Who Was Marcial Taldo?

MANILA — A loving husband, a responsible father and uncle and a friend who
always had a smile to give. This was how family and loved ones
remember the first fatality of the November 13 Batasan bombing.

The 54 year-old driver of Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz
Ilagan originally hails from Loboc, Bohol and is the youngest of
eight siblings. He finished 2nd-year high school and was forced to
earn his keep when they had to move to Davao with other relatives
after they were orphaned.

His involvement in the progressive movement began in the early 1980s
as an organizer for the Agdao community in Davao. His friendly and
cheerful demeanor made him a very approachable and effective
organizer. They fondly called him “Tibong” or “Tiburcio” a name that
had stuck since his days as a community organizer in Davao. This was
also where he met his wife Mayang, with whom he has two kids, Norman
and Norcel. His children would remember how Marcial would jokingly
say, “It was your mother who courted me!”

In 1987, Tibong and his family was forced to relocate to Manila at
the height of militarization campaign and the formation of the Alsa
Masa vigilante group in Mindanao which targetted community
organizers like Tibong and Mayang. Tibong’s family became part of
the Davao City Displaced Families and was likewise part of a
Mindanao support group, Katig Mindanao.

When they reached Manila, Tibong volunteered as driver and messenger
of various NGOs such as the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and
Peace, Save the Children Foundation, Philippine Social Science
Center, GTZED and OXFAM-USA.

A charismatic individual and a natural organizer, Tibong remained
active in community concerns as president of the Samahan ni Birhen
Fatima. Long time friends also said he had a natural concern for and
respect for women. This was probably why, he and his wife Mayang
both became active with the local Gabriela affiliate in their
community, Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa (SAMAKANA).