This is an article about a Human Rights Violation Victim of the Martial Law era. To view the rest of the Roll of Victims see this link: Roll of Victims
Despite an exhaustive online search of articles, e-library databases and websites, only one possible mention of Sr. Marie Emeliene Acosta can be found other than her name in the Freedom Memorial’s Roll of Victims.[1] A website page for the Missionary Sisters of Mary (MSM) discusses the history of its organization and mentions that in 1959, four postulants received the Habit, a distinctive religious attire. Following the tradition of receiving new names as Consecrated Religious, the four, Petronila Monton, Angelita Bacleon, Rosalina Awado ang Cipriana Acosta, were renamed as Sr. Mary Asuncion, Sr. Mary Elizabeth, Sr. Mary Rosalina and Sr. Marie Emeliene, respectively.[2] Sr. Marie Emeliene was a Surigaonon contact brought in by the Parish Priest Herman van der Sman to teach at his Summer Catechetical Institute.
Other than this mention, however, no other detail is available on Sr. Marie Emeliene to establish what she did during the Martial Law period. When searching up the name on Google, all combinations of her name, Cipriana Acosta and Marie Emeliene, as well as keywords such as “Martial Law,” “Marcos,” “human rights” or “MSM” were taken into consideration but yielded no results. All available books were checked to no avail.
Given the current situation of the country as Filipinos face the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting research, accessing sources and visiting archives have been made more difficult. At this time, it is not possible to construct a satisfactory profile on Sr. Marie Emeliene that will do her justice. This profile will be updated as more sources become available. Nevertheless, Sr. Marie Emeliene Acosta, MSM is given recognition as one of the motu proprio victims of the Martial Law period.
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References:
“Roll of Victims.” Freedom Memorial. Accessed May 27, 2021. https://thefreedommemorial.ph/roll-of-victims.
Missionary Sisters of Mary. “Humble Beginnings.” Accessed May 27, 2021. https://missionarysisterso.wixsite.com/msom/about_us.
