Home 
Although licensed embalmers are demand in the United States, Filipino embalmers still have a lot of work to do before they can qualify for jobs overseas, according to Sarah Dychangco of the Pacific Center in Advanced Studies.
Pacific Center in Advanced Studies is one of only six Department of Health-accredited training institutions for embalmers in the country and the only one here in Cebu.
Dychangco said that because of the growing demand, they have set a long-term goal to train embalmers in their institution and help them find jobs in other countries, not just in the US but in Asia as well.
?That's our long term goal. However, as of now we only have them take the DOH exam and get an experience and it's not even a CHEd-regulated course offering yet and worse some just perform it without even attending formal training and taking the DOH exam, which is very far and different from that in the US where one has to get experience and pass the licensure exam for embalmers before you can work.?
Dychangco added that 10 to 20 years from now, the embalming profession would be as in demand as nursing graduates, which gave them more reason to try to work out some kind of standardized process for their trained embalmers, who take modules with them.
The latest technologies in burying the dead like cremation will have no effect at all on the profession, according to Dychangco, saying people will still seek their services as people will want to preserve their loved ones even if just for two days before cremation.
The number of units needed to become a licensed mortuary professional was also raised this year, according to Dychangco. ?Last year they only have to earn 10 units, but this year they must have 30 credit units.?
Cathleen Newnette Dychangco-Anzani, vice president for marketing and business development of the Dychangco Group of Companies, said that from Feb. 8-10, the Philippine Mortuary Association will hold their national convention here in Cebu. ?It will be held at the Glass Palace in our Maracas Branch in Nivel Hills in Lahug, which my dad has been working on and will be formally launched during the convention.?
Around 350 mortuary professionals in the country will be coming to Cebu to talk about the latest developments in the industry, including new modules to be offered for the embalmers. ?Casket and chemical suppliers will also be coming over to talk about their products,? Anzani added.
Dychangco also said that attendees to the convention would earn 15 credit points. ?Aside from that, we have also invited two presidential candidates to grace the event. Noynoy and Villar however have not yet confirmed but we have invited them.?
Aside from their plans for the embalming profession, the Dychangco Group, whose businesses have always been aligned to the mortuary industry, has also emphasized on their investment to build the Glass Palace, which they position as a multi-purpose high end venue. ?They can have any event here, even concerts and all as the Palace is equipped with comfort facilities like a lounge, a VIP room where the guests can stay overnight if they want to hold a wake here.?
Anzani added that the Glass Palace was a result of their constant travels to different southeast Asian countries which are now adopting the so-called multi-purpose function facilities. ?This incorporates all the culture and traditions in southeast Asian countries.?
