Luxid Dad Marcial Tiangha Laid to Rest in Los Angeles, California
By Jay de Leon

On Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, Manny Tiangha and I were in Anaheim, California for our usual weekly brunch meeting when Manny received a phone call that his father, Marcial Tiangha, had just expired at the hospital. He was 93 years old, in failing health and was in fact in hospice care the past several months.  While his death was anticipated, it was still a sad moment for Manny, who immediately left for the hospital to comfort his family.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, a wake was held that evening for Marcial Tiangha at the American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach, California.  Luxids in attendance included locals Noah Cu with wife Linda, Leo Ortega with wife Baby, Joffre Salcedo with wife Linda, and Jimmy Lorenzana with wife Christine.  In keeping with his reputation as possibly the most travelled Luxid, amo Jake Campomanes with wife Emmeline flew in from New Jersey where they were visiting their newly-born grandchild.

The following day Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, on a warm, dog day of summer, Marcial Tiangha was laid to rest.

The funeral services started with a funeral mass at 10:00 AM at the same American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach.  It was a moving service, with many family members and friends in attendance, including several Luxids. There were many speakers who provided insights into Marcial Tiangha’s life and deep-seated religious convictions, including only son Manny Tiangha who delivered a eulogy as well as a led a group prayer in Ilonggo of the Our Father, one of Marcial Tiangha’s favorite prayers.

Marcial Tiangha led a full life. He was born in Iloilo, Philippines on Oct. 14, 1915. He raised a family steeped in the Filipino culture and Catholic faith, and worked hard and honestly in the service of the Philippine government until 1981. Eventually, he and his wife moved to Los Angeles, California with their children and grandchildren, living a life of quiet retirement and spiritual contemplation. Many Luxids who had occasion to visit Manny at their home in Manhattan Beach always enjoyed a repartee with Manny’s mom and dad, often reminiscing about Ateneo days.

He is survived by wife Clara or Clare, their three children Isabelita, Manuel and Maria Fe and their families, including four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

After the mass, the heavily escorted funeral cortege proceeded to the Holy Cross Cemetery at Slauson Ave. in Culver City, where the final remains of Marcial Tiangha were interred reverently, with a burial homily and services, as well as many tearful goodbyes.

A catered lunch was later served at one of the spacious halls, O’Donnell Hall, outside American Martyrs Church, where the Luxids in attendance spent some time with the Tiangha family and guests.

In deference to the wishes of the Tiangha family, there will be no photos of the wake and funeral service itself published in this article. There will be, however, photos of Luxids at the conclusion of either the wake or the funeral.

The Luxids in attendance later turned this somber situation into a quiet but lively mini-reunion of their own. The Luxids included Vic Perez, Jake Campomanes, Vic Quimson, Jay de Leon and of course, Manny Tiangha.  Vic Quimson flew all the way Friday from the Bay Area of Northern California in time to attend the funeral services, and returned home the same evening. The only local who was not able to attend either the wake or the funeral was Alex Gomez who sent his condolence and regrets via email.  He was in Vancouver with wife Amy.

For almost three hours after lunch, these Luxids caught up on each other’s lives, and discussed sundry topics and current events such as the upcoming Philippine elections, recent trips to the Philippines and upcoming trips abroad, including trips to the Philippines in December to attend the sesquicentennial (150 years) of the group’s alma mater, the Ateneo de Manila. Vic Quimson is planning a trip to the Holy Land and the Philippines towards the end of the year. 

Rest in peace, Wowo (Lolo). You will be forever missed and loved.

Till the next Luxid re-union, mini or otherwise…

Photos courtesy of Jake Campomanes of Douglasville, Georgia.

At the refreshment hall after the wake on Thursday.  From left to right,
Noah Cu with wife Linda, Manny Tiangha, Jake Campomanes with wife
Emmeline, Leo Ortega with wife Baby, Joffre Salcedo with wife Linda,
and Jimmy Lorenzana with wife Christine.

Inside the church after the wake.; Noah Cu (left) and Leo Ortega. 

At the cemetery after the burial services. From left to right, Vic Quimson,
Jay de Leon, Vic Perez and Jake Campomanes. Coincidentally, this is also
the Pangasinan contingent. Two speak the dialect fluently, one can fake it,
and the fourth is clueless. Sadly, another Pangasinan compatriot, Toti Braganza,
had just left for the Philippines to attend the funeral of his brother Jong,
who had collapsed at a UAAP game because of a heart attack.