Starting Point
Member of Parliament (MP) Tarhata Matalam Maglangit champions the rights of the Bangsamoro people to their Hulah (homeland), Bangsa (nation), and Agama (faith). As a Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Member, she draws on years of community involvement and civil society experience. Her goal is to amplify the voices of Bangsamoro women in governance within the newly formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
An accomplished academic, MP Maglangit earned a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Raised in a multicultural environment, she is the daughter of a Maguindanaon father and a Meranao mother. She is married to Mahendra Madjilon, a Tausug leader in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Peace Journey
MP Maglangit’s dedication to public service and empowering women is exemplified by her prior role in the regional government in the ARMM.
Within the late 1990s and early 2000s, she served as a commissioner and the regional chairperson of the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women. From 2005 to 2014, she served as the Executive Director of the Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum. Following that role, she served as the Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Women Services Centre from 2015 to 2022.
During her tenure, these organisations worked to incorporate women’s perspectives into peacebuilding initiatives. Additionally, MP Maglangit collaborated with various peace and development groups to promote an inclusive and equitable society.
Success Stories
MP Maglangit’s extensive experience in governance and civil society is profoundly shaped by her involvement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). During her time with the MNLF, she worked alongside visionary leaders who made significant contributions to the peace negotiations, culminating in the landmark signing of the 1987 Jeddah Accord and the 1996 Final Peace Agreement, thereby paving the way for lasting peace.
Several of her exceptional contributions reflected in her work as she authored bills establishing the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, Local Governance Code, and Regional Institute for Higher Islamic Studies, among others.