100th Birthday of SFAS Foundress, Marieta Locsin Ledesma

Remembering Momsy on her 100th Birthday

On October 4, 1915, our world was blessed when Marieta Locsin was born.

She was the second to the eldest of the 17 children of Dr. Jose Locsin and Salvacion Montelibano.  

She studied high school in St. Scholastica's Academy in Manila. 

At age 23, she married Edgardo Ledesma in January 8, 1938. 

They had seven children, Jack, Andy, Mitsu, Margie, Sally, Babs and Jim. 

A DEVOTED WIFE

Momsy, as she was lovingly called by her grandchildren, was a very devoted wife to Paping Edgardo.

At a Mass, during an October meeting of the Casa Maria prayer-group to which they belonged, for the Prayers of the Faithful when the birthday celebrants of the month were remembered, Paping shared this prayer:

"Wealth and possessions are inheritance from parents;

        A good wife is a gift from the LORD.

            For my wife, Maret, praise the LORD!"

For Paping, Momsy was the perfect wife.  She was his ideal woman, his Dulcinea, his Penelope.  She never put herself before him...that although remaining true to herself, she also readily gave up many things out of love for him. 

A LOVING MOTHER

As a mother, some of her children shared these about her:

"Mommy never spoke badly of anybody; she always said good things. I never heard an unkind word from her. She would say “She must have a problem.  Understand her as she has a problem.” – Andy 

"Mommy was a caring mother for me throughout my 17 years at home. When I entered Carmel, she became my spiritual companion.  For my Clothing Day (which at that time was celebrated like a wedding day), Mommy ordered a "wedding cake" with the words:  "MARY has chosen the best part." Thank you, Mommy, for being the BEST MOMMY in the world!” – Mitsu 

"My memory of Mommy is full of happy days, happy face, always smiling and laughing … never sad, never angry, never mad, never bitter, never sarcastic or mean … simply happy.  She did not scold or reprimand.  She had no expectations or demands on any of us.  She was just there for us, for your Papu (all the time) and for us kids.  

My best memory that I treasure, is that every Holy Week, I had a new dress for Holy Thursday (procession), one for Good Friday (another procession) and a beautiful special dress for Easter Sunday (for church).  Auring sewed the dresses but Mommy would do the pattern, always...it was always special for me.  Holy Thursday and Good Friday dresses were always green or blue (not bright) but for Easter, always colorful and special... I joined her in the procession always, with a candle.  Another memory is I always went shopping with her in Bacolod...always.  Just me...I don't know why?  She shopped for the farm laborers and had her "suki" stores, Lopue's, TengHua, New Shanghai, among others.  I can't recall the others.  She knew the owners and they all knew her."- Margie

-

“When I think of Mommy I always see her with a beautiful, radiant smile on her face.  I cannot seem to picture her any other way.  She always had this soft, gentle, peaceful, blissful look about her.  And her laughter was one which warmed and lightened up the room. 

As a mother she was tender and loving, soft-hearted, kind and affectionate.  She never raised her voice even when she was punishing us for our misbehavior.  She was firm but gentle.  I even liked attending Mass on Sundays because it meant being able to sit beside her in church.  I simply cherished all the times that I could be with her.  And I never doubted for one moment that she loved me.

I have many fond memories of how, as a young girl, I loved following her around the shopping center in Bacolod as she bought t-shirts and other items for the farm workers.  She would go from one shop to another, mostly run by Filipino-Chinese, and really wrangle to get the best bargain.  She was so good at this although I must admit that sometimes I would feel embarrassed by it all.  One other things that was fun for me was when we would shop together for school books and supplies prior to the start of the schoolyear.  And of course I also enjoyed the times we would go to the house of T. Goring to have a new dress made for me by Adoracion, the family dressmaker." - Babs

A LOVABLE GRANDMOTHER 

For all the grandkids who were able to be with Momsy, she is remembered for her homemade chocolate from cacao and her best tasting avocado shake as she used fresh carabao’s milk. 

"When I was about 5-6 years old, she came to sit by my side and told me that everytime I hear footsteps, that sound like they are dragging chains at night, I should just pray 1 Our Father and 3 Hail Mary and they will go away.  So every night I heard them, I prayed as Momsy instructed and those scary sounds never ever came back.  Momsy saved me; she was my living angel." - Lizzie

"Having grown up in Silay, I have so many memories of Momsy.  Momsy was the most gentle person I have ever known.  I clearly remember how she would use her gentle touch to “heal” me when I was sick. She would sit beside me as I lay in bed, and would gently massage my head or my stomach, depending on my illness.  Somehow, her touch made my headache or tummy-ache go away.  When I had my own daughters, I also made use of my hands to try to make their aches and pains go away, and, to my amazement, it seemed to help alleviate my kids’ discomfort too.  During my residency training in Pediatrics, I learned that there is such a thing as “energy therapy” that uses gentle hand techniques to re-pattern a patient’s energy field and accelerate healing of the body, mind and spirit.  I now try to use healing touch as often as I can with my sick pediatric patients."  - Joan

"My best memory of Momsy is, one evening when we were sleeping in Silay, we sat together in the dining room and she and I read the story of Jacob and Esau.  To this Day, when I run accross this story, either at Church, or a Bible study, I remember that memory with her."- Robin

A HOLY PERSON 

Momsy was also a devoted and loving child of God!  She went to 6 a.m. mass at San Diego parish church every day.  She prayed the rosary and read the bible every day. 

She became a Carmelite Tertiary and as she was growing in her life of prayer, in her own simple and quiet way, she drew Paping closer to God. When she died, Paping became a Carmelite Tertiary, too!    

She lived the seven corporal works of mercy:  fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, sheltered the homeless, visited the sick, visited the imprisoned and buried the dead.  She lived the “church for the poor” in her own life. 

A SCHOOL FOUNDRESS 

In the 1960’s, the sugar industry boomed.  Land owners went on a world tour. After Papu and Momsy attended a recollection together, they decided not to join the tour as they wanted to use the money to do something worthy and it was Momsy’s dream to lift up the dignity of human beings as they are the children of God. So, they decided to first build the chapel in the farm and called it in honor of Mary, Our Lady of the Nativity Chapel. Next, they built homes for the farm workers around the chapel.  Last, they built the school for the farm children. They named the school St. Francis of Assisi School.  “This is my dream come true for the poor,” said Momsy.  Today St. Francis is a thriving institution in Silay and is known to many supporters and donors all over the world who help in continuing the mission she started more than 50 years ago.  It has become the most meaningful and enduring testament to her life.  When Papu passed away, he bequeathed most of his money to the school as a testament to how much he believed in the work that they had started there.

She was humming Ave Maria before she drew her last breath on July 28, 1979. 

To all who remembered Momsy, she was truly an inspiration...a living saint!  Like Mary, Momsy said Fiat to many of the things that God wanted her to do, submitting herself to His will, saying YES everyday of her life.  That is why everyone just loved her because God's love emanated from her.