - a pilgrimage of a cross made lighter to carry by your optimism and joyful disposition. Yours was a journey of constant thanksgiving to God who faithfully walks with you. The inner beauty, cheerfulness, and the peaceful countenance that you radiated to people whose lives you touched will surely be cherished. Thank you for a life well-lived for eighty- nine (89) years, sixty-five (65) of which as Religious of the Virgin Mary.
In this moment of grace, we entrust your soul to the loving and welcoming arms of Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph, and Mother Ignacia. We bid you goodbye, S. Salve. Thank you for the gift of your beautiful person.
Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Salvacion, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
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