Siblings take pride in embalming amid scary encounters

Irish and Ian Tajuna took over the embalming job that their father started.

In a report by Rhea Santos in Unang Balita, the siblings narrated that at first, they found preserving bodies for a living as weird and creepy, but eventually came to learn the task.

“Nilatag ko lahat ng make-up. Unti-unting siyang nawawala. May mga sounds, may mga ganyan. Minsan may mararamdaman ka pa na talagang mag-gogoose bumps ka,” Irish said.

She said her father forced her to  help in the embalming process as an apprentice.

"Sa totoo lang, pinilit po ako ng tatay ko dahil panganay po ako. Para mapakita ko raw po sa mga kapatid ko na madali lang, na kaya naman,” she said.

Ian, meanwhile, said he did not think twice about learning to embalm to help in the family business.

“Kusang loob po, dahil po sa kagustuhang tumulong sa family ko,” he said.

According to the siblings, embalming was not an easy job as it required long and meticulous process.

“Lilinisin mo, papaliguan mo, idi-disinfect mo, bago ka mag-proceed dun  sa embalming process.”

“Kung normal at walang ibang klaseng pagkamatay , 4-5 hours,” Irish said.

Ian said before doing the embalming process, personal protective gears should be worn.

The Tajuna siblings said that they are proud of their job because they help present the dead in the way that their family and friends would like to remember them.

“Tinuturing naming kapamilya lahat ng nabigyan namin ng serbisyo,” Ian said.

“Para sa akin, kahit anong trabaho naman na ma-appreciate, dun mo mare-realize kung bakit nga kailangan ng embalmo,” Irish said. — Joviland Rita/ LDF, GMA News