Joaquina joined the Legion of Mary in 1940.  She was one of the foundation members of the first praesidium set up in the Hospicio de San Jose, Manila; an orphanage, hospital and home for the aged all combined, run by the Sisters of Charity.  Their Spiritual Director was Fr, Manuel Gracia, C.M., the founder of the Legion in the Philippines.  All of that first group were university students, among them her friend and later fellow-envoy, Pacita Santos, who was recruited by Joaquina.  During the  occupation, the Legion grew and expanded.  At the end of the war there were 12 curiae in the Manila area.

     In 1946, Joaquina was appointed the first Envoy of the Legion of Mary to Latin America, beginning her work in Mexico and then traveling down to South America.  She was bi-lingual. Speaking English and Spanish with equal fluency, she covered Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil where she learned to speak Portuguese fluently.  In 1953 when Bros. Grace and Lambe arrived in South America as Envoys she met them at Bogotá airport in Colombia and for some months acted as their interpreter and helped them perfect their Spanish until each of the began work in his own assigned territory.

     When she had completed her Envoyship in South America, Joaquina came to Dublin and after some months at Legio Headquarters she was appointed Envoy to Portugal.  She completed her assignment in Portugal in 1958 and returned home.  In 1963 she was again appointed Envoy, this time in Japan, Indonesia and Korea where she remained until 1965.  She was one of the longest serving Envoys of the Concilium.

     Since her return home to Manila she had taken an active part in the Legion there being especially concerned in many of the Senatus activities.

     No doubt Our Lady had a great welcome for her stalwart Legionary and proficient Envoy.

from Maria Legionis, June 1989