My Father, My Folk Hero

My Father, My Folk Hero

By Art Tibaldo

   Baguio City, Philippines - My father Marcelo Tibaldo left us and joined his creator on February 9, 2010.

He has completed the marathon of life reaching the finish line at age 78. We are truly grateful for having him as a father and head of the Tibaldo family.
 

   As a young boy, he left his remote place Sitio Dad-daay in the boondocks of Alilem, Ilocos Sur and worked his way to school with the help of Belgian priests of St. Augustine’s School in Tagudin Ilocos Sur who took him as convent assistant and errand boy.    

   After finishing high school from SAS in the mid 50s, he moved to Baguio City to seek employment to a point of even faking his age so he could be hired.
  Taken in as a Disinfector and Pest Exterminator by the Baguio Health Department, he was tasked to prevent the spread of the dreaded Malaria by spraying creeks and garbage bins with DDT. The smell of said chemical and sight of a spray can and fumigating machine became a fixture in our small abode in Holy Ghost Proper for many years.

   Later in the 60s, the World Health Organization banned the use of DDT due to its proven cancer causing effect and I remember my Tatang going home drunk and frustrated of something that we were too young to comprehend at that time. We later realized his concern and alibi for coming home drunk because accordingly, alcohol detoxifies him from said chemical.
   He resigned from BHD after 20 years of government service when his bid for a hazards pay was not granted by the city government thus, he engaged in buying and selling of scrap materials of which we were then involved with my other young siblings.

   The junk shop that he established allowed us to finish our college degrees except for one who opted to carry on with the business, drove the delivery truck to Manila and engaged in blue collar works. Sooner or later, we realized that the junk shop business and its recycling component became a boom towards the nineties due to felt environmental consciousness among many.

   Tatang (father) Marcelo valued the importance of education and it was the only tangible legacy that he left in me and my six other siblings. Despite being considered as the village drunk in our neighborhood, he is truly a good man and we will surely miss our Tatang. May his soul be cleansed of impurities and we appreciate any good thoughts and prayers for our dear Tatang.