1. FACE OF THE MONTH
FEATURING:
THE EMBALMER

2. Filipinos are one of a kind in terms of occasions and
celebrations. They are rich in different kinds of cultural values that
make them notable and renowned in other cultures. One of those
desirable values is the closeness of the families, kin and friends. The
kind of care and concern for other people develops the so-called
“close family ties”. Filipinos are loving race that give much
importance to their loved ones. They are fond of occasions that
even in unexpected events and almost every conceivable excuse
they can still find ways to bond and to celebrate. In fact, death in
the Philippines considered as one of the most important occasions
in family life. And by performing funerals and ceremonies for the
dead, the respect, care and lasting love of the family and friends are
shown.

3. It is traditional to hold a wake known as “lamay” once a Filipino
dies. The cleaned and embalmed corpse is placed in a coffin, and
displayed at the house of deceased or at a funeral home.Deceased men are
dressed in the traditional way or in their best dress. Commonly, the
caskets of Filipinos are often covered with glass, surrounded by funeral
lights, a guest registry book, a contribution box, and flowers that are often
given in condolence to the family. Another aspect of Philippine culture
witness in funerals is the hospitality to the guests. This is done by offering
food and refreshments to those who mourn with the family members, they
keep vigil, pray, eat, talk, and socialize with each other.
-rsb-

4. After the death of a person, a nine-day period of having
a novena of prayers and Masses offered up to the
deceased is held, although the beginning of the "Siyam
na araw" varies, but usually ends the week after the
death. Another period follows after death, the 40-day
mourning period. Family members indicate their state of
bereavement by wearing a small, black rectangular
plastic pin on their left breast or breast pocket area. A
ceremonial mass is held at the end of this 40 day period.
Common belief states that the soul goes to Heaven after
these 40 days, following the belief that Jesus Christ
ascended to Heaven after the said period of days. The 1
year death anniversary is also a bit significant, as well as
the subsequent birth anniversaries of the deceased.
Many foreign relatives come to mourn the death of their
lost ones. Death is very emotional experience among
those close to the deceased.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

5. After the death of a person, a nine-day period of having a novena of
prayers and Masses offered up to the deceased is held, although the
beginning of the "Siyam na araw" varies, but usually ends the week
after the death. Another period follows after death, the 40-day
mourning period. Family members indicate their state of
bereavement by wearing a small, black rectangular plastic pin on their
left breast or breast pocket area. A ceremonial mass is held at the end
of this 40 day period. Common belief states that the soul goes to
Heaven after these 40 days, following the belief that Jesus Christ
ascended to Heaven after the said period of days.
The 1 year death
anniversary is
also a bit
significant, as
well as the
subsequent birth
anniversaries of
the deceased.
Many foreign
relatives come
to mourn the
death of their
lost ones. Death
is very
emotional
experience
among those
close to the
deceased.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

6. OTHER PRACTICES:
`
Superstitious beliefs surrounding death
entail the sudden appearance of certain
animals, particularly those black in color.
Examples are the appearance of a lingering
black butterfly around an
individual is an omen that a
person's next of kin has died;
a sick person heading toward
hospital who sees a blackhued cat will not survive
their condition; seeing an
owl near the home of a
sick individual signifies
the in firm's imminent
death.
Other beliefs pertaining to
death are related to dreams, dining ,
etiquette odours,unusual shapes of certain
objects, children, and odd numbers. Some of
these types are not allowing family members to
leave the home until used utensils have been
cleansed
(it is believed a family member may pass away if
this habit is not followed), consuming sour fruit in
the evenings (to avoid early parental demise),
avoiding taking photographs of three
persons together (to avoid the early
•
together (to avoid the early death of the
individual placed in the middle), sudden scent of
a burning candle – without a lit candle anywhere
– hints that a relative just died, losing a tooth
during a
dream is an omen that a
relative will soon die, a
headless shadow
of an individual
forewarns that
that person will
pass away soon,
preventing all family
members from viewing the face
of a dead person at funerals
(to prevent the ghost of the
departed from visiting the family
resulting in the death of every
family member), and lifting
children related to the of the
dead relative from visiting the children).
deceased over caskets before the entombment
(to hinder the ghost
•
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

7. Catholic and Filipinos pay
respects to the ancestors on All
Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
People gather in graveyards to
clean and decorate the family
grave as early as All Hollow's
Eve, then offer the dead
prayers, candles, flowers and
sometimes food. More often
than not, mourners keep vigil
overnight at graves, eating and
making merry to pass the time
and keep the dead company.
A popular children's pastime
during
such
vigils
is
to
gather candle wax from melted
candles to either play with or sell
to candle makers.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Main article: All Souls Day

8. Unknown
ARTIST
D
eath is a part of life. It is
unpredictable, no one knows
when it will happen. Unfortunately,
we should accept the fact that one
of this days, we will be in that situation
where we will leave our loved ones.
Our family and friends are the one
who give respect to the death of
their loved ones. Aside from the relatives, there
are people who are also doing the same, they
are the funeral staffs: the personnel who take
good care of the dead. These includes the
driver, the one who manages the funeral car
that carries the remains to its destination; the
make-up artist, who’s task is to make sure that
the cadaver will look presentable for the public
viewing; the gravestone-maker, who is
accountable for graving the dead’ s identity in its
tomb.
‘An
extraordinary
worker keeps a
great job in the
end.’
_____________
By Liezel Reondanga
Another important person, amenable for the
restoration of the corpse is the embalmer.
An embalmer is an artist in science of preserving
human remains by treating them with chemicals
to prevent decomposition. He keeps them
suitable for the funeral ceremonies or for other
purposes. He also assures the sanitation and
entails safeness of the embalming process.
Embalming is a kind of job that some of us are
afraid of. But this article wants to encourage us
to conquer these fears by knowing more about
the embalmer. Are they happy or satisfied with
this job? I knew this is the question that would
come into our mind because these personnel
had chosen this kind of rare work despite of the
different opportunities and better job, but then,
embalming is one of the great profession that all
of us didn’t know.

9. My Unforgettable exFEARience
By Melody G. Mantes
“there shouldn’t have to worry about because dead is
dead. They can no longer do any harm to us”
I sat quietly trying not to look at the
things around me as we began to
interview an embalmer. At first, I felt
uneasy seeing the stuffs with connection
to death. A different sense of ambiance
covered me that made me shiver to the
bones. I asked myself if I can be brave
enough to listen whatever he will say to
us. I want to fly and leave that place as
soon as possible but I kept onmaking
myself calm. Mind creates different
scenarios of “what ifs” and my heart is
beating fast.
As the interview becomes deeper
and deeper, I didn’t noticed that I’m not
shaking anymore. I am now listening
seriously to the experiences of the
embalmer for the past 19 years. Hearing
his confessions and understanding what
he said, I realized that there shouldn’t
have to worry about because deads are
deads. They can no longer do any harm
to us and what we think about them are
just only an imagination we create. If at
first I am uneasy, hearing him now makes
me
want
to
know
more.

10. I had always been afraid of being near
to the things resembles death but because of that
interview, my perception about that was changed.
He became an inspiration to me because without
an embalmer like him, the bodies of the deads will
not be taken care of and much more, it can bring
different diseases if not handled accurately.
Imagine the world without an embalmer who is
responsible for the correct sanitation of dead bodies
and who has a knowledge about embalming. Do
you think you will be happy seeing your loved ones
smelling bad and rotten at all?
Putting myself on his shoes, I will feel
uneasy at first too just like what he felt doing his first
job as an embalmer. But I think as the years passed
by, I will be ready to face my fears and be brave
enough to do the same job because being afraid
are only for first timers. You will learn on your own
through experiences and as long as the deads are
not your loved ones.
Now, I still have a little agony in my
mind but through the years thinking about this
interview will help me feel strong and that my
greatest enemy was only myself. I will be ready to
face the truth that someday I will die and be the
one being embalmed. The fear that I feel was just
an imagination created by my mind. We should not
be afraid to die. And whoever reads this, bear in
your mind that whatever job your parents have, be
proud of it. Don’t think about their profession, rather
think of what they can do to help others by means
of their profession. And one thing that you should be
afraid of is not to die but the things you did when
you were still alive.

11. “Every human here in the world has given a chance to
experience all the possible things that he can do in order for him to
fulfill his God-given life. But no matter what, all of us come to the
point that we have to bring back the borrowed life that we had.
What I mean is that all of us will face his death sooner or later.
Maybe hours from now, tomorrow or the next day we will die.”
__by: Cristine

12. Some of the
equipments
in embalming
The embalmer

13. Cosmetics
gel
Disinfectant, alcohol and cotton.
lipsticks
Kuya Oriel is not
just an embalmer,
he is also the
dead’s make-up
artist.
brush

14. Funeral van
Other
materials used
in the burial
caskets

15. This is the first
time these ladies
posed together in
a picture.....and
behind their
masks are the
wonderful smiles
reflecting in their
eyes. 
From L-R: Lyka Abejuela, Renalyn Balbalosa, Cristine Demorin,
Melody Mantes, Liezel Reondanga.(with kuya Oriel on the left corner)

16. THE CASKET MODELS.....saying it’s fun to be in a coffin..haha

18. Special
thanks
to
Mario
Maurer
Paje