Pangasinense teacher sidelines as ‘embalmer’

Leda – along with her brothers – was taught by their father while still young on how to embalm and service the dead.

“Since I was still a young girl, I would accompany my father in embalming. At first, I only assist in passing tools and other embalming paraphernalia. But as I gather experience, I also learned the art of embalming itself,” Cariño said in an interview Monday.

She admitted that despite being a licensed embalmer, it was still not a stable job. She thus thought it was better to also have a professional job like teaching.

“Being a teacher was my dream job. That is why I strived so hard for this,” she said.

As a teacher and an embalmer, Cariño also applies the art of teaching.

“I also impart my knowledge to people who also want to learn embalming. The skills I developed as a teacher, I use to help others to be successful in this vocation (embalming),” she said.

Cariño also disclosed that sometimes, when she would embalm the dead, her two children would also accompany her.

“My firstborn already knows how to embalm. I taught him,” Cariño proudly said.

Her partner also works in the funeral business of her family, which is managed and run by her brothers at Barangay Pao Manaoag. He is the driver of the funeral carriage.

Cariño, however, admits she seldom embalms nowadays because of her busy schedule as a teacher, but assures she is not giving up on her sideline.

“Embalming was the legacy our father left us. It was because of embalming that we were able to cope up with our financial difficulties and I would not forget that,” she said.

Cariño advised those who are aspiring to become a teacher, yet are faced with some struggles like her before, to strive and endure.

“Despite the struggle, it will be all worth it in the end,” she said.

Cariño is in the teaching profession for 16 years now. (Ahikam Pasion/PNA)