FACE OF THE MONTH

THE EMBALMER

FEATURING:

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.

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-  

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

Filipino Christian

burial customs

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.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

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 black-hued 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

All Souls

DayCatholic 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

Unknown

ARTISTDeath 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.  

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.

‘An extraordinary worker keeps a great job in the end.’

_____________

By Liezel Reondanga

My Unforgettable exFEARienceBy Melody G. Mantes

  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.

  

“there shouldn’t have to worry about because dead is dead. They can no longer do any harm to us”

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. 

“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 

The embalmer

Some of the equipments in embalming

gel

Disinfectant, alcohol and cotton.

lipsticks

Cosmetics brush

Kuya Oriel is not just an embalmer,

he is also the dead’s make-up artist.

caskets

Funeral van

Other materials used in the burial

From L-R: Lyka Abejuela, Renalyn Balbalosa, Cristine Demorin, Melody Mantes, Liezel Reondanga.(with kuya Oriel on the left corner)

This is the first time these ladies posed together in a picture.....and

behind their masks are the

wonderful smiles reflecting in their

eyes.

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

Special thanks

to

MarioMaurer

Paje